Tag: cucumber-melon

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The Striped Carosello Leccese or Meloncella Fasciata di Salento

What is the Striped Carosello Leccese?

The Striped Carosello Leccese or Meloncella Fasciata di Salento is an ancient variety of melon, cultivated immature as a cucumber and still grown around Gallipoli, Italy. Variations in vine and fruit length ensure long harvests of 4-6 inch cylindrical fruit with light flesh develops mottled dark bands exhibiting superb juicy crisp texture and flavor with a sweet aftertaste.

How do you save seed of the Striped Carosello Leccese or Meloncella?

As they ripen for seed, Striped Leccese or Meloncella cucumbers will begin to turn yellow or orange in color and may even begin to soften. If they begin to soften or easily pull from the vine (slip), then bring the fruit into a cool place to store until processing. Avoid trying to rush the process or cut open the fruit too early. There is a period of time in which the seed continues to develop within the fruit. The fruit is getting ready to process when there is a strong scent of melon in the air. Throughout the process, germination will remain high as you keep the area that the seed is stored in relatively cool (close to 70F, 21C is fine, 80F, 26C or above is not). Once large fruit is relatively soft when pressed on, slit them open length-wise and scoop out the seedy inner pulp into a colander with holes slightly smaller than the seed. If a good rinse and pulp massage does not clean the pulp out, the water can be squeezed out and water winnowing and a whisk can help clean the pulp. If seed still has a gel coating, squeeze out excess liquid and scoop the pulp/seed mixture into a jar to ferment. Usually 24 hours is as long as needed to ferment, if at all. Rinsed clean seed should be placed in a cool location with plenty of airflow to dry. Once seed is fully dry, winnow out very light seed, pack in airtight bags and refrigerate

How do you know the Striped Leccese or Meloncella is ready to pick?

Of all the varieties I have ever grown, when picked between 1.5 and 2” in diameter, no cucumber or immature melon variety I have tasted has been equal in flavor, texture and overall quality. This is truly the most “gourmet” of all the cucumbers. The very first time I tasted the fruit, I was blown away by the flavor and quality. Likely for the same reason, the Meloncella di Salento is the crown jewel of the varieties sold by the San Rocco Cooperative- the primary cooperative that markets these immature melons outside of the region of Puglia.

How did Cucumber Shop receive the Striped Leccese or Meloncella Fasciata?

The Striped Carosello Leccese or Meloncella Faciata di Salento was sold to me by the name of “Striped of Leccese” from a gentleman named Antonio. There were also other websites that named the variety “Striped of Leccese”. At first I didn’t believe that he had actually sold me what he claimed to have, but once the fruit darkened, I knew that it was what I had spent years searching for. Antonio said that the variety has been cultivated before records were kept in the lower Salento area is still grown in and around Gallipoli, Italy. He could provide no further information.

The BiodiverSO Puglia Website has some information about the variety under “Melone immaturo” here: https://biodiversitapuglia.it/varieta-orticole/

Where can I find posts or Videos about the Striped Leccese and Meloncella?

Blog posts can be found at ScientificGardener.com and Videos can be found at https://www.youtube.com/c/CucumberShop

Here are some Blog Posts I have done about the Striped Carosello Leccese or Meloncella Fasciata di Salento:

https://scientificgardener.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-striped-carosello-leccese.html

https://scientificgardener.blogspot.com/2019/12/taste-comparison-of-striped-carosello.html

https://scientificgardener.blogspot.com/2021/04/the-striped-carosello-leccese-part-2.html

https://scientificgardener.blogspot.com/2020/01/the-second-crop-of-striped-carosello.html

https://scientificgardener.blogspot.com/2022/03/working-with-farmer.html

https://scientificgardener.blogspot.com/2022/05/i-just-keep-growing-striped-carosello.html

https://scientificgardener.blogspot.com/2023/05/striped-carosello-leccese-at-h-farms.html

https://scientificgardener.blogspot.com/2023/05/working-to-partner-with-farmer-in-rio.html

Videos of the Striped Leccese or Meloncella Fasciata di Salento:

https://youtu.be/cH1R_TA5DWk

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The Checkered Carosello Scopattizo or “Chex”

What is the Checkered Carosello Scopattizo?

