Cucumis zambianus (Cucurbitaceae), a New Species from Northwestern Zambia. Horned Cucumber, Jelly Melon, Kiwano Annual vining vegetable native to NW Zambia where it
Cucumis zambianus (Cucurbitaceae), a New Species from Northwestern Zambia.
Horned Cucumber, Jelly Melon, Kiwano 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. Speaking to the "water" aspect of this, there are several advantages to considering "growing your own drinking water" in this manner. I often get thirsty in the garden, and find that eating a cucumber assuages thirst and keeps me going. The African cucumber is particularly nice for this, as the inside stays watery and pleasant tasting regardless of stage of ripeness (outer shell does not get rubbery). When I "drink" the insides of the horned cucumber, and chew up the seeds, my body feels just as balanced as if I'd drunk a can of raw coconut water, and my pocketbook says thank you, and the earth says thank you for not using an aluminum can! Having trouble finding clean drinking water? Cycle the water source through the plants in your garden, and they will clean it up, and fix pure water in their tissues for you to use. This may sound farfetched, but in areas where amoebic dysentary is prevalent, it can be lifesaving to peel and eat your water instead of drinking it from a glass! These kinds of precautions are relevant in certain parts of the world, and may well become more relevant into the foggy future. Lets be prepared! Cultivation: Standard garden culture for cucumbers. Start indoors just prior to last frost or direct seed. We started our's on May 17 in the greenhouse. Germination was efficient and rapid. We transplanted to the garden to 2 foot centers on June 1 and were eating cucumbers by July 1st. These were way faster to mature than "marketmore." The mature vines lasted throughout the summer and proved to be an effective weed barrier--they suppress the weeds between the beds.
Cucumis zambianus is a relatively new species, first officially described in 2008.
We ship worldwide from the European Union using registered air post with signature confirmation on delivery.
Log in to your account and go to Order History > Details to find your tracking number.
You will receive email notifications at every step — please check your spam/junk folder if you don’t see them.
Track your package via:
Cash on delivery is not available.
Always provide a valid mobile number with country code when ordering (e.g., +365 456 7686 576).
Do not order to P.O. Boxes or if you cannot be home to sign for the package. We cannot leave parcels with neighbors.
If a package sent to a P.O. Box is lost or undelivered, you lose the right to a refund.
For customers in Brazil and Mexico:
We cannot refund packages lost or destroyed by customs.
If your package is returned, we will refund only the product cost — shipping costs are not refundable.
You must pay return postage (€2) and any costs for reshipping.
If a package is returned to us for any reason, you are responsible for paying the return shipping (€2) plus the cost to resend the package.
Registered shipments require a signature from the recipient.
If your tracking shows the package is still at the origin post office, it means the package is in transit — please contact your local post office directly for updates.
We are not responsible for delivery times and cannot track shipments for you.
| Delivery Option | Processing Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Priority Delivery | Ships in 1-7 business days | Prioritizes order processing (not guaranteed faster delivery); delays possible during holidays (3-10 days) |
| Secured Delivery | Ships in 1-7 business days | Available for orders up to €150; refund if lost |
| Standard Delivery | Ships in 7-10 business days | More economical; delays possible during holidays (7-14 days) |
Estimated Delivery Time:
Within the EU: 3–20 days
Worldwide: 5–30 days
Example delivery times to the USA:
Delivered in 13, 17, 19, 22, or 27 days.
Note: Delivery times depend on your location and the local postal system. COVID-19 may cause additional delays.
Shipping and handling fees are calculated automatically during checkout based on the weight of the parcel and the destination country.
We do not process or ship orders on Saturdays or Sundays.
Bank Transfer (SEPA / IBAN / SWIFT-BIC)
Include your order reference in the payment description (e.g., "SGS-19811702"). Orders without payment within 7 days are automatically cancelled.
PayPal
Payments accepted in Euros only. Please select Euros at checkout.
Card Payment
For card payments, visit our other site: Exotic Seeds Store
We accept Visa, MasterCard, American Express, CB, Diners Club, Discover, China UnionPay, JCB, and Discover.
Customers are responsible for any transaction fees. Please provide payment details to help us process your order efficiently.
Before placing your order, please check our website for any special notices, holiday schedules, or specific conditions that may affect your purchase.
