Cyclanthera
Cyclanthera: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
Cyclanthera, Cyclanthera pedata, is an annual climber with elongated green fruit, often slightly curved. It is also known as caigua and achocha. This cucurbit is valued for fruit eaten as vegetables and for deeply divided foliage. Narrower ends and a curved outline can suggest a small horn or little bird. These visible features provide a more precise guide than general cucumber names used for several different vegetables.Long stems carry tendrils that attach to neighbouring objects. The plant can exceed three metres and occupy considerable vertical space. Leaves divide into several narrow lobes arranged like the fingers of a hand. This fine division gives a visually lighter appearance than a squash with broad, undivided leaves. The mass of greenery can still become dense when stems develop under favourable conditions. Its growth habit therefore matters alongside the fruit when choosing a plant.Flowers are small and greenish white, with separate male and female…