The Checkered Carosello Scopattizo or “Chex” is an muskmelon (Cucumis melo) that is picked immature as a cucumber. It is a beautiful checkered selection of the Scopattizo Barese with smooth-skinned cylindrical fruit with lateral scallops and moderately juicy flesh. The fruit is picked when around 2 inches in diameter.

What is the difference between the Checkered Carosello Scopattizo and the Scopattizo Barese?

Though the Checkered Scopattizo (Nicknamed “Chex”) looks similar to the Carosello Scopattizo di Barese and is a selection of the variety, the Scopattizo Barese possesses a uniform half light and dark cylindrical fruit with lateral scallops. While both produce fruit on secondary and tertiary vines and darken to cover the fruit over time, the checkered ‘Scopattizo’ variety exhibits a half light/dark coloring in a checkered pattern.

How did the Checkered Carosello Scopattizo come about?

The initial seed for this cultivar was planted from a packet of SeedSelect Spuredda Leccese that contained a mix of seeds of nearly anything but the pictured fruit. When growing the Checkered Scopattizo the first time, I noticed that the fruit was very tender and just slightly checkered. A leak in the drip irrigation was soaking the roots and the plant nearly died. But fortunately, it survived long enough for the plant to give its nourishment to one fruit that I was able to harvest for seed.

The Checkered Scopattizo Carosello released by Cucumber Shop created a little bit of controversy possibly because it was not selected in Italy – though it was selected from what would be considered a Scopattizo Barese.

How do I save seeds of the Checkered Scopattizo or “Chex”?

As they they ripen for seed, Checkered Scopattizo cucumber-melons will begin to turn yellow or orange in color and may even begin to soften. If they begin to soften or easily pull from the vine (slip), then bring the fruit into a cool place to store until processing. Avoid trying to rush the process or cut open the fruit too early. There is a period of time in which the seed continues to develop within the fruit. The fruit is getting ready to process when there is a strong scent of melon in the air. Throughout the process, germination will remain high as you keep the area that the seed is stored in relatively cool (close to 70F, 21C is fine, 80F, 26C or above is not). Once large fruit is relatively soft when pressed on, slit them open length-wise and scoop out the seedy inner pulp into a colander with holes slightly smaller than the seed. If a good rinse and pulp massage does not clean the pulp out, the water can be squeezed out and water winnowing and a whisk can help clean the pulp. If seed still has a gel coating, squeeze out excess liquid and scoop the pulp/seed mixture into a jar to ferment. Usually 24 hours is as long as needed to ferment, if at all. Rinsed clean seed should be placed in a cool location with plenty of airflow to dry. Once seed is fully dry, winnow out very light seed, pack in airtight bags and refrigerate.

Where can I find more information about the Checkered Carosello Scopattizo?

More of the history of the variety can be found on my blog in the following two blog posts:

https://scientificgardener.blogspot.com/2023/09/the-checkered-scopattizo-carosello.html and

https://scientificgardener.blogspot.com/2023/09/in-defense-of-name.html

Videos

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The Carosello Scopattizo Barese

What is a Carosello Scopattizo Barese?

The Carosello Scopattizo di Barese is a productive uniform emerald green cylindrical fruit with lateral scallops. The fruit has light smooth skin with dark pores that grow on secondary and tertiary vines. When ready to be picked at 2 inches in diameter, the fruit will be between light and dark. They generally grow best in hot dry climates, but can do well in moist climates, if trellised. Though it has been around for a long time, there is no conclusive idea of what the word Scopattizo actually means, other than a specific variety of muskmelon picked immature, like a cucumber. But there may be clues based on the root words. The ancient Greek for ‘scopo’ is σκοπέω (skopéō, means to “look (out) for” probe or search. It may be that, because the fruit is dark green and produces further along on the vines, that growers had to ‘look out’ for it to find it. My friend Giuseppe said that word “Scopatizzo” may come from the base “Scopa”, meaning to sweep, because of its fuzz – though compared with other carosello, the Scopattizo has minimal fuzz.

