The Jelly Melon originated in semi-arid Africa near the Kalahari Desert and is botanically speaking not a melon. This bizarre fruit with its prominent spines is also known as blowfish fruit and unbelievably it was actually featured in an old episode of Star Trek (alien food?). Grown for its lime green colored pulp which is reminiscