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Description
CUCUMBER African Horned (KIWANO) - 15+ seeds
African Horned Cucumber (Jelly Melon, Kiwano) is an annual vining vegetable native to NW Zambia where it is cultivated by indigenous farmers. The young fruits are mottled green and are wholly edible, tasting like cucumber. The mature fruits are hard of shell, green and yellow striped, a scoopable source of nutritious seeds and life-giving water.
Some of the most impressive health benefits of Kiwano include its ability to improve cognitive ability, prevent certain types of chronic diseases, aid in weight loss, protect the skin, boost the metabolism, increase eye health, strengthen bones, optimize digestion, and speed up wound healing!!!
It is primarily used as a fruit snack or salad. It is eaten young, mature green or when ripe - bright yellow/orange (i.e eaten at any stage of its development) and it grows naturally in the fields and also in the bush.
Care and Growing Instructions
Cucumber requires warm, well-drained soil high in fertility, with a pH of 6–6.8. Consistent, adequate irrigation is needed to produce an abundant crop. Cucumbers are very sensitive to cold. Make sure both soil and air temperatures have warmed prior to planting. Using plastic mulch and row covers will greatly enhance the vigour and potential yields of cucumbers by providing warmth and insect protection.
In frost areas, sow undercover in seed trays in early spring. Plant out after last frosts. Sow indoors in 16-cell plug trays about 5-6mm deep, 1–2 seeds/cell, 3–4 weeks before transplanting. Keep the temperature above 21°C days and 16°C night with a heating pad underneath plug trays. Transplant 30cm apart. Do not disturb roots when transplanting.
In frost-free areas sow directly into the soil in early spring. However, wait until the soil is warm, at least 21°C. Cucumber seeds will not germinate at a soil temperature below 14°C. Sow 2 seeds per 30cm.
Spacing
Single Plants: 60cm each way (minimum)
Rows: 60cm with 60cm row gap (minimum)
Support plants well so they can climb upwards, even when the cucumbers get large. This also protects the cucumbers from slugs. Occasionally a plant can produce very bitter cucumbers so always test a bit before serving to others!
When flowers start forming, feed with a slow-release potassium-rich organic fertilizer. Fortnightly liquid feed from mid-summer.
Once fruit bearing begins, pick daily. Cut the cucumbers off the plant when they are still quite young, otherwise, the skin becomes hard and will need peeling. More cucumbers will then be produced.
Propagation notes will be supplied with a seed packet.
All orders are dispatched from our warehouse in Sydney, NSW, Australia
AUSTRALIA-WIDE SEED DELIVERY
Order dispatch time: 1-3 business days, excluding weekend & public holiday.
Transit time: Depends upon the postage service that you choose and pay. Usually, 1-2 business days for express post & 3-8 business days for standard post.
WA order dispatch: Once a week, regardless of whether Express Post is chosen. Express Post seed orders do not receive priority during the Quarantine WA inspection.
Note: We're sorry, but we cannot prioritise order packing service for customers who have paid for Express Post. We pack orders with a first-in, first-out policy.
Please see the table below or use the shipping calculators on this website.