Source: https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/scopo

When do you pick the Carosello Scopattizo Barese?

The Scopattizo Barese is an Italian heirloom with very fine-texture when around 2 inches in diameter. The fruit begins light and turns dark over time as the dots of dark color expand outward from the pores to the remainder of the outside of the fruit. When ready for picking, the color of this variety should be midway between fully light and dark.

How do you save seeds of the Scopattizo Barese?

As they ripen for seed, Scopattizo Barese cucumbers will begin to turn white, yellow or orange in color and may even begin to soften. If they begin to soften or easily pull from the vine (slip), then bring the fruit into a cool place to store until processing. Avoid trying to rush the process or cut open the fruit too early. There is a period of time in which the seed continues to develop within the fruit. The fruit is getting ready to process when there is a strong scent of melon in the air. Throughout the process, germination will remain high as you keep the area that the seed is stored in relatively cool (close to 70F, 21C is fine, 80F, 26C or above is not). Once large fruit is relatively soft when pressed on, slit them open length-wise and scoop out the seedy inner pulp into a colander with holes slightly smaller than the seed. If a good rinse and pulp massage does not clean the pulp out, the water can be squeezed out and water winnowing and a whisk can help clean the pulp. If seed still has a gel coating, squeeze out excess liquid and scoop the pulp/seed mixture into a jar to ferment. Usually 24 hours is as long as needed to ferment, if at all. Rinsed clean seed should be placed in a cool location with plenty of airflow to dry. Once seed is fully dry, winnow out very light seed, pack in airtight bags and refrigerate.

What Selection Criteria does CucumberShop Use to select the ideal Scopattizo Barese?

The selection criteria important for selecting the Scopattizo Barese include plant vigor and health, color between light and dark at 2” in diameter, tender texture at 2-3” in diameter and cylindrical shape. The best fruit used for future generations must adhere to all of these characteristics.

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The Barattiere

What is a Barattiere Cucumber?

The Barattiere is a Cucumis melo (muskmelon) that is grown as a cucumber for its savory tender, yet crisp white flesh and smooth crisp light green skin. Unlike regular cucumbers, this oval to round melon cucumber is bitter-free and gentle on the indigestion. The sprawling vines of the Barattiere are drought-tolerant and thrive in warm to very hot climates.

The flesh of the Barattiere remains tender for an extended period of time so that the fruit can be picked when between 3 and 6 inches (7-15 cm) in diameter. While often considered a carosello (an Italian melon picked immature as a cucumber) the Barattiere’s genetic heritage appears to be different than other caroselli (plural for carosello).

What is the background history of the Barattiere Cucumber?

Considered the best carosello by most who have tried it, the Barattiere or Fasano owes its name to the first grower, Leonardo Pinto, nicknamed “Barattiere”. While the nickname means “barter” in Italian, Leonardo never bartered the seeds of the immature melon variety that he originally received from a monk friend of his in the late 1940s. Instead, Pinto freely shared the “cucumarazz d ‘ barettier” with any who asked. In the plain of Fasano in Ostuni, where the Barattiere originates, the fruit is often referred to as “cucumarazz” after the word “watermelon” in the Coriscan language – perhaps because the shape is reminiscent of a watermelon. As Pinto’s “cucumarazz” were considered the most delicious of all the cucumbers in the area, all the local farmers requested it from him. Other names for varieties related to the Barattiere include “Fasano” “Cianciuffo” or even “the rouge”. While some believe this last nickname may have had something to do with Leonardo Pinto, those who knew him describe him as “the classic example of a country man, generous and available”.

As time progressed, farmers learned that the barattiere vines grown near the sea using brackish irrigation water would produce fruit that was more tender, fragrant and delicious. From August through October, the barattiere are still grown in Monopoli, Carovigno and Fasano. On the hills above Fasano they grow them in fields without irrigation, so the roots seek refreshment in the strips of soil that form between one rock and another. Even as the autumn sets in, the fruit retains its quality and those grown in July are distinguished from those grown from August through October by the lighter color of the latter.

Source Material:

Amici dell’orto (Friends of the Garden) blog post. “Caroselli” http://amicidellortodue.blogspot.com/2009/07/caroselli.html

Barattiere Wikipedia Page

La Provincia Cremona. “The Barattiere (or immature Melon)… a mysterious fruit” https://www.laprovinciacr.it/news/a-tavola/170397/il-barattiere-o-melone-immaturo-un-frutto-misterioso.html

OsservatOriOoggi.it. The History of Leonardo Pinto and His Melons. “Give a ‘barattiere’ to the thirsty” http://www.osservatoriooggi.it/mensile/ieri/12858-date-un-%E2%80%98barattiere%E2%80%99-agli-assetati

Plants. An MDPI open access journal. “Barattiere: An Italian Local Variety of Cucumis melo L. with Quality Traits between Melon and Cucumber” https://123dok.org/document/9ynl17kq-barattiere-italian-local-variety-cucumis-quality-traits-cucumber.html

Scientific Gardener Blog Posts:

The Fasano and Barattiere Grow-out (Release: July 19, 2024)

YouTube videos about the Barattiere:

Barattiere in Campo (By BioDiverSO and Eco-Logica Srl)

Cucumber Melon (Cucumis melo var flexuosus) Carosello Barratiere

Planting the Fasano and Barattiere in Suisun Valley, CA

First Look at the Barattiere

Barattiere and Fasano

Cetrioli pugliesi o barattiere o casorelli o Meloncelli

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The Facussa

What is a Facussa?

The Facussa is a light slender tortarello-type snake melon exhibiting bands of dark splotching that still grown in and around the town of Carloforte on the Island of San Pietro in Sardinia, Italy. This Cucumis melo variety flexuous was brought from Tunisia by indigenous sailors. The heat-loving vines that produce a continuous harvest of long beautiful fruit that are consumed like cucumbers.

How did the Facussa get to Sardinia?

Sometime after 1500, after Italian sailors had colonized the islands around Sardinia, they brought over a group of Tunisians from Africa. Along with other things, these Tunisians brought with them seeds of a long somewhat striped cucumber that they called “Faguss” or “Faquss”, which in Arabic roughly translates to “cucumber”.

While the cucumber was favored by the inhabitants of its new home, the Tunisians were unfortunately not. Over time there was conflict between the Sardinians and the Tunisians, which resulted in the latter being sent back to their African homeland. Unlike the Tunisian inhabitants, what was not sent back was their cucumber. Now in the hands of the Italians, the name of this snake melon was Italianized to “Facussa”. The main town on San Pietro Island, Carloforte, offers this variety in its markets from June through late August.

How do I grow the Facussa?

After sourcing high quality seed and preparing the beds, prepare the seed for planting by pre-sprouting. Germinating the seed prior to planting can often save time, but be careful when handling seedlings as melons and cucumber have very delicate roots that are easily damaged and root shock will stunt plant growth. Plant seeds or seedlings in the soil when there is no longer any danger of frost.

As melons, the Facussa prefers full sun and plenty of above-ground heat and enjoy soils rich soils that drain well. When preparing the garden beds, keep in mind that the Fucussa vines are sensitive to overly wet roots, so should be grown in raised areas or hills in areas where the climate is cool and summer precipitation is abundant. While in dry hot climates, this cucumber-melon can be grown on level ground or in slightly lowered gardens.

The Facussa produces sprawling vines that require some dedicated space. The length of the fruit ranges from merely 6 inches (15cm) to several feet (over 1 meter) and each vine can easily cover 6 square feet (about 2 meters). Vines with smaller fruit will set cucumbers earlier while vines with longer fruit tend to set fruit later. The fruit of the Facussa is at prime fresh eating quality when 1.5 – 2 inches (4 – 5cm) in diameter at the widest (not longest) point. Similar to harvesting zucchini or a summer squash, pick early and often for a reliably high-quality crop of appealing cucumbers.