Standard Post & Parcel (Australia Post or Courier Services) – WITH TRACKING |
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Delivery Estimates: 3-10 business days* (WA, NT Remote areas may take longer) |
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Order Contents |
Delivery Cost |
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Seed packets only / or any seeds or garden supplies upto 200g |
$4.95 FREE domestic tracking letter or courier shipping on seed packet-only (less than 0.5g) orders of $60 (after discount, if any) or above |
| Seed packets & bulk weight-based items, garden tools, tubers, canes, rhizomes & seeds 200g to 400g | $5.95 |
| Seed packets & bulk weight-based items, garden tools, tubers, canes, rhizomes & seeds 401g to 2kg | $9.95 |
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Seed packets & bulk weight-based items, garden tools, seed potatoes, tubers, canes, rhizomes & seeds over 2kg |
$15.95 (Capped) |
Express Post & Parcel Service (Australia Post or Courier Service) - WITH TRACKING |
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Delivery Estimates: 1-3 business days* (WA, NT, TAS & Remote areas may take longer) |
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Order Contents |
Delivery Cost |
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Seed packets only |
$16 |
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Seed packets & bulk weight-based seeds up to 500g |
$19 |
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BULK Seeds: 0 – 500g |
$19 |
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BULK Seeds: 501g to 1kg |
$21 |
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BULK Seeds: 1.01kg to 3kg |
$26 |
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BULK Seeds: 3.01kg to 5kg |
$45 |
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BULK Seeds: 5.01kg to 10kg |
$80 |
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BULK Seeds: 10.01kg or 15kg |
$120 |
An additional $6 fee applies to cover quarantine inspection fees. All WA seed orders are subject to Quarantine WA inspection, which may result in delays beyond our control. For more information, please refer quarantine policy.
An additional $3 fee covers Biosecurity Tasmania paperwork—maximum 1kg per seed line item. Biosecurity Tasmania restrictions apply. |
WA order dispatch time:
WA orders are packed once a week on Wednesday and shipped out on Thursday. To ensure that your orders are processed and shipped out each Thursday, please place them before midnight (AEDT - Sydney time) on Tuesday. This applies no matter whether Express Post service is chosen for the order.
WA orders go to the Quarantine WA office at Perth Airport for inspection before being sent to your shipping address by the Quarantine Officers. Your tracking number will be activated once the inspection is complete, which may take up to 10 business days after we have packed and dispatched your order.
The tracking number will stay in a 'Pending' status until Quarantine Officers have inspected your shipment at Perth Airport.
Depending on the postal service you pay for the order, it will generally take an additional 1 to 5 business days for your shipment to arrive from Perth Airport to your address within WA. However, please note that delays beyond our control may occasionally occur.
Signature on delivery: An additional $3.95 applies if you require a signature on delivery service. If you haven't requested a signature, the postie or courier driver will check for a safe place or letterbox (if it fits) to leave your item. They may take it to the Post Office or nearest collection point for mail order collection if a safe place can't be found.
No Discount on Shipping charges: Our special discount event means seeds are available at discounted prices. However, postage costs remain the same, i.e. there won't be any discount on the postage costs - so check out our postage rate table to find out exactly how much it will cost before you stock up on your favourites!
You shall receive an email notification with a tracking number as soon as your order has been dispatched. We dispatch ALL seed orders via Australia Post or Courier Service with a tracking for a peace of mind.
We may use Australia Post Registered Post or Courier (Sign on delivery), which requires a signature on delivery, or you may need to present your ID to collect it.
Express Delivery
It's the fastest possible delivery service within the Australia Post network.
Important:
We will process your order after we have received clear payment in the accounts.
Dispatch and delivery times are estimates only; we cannot guarantee delivery times as these can change for reasons beyond our control.
Postage rates are calculated based on each order. If you have placed multiple orders with the same recipient and address, we may combine all items in single postage.
INTERNATIONAL DELIVERY
Sorry, we do not ship seeds outside of Australia.
Estimate shipping
Shipping Restrictions
Western Australia Customers: We can ship most seed line items, except Quarantine WA restricted seed lines to WA. To help us ship your order as quickly and efficiently as possible, please do not include any seed items prohibited in WA; they are listed with the label 'NOT to WA'. Due to quarantine restrictions in WA, there is a 10kg seeds limit per variety. WA orders require additional handling time. Please remain within an approved limit when ordering seeds. We review every WA order before dispatch and remove (or reduce) excess seed quantity from your order to comply with WA biosecurity regulations. Please check further information here
Tasmania Customers: We can ship seeds to Tasmania. Please do not include seed line items labeled 'NOT to TAS'. Please note that the maximum allowable limit per permitted seed line item is 1kg per order.