As the summer heat sets in, these heat-loving vines will produce fruit at an accelerated rate. Shade cloth is both unnecessary and unneeded. Though the longer vines can last longer into the season, in areas with a long warm season, planting every 4-6 weeks will ensure consistent harvests of fresh high-quality fruit.

How do I save seed from my Facussa?

For seed saving, ensure that the Facussa is grown far from any other muskmelon, Armenian cucumber or any other type of Cucumis melo – regardless of the type. Allow the best fruit to ripen and grow large on the vine. Pick when the fruit changes color, begins to smell sweet, slips from the vine, begins to decay or a combination of any one of these factors. Once harvested, store fruit in a cool dry climate until harvesting seeds.

To harvest seeds, cut the fruit length-wise over a colander and scoop seeds out so they drop into the colander. Remove large pieces of inner membrane pulp from the seeds and knead any remaining seed/pulp to loosen the pulp. Rinse and repeat. If any gel membrane remains on the seeds, squeeze out as much liquid from the pulp mixture and set it aside in a jar to ferment for 12-24 hours, then empty into a colander and repeat kneading the pulp and rinsing out the seed. If needed, water winnow. When water winnowing, not all viable seed will always sink to the bottom of the container. Depending on the harvest, a large portion of the healthy viable seed will float near the top of the water. When seed is clean and rinsed, set it in a cool dry place. Once completely dry, dry winnow the seed to remove any light seed. Test seed germination, Label the container with the variety name and date, and store the processed seed in a cool dry place.

Source Information

For More Information about the Facussa, see:

Facussa Wikipedia Page (The picture was provided courtesy of Cucumber Shop) https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Facussa

Gordon Ramsay’s recipe for a Tunisian caponata, with the Facussa as a main ingredient: https://gordon-ramsay-recipe.com/tag/carloforte

History of the Facussa in Carloforte: https://www-ilgiornaledelcibo-it.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/www.ilgiornaledelcibo.it/facussa/amp/?amp_js_v=a3&amp_gsa=1&usqp=mq331AQFKAGwASA%3D#aoh=15962440495426&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&ampshare=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ilgiornaledelcibo.it%2Ffacussa%2F

Scientific Gardener Blog Posts:

The Facussa

The Facussa in the Chicken Garden

YouTube videos about the Facussa:

The Facussa

The Facussa, Part 1,

The Facussa, Part 2

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The Carosello Barese Cucumber

What is a Carosello Barese Cucumber?

Imagine you are an tomato gardener and find out a friend is growing tomatoes. You ask them what kind they are growing and they say “Red”. To which you ask them to be more descriptive. They reply “round”. You ask “Can you be a little more descriptive – like what type are they?” to which they reply, “I am growing red round tomatoes”.

Though this hypothetical narrative is very simple, so is the name of the Carosello Barese cucumber. There are dozens of unique carosello cucumber varieties, many of which originate from the area around Barese and also share the name “Barese”. While this particular carosello cucumber may very well originate from Bari, Italy – the variability of the variety as well as the traits that it shares with some other carosello varieties would lead some to believe that it is not a particularly unique carosello variety at all. The Carosello Barese can be incredibly variable not only from one seed supplier to another, but from one grower to another. But what exactly is a Carosello Barese? Generally speaking, a Carosello Barese cucumber is an Italian Cucumis melo (variety chate or Adzhur) that has an oval to cylindrical fruit with light colored exterior. The flesh of this thin-skinned cucumber is tender yet crisp, bitter-free and easy on the digestion. Currently, I know of two different variations of this one variety.

This variety of Carosello Barese is very similar to the Carosello Mezzo Lungo Barese, but much more juicy

The first type of Carosello Barese is very similar in appearance to the Mezzo Lungo Barese, except that it is not as hairy as the Mezzo Lungo Barese is. The outer skin is light in color and has some furrows spreading from end to the other along the long portion of the fruit. Unlike the Mezzo Lungo Barese, which is much more crispy, the flavor is much more like the Scopattizo Barese. The flesh is a little more tender and slightly more juicy than the Mezzo Lungo (or Medium Long) of Barese.

The Carosello Barese Cucumber from Italy – This variant is nearly identical to the Light Leccese

The second type of Carosello Barese that I know of is much more similar to the Carosello Bianco Leccese or, what I commonly refer to as the Light Carosello Leccese. This variety has thin tender skin and is has a relatively smooth cylindrical surface. However, the last Carosello Barese that I grew was much more variable in shape and growth (some growing bushy, while others grew longer vines) than the Bianco Leccese.

This Carosello Barese Cucumber (Cucumis melo var. chate) is very close to the Light Leccese

If you grow anywhere where heat is a concern or would just to grow a delicious cucumber for a change, you may want to consider growing the Carosello Barese cucumber. While not always the most consistent variety, they are often superior to many other cucumbers in taste, texture and quality.

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The Carosello Cucumber

So What exactly is a Carosello Cucumber?

Long before the regular Indian cucumber (Cucumis sativus) had swept through Europe, many varieties of immature fruit of muskmelon (Cucumis melo) thrived. After making their way up from Africa, these melon-cucumbers became the default cucumber for both the common people and the rulers. But perhaps because changes in politics or because of the practical demands of countries that prefer to utilize cucumbers for their storage qualities, Cucumis melo fell out of favor in almost all of the continent as the more cool-tolerant Cucumis sativus was introduced. While the majority of Europe had largely forgotten C. melo cucumbers, immature cucumbers continued to thrive in southern Italy. Small pockets of small-scale farmers continued to grow out these immature cucumber-melons for their families and to sell at market. In the Apulia region of Italy, this immature melon (Cucumis melo var. chate or adzhur) that is picked immature as a cucumber is known as a carosello. A carosello cucumber is a muskmelon that is picked early like a zucchini, yet consumed like a gourmet cucumber. With a fine crisp-yet-tender texture, rich flavor and exceptional quality, many carosello cucumbers are truly in a class of their own.

Carosello varieties – from the Biodiversity of the Horticultrual Species in Pugliga (BiodiverSO) website at biodiverbiodiversitapuglia.it
Image from the website For the Biodiversity of the Horticultrual Species in Pugliga (BiodiverSO) at biodiversitapuglia.it

Carosello cucumbers come in many shapes from longer to cylindrical to oval to round. They range in color from nearly white to slightly mottled, to slightly dark to fully dark green. Carosello can also exhibit different patterns such as striped, mottled or solid coloring. Many have a unique texture to the flesh and a taste that was selected by the individual farmers where they originated. Each variety has its own unique qualities that make it worth enjoying.

Various caroselli, courtesy of carosellopugliese.blogspot

Where did the Carosello cucumber get its name?

The name “Carosello” for these cucumbers came by Italian seed companies trying to label the seeds with a word that would be familiar with consumers. A friend of mine, Giuseppe Monteleone, who has a family history in the region where these cucumber-melons come from further explains: “In Italian the word “carosello” means the same as the English word “carousel” [meaning the amusement ride for children in which children ride around on a circle while listening to music from an organ]. In the case of the carosello cucumber, the most accepted explanation is that it comes from a local dialect word: “carusieddo” because the first place in Puglia in ancient times when “carusieddo” was first cultivated is Carosino, a small village close to Taranto. When seed companies decided to market “carusieddo”, they couldn’t write on seed packets a vernacular word, so they chose the closest Italian word to “carusieddo” as a sound: carosello, which doesn’t have anything to do with “carousel” in this case.”

Various caroselli, courtesy of carosellopugliese.blogspot

How do you grow a Carosello Cucumber?

Begin by finding high quality seed and preparing the beds. As carosello cucumbers are fundamentally melons (Cucumis melo variety chate) they tend to grow like other vines in the muskmelon family. Melons thrive in the heat and enjoy soils rich soils that drain well. They can be sensitive to wet roots and should be grown in raised areas or hills in areas where there is abundant summer rainfall.

Growing Striped Carosello Leccese (Meloncella Fasciata) cucumbers.

Germinating seed prior to planting can often save time, but be careful when handling seedlings as melons and cucumber have very delicate roots that are easily damaged and root shock will stunt plant growth. Plant seeds or seedlings in the soil when there is no longer any danger of frost. Vines prefer hot days and warm nights. While most carosello varieties produce their first crop of cucumbers when the vines are just over 12 inches in diameter, the roots will require more space as the vines grow.

Various caroselli, courtesy of carosellopugliese.blogspot

Carosello grow like a zucchini, with the initial cluster of fruit in the crown of the vine and later flushes of fruit setting further on. Similar to zucchini, carosello cucumbers grow quickly and should be harvested often. Any Pick fruit when between 1-2 inches in diameter as the quality is often best when about 1 ½ inches in diameter. Round varieties are often best when picked at the size of a peach (3-5 inches in diameter) fuzz on the fruit can either be eaten or can be easily brushed off dry or under a little running water. The skin of most varieties is thin and tender, while the flesh can range from tender, yet crisp to very firm. The initial flavor and texture is similar to a Lebanese or English cucumber, while the aftertaste is often slightly sweet. Carosello cucumbers are often easier to digest than regular cucumbers and, unlike regular cucumbers, the fruit does not exhibit bitterness when the plant is stressed.

How do you save seed from Carosello Cucumbers?

Saving seed of carosello cucumber is very similar to saving seeds of regular Muskmelon because they are Cucumis melo and will easily cross with any other muskmelon, such as cantaloupe or honeydew – and many of the same rules apply. One way to recognize fruit that is beginning to produce seed is that the fruit will first grow very large, then stop growing – even when the plant continues to thrive. To determine seed ripeness, look for fruit that slips from the vine, has changed color, begins to smell very sweet or has become very soft. Once the fruit begins to decay, seed can be removed, rinsed and dried for growing the next generation. Without intentional selection, open-pollinated vegetable varieties often experience what is called “drift”. This means that without saving seed from fruit and plants that exhibit characteristic traits of the specific cultivar, the variety can noticeably change over the course of just a few generations.

Saving Seeds of a Carosello Cucumber (Cucumis sativus var. chate)

Picture Sources:

BiodiverSO For the Biodiversity of the Horticultrual Species in Pugliga at biodiverbiodiversitapuglia.it

Carosello Pugliese Blog (Carosello Pugliese and other vegetables grown on the balcony) at: http://carosellopugliese.blogspot.com/

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The Snake Melons

What is an snake melon? What is an Armenian cucumber?

Similar to other muskmelons, Snake melons are from the species Cucumis melo, but instead of the melon being a round sweet fruit that is consumed when ripe, snake melons are long savory fruit that are picked immature and consumed as cucumbers. Snake melons are a variety of Cucumis melo called flexuous. The term flexuous means “full of bends and curves” and is synonymous with the word “curvy”. Unlike the United States and Canada, most countries have their own name for this unripe melon, which – in the local vernacular – means the same thing as what we call an “Armenian cucumber”.

While the stereotypical snake melon is light-green long and curvy, not all of them are. They come in a variety of lengths, colors and patterns. There are some that are dark green, striped, splotchy, extra long and thin, short and some that are so light that they are nearly white.

The Light Armenian Cucumber (Cucumis melo var. flexuous)
The Light Armenian Cucumber compared with the Dark Armenian Cucumber (both Cucumis melo var flexuous)

Why are snake melons often called “Armenian” Cucumbers?

Armenian Cucumbers are mainly called that because they were brought by Armenian immigrants into the central valley of California somewhere between the late 1800s and early 1900s and became well known afterwards. While they are called “Armenian cucumbers” in the United States, these melons (Cucumis melo) that are picked immature as cucumbers have a long history dating back to ancient Egypt and were once the primary type of cucumber in much of the world. Many countries (and sometimes different regions within a country) have their own name for this type of cucumber.

The Dark Armenian Cucumber or Tortarello Scuro Barese is a Cucumis Melo cucumber
Slices of the Dark Armenian cucumber or Tortarello Scuro Barese cucumber (C. melo)

How do you know when to Pick a snake melon or Armenian cucumber?

Picking an snake melon is similar to picking a zucchini or any slender summer squash. The easiest way to determine when to pick an snake melon is by the diameter. Armenian cucumbers are usually most palatable when between 1-2 inches in diameter. The goal is to pick a crisp, yet slightly tender juicy cucumber. If picked too early, the fruit can be a bit dry yet somewhat tender while if it is picked later the fruit can be quite juicy but more firm and crunchy than a carrot. It is important to check the vines often for fruit because the ideal window of time for picking is usually only a few days. If the fruit is left on to mature for seed, the vines tend to siphon their strength into existing fruit for seed production instead of producing more fruit.

The Painted Serpent or Striped Armenian (Cucumis melo var. flexuous)
Slices of the Striped Armenian, or Painted Serpent Cucumber
The Facussa is a very rare snake melon from Carloforte in Sardinia, Italy
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The Cucumber-Melons

What is a cucumber-melon?

Often when people think of a cucumber, they imagine an American long green thick-skinned waxy fruit that is purchased from a grocery store. Others imagine a Long English cucumber or a Lebanese thin-skinned small fruit. Even if an individual has never encountered a bitter cucumber or experienced indigestion from eating one, he may consider cucumbers to be bland, watery fruit that exhibit a bit of a slightly bitter sappy aftertaste. To all those who has become accustomed to the flavor, texture and aftertaste of regular Cucumis sativus cucumbers, and would prefer a better experience – there is a much better cucumber available.

Assorted Cucumis melo cucumbers, or cucumber-melons (See biodiversitapuglia.it)

Prior to the introduction of regular Cucumis sativus cucumbers, melons were the only cucumbers many were familiar with. Unlike the mature sweet muskmelons that we are accustomed to, Cucumis melo (or C. melo) was picked as a savory immature long delicious cucumber. From Ancient Egypt, C. melo cucumbers made their way to Europe. They were sought after by various groups of people and were a staple of kings and emperors.

The Cucumis melo varieties that are most suitable as cucumbers have been selected to be picked immature as cucumbers and generally have a taste, texture and growth habit that ensure that the expression of their best traits occurs during the immature stage of fruit development. The heat-loving vines develop fruit that is crisp, yet tender, bitter-free and gentle on the stomach. They slowly transpire water, have a moderate water content and often impart a rich, almost complex flavor with a slightly sweet aftertaste. For comparison sake, cucumber-melons are like tomatoes in that they are a fruit that is consumed as a savory vegetable. Or you can think of them in the way that a zucchini is an immature form of squash. In short, cucumber-melons can be considered the gourmet “zucchini” of the muskmelon family.

Some Cucumis melo (melons) picked immature as cucumbers (see carosellopugliese.blogspot)

Cucumis melo fruit that is picked immature as a cucumber is often referred to as a melon cucumber or a “cucumber-melon”. While there are many indigenous varieties, there are two main types that people may be familiar with. The first and most common is, in America, referred to as an Armenian cucumber. One who has seen an Armenian-type cucumber will most likely envision a long light green smooth fruit with rounded ridges. But there are other types of Armenian cucumber including those that are light, dark, striped, splotched or may have other characteristics that set it apart from a regular Armenian cucumber. The Armenian cucumber also goes by many different names, depending upon the country someone lives in. The second, lesser known type of C. melo cucumber originates from southern Italy. These gourmet Italian cucumbers are generally referred to as “carosello”. Although shorter than most Armenian cucumbers, they display a range of flavors, colors, shapes and sizes.

Should someone ever get the chance to taste a cucumber-melon, they may find it very worthwhile. With their crisp, tender-yet-crisp, bitter-free rich texture and rich flavor it is no wonder why this was the cucumber sought after by kings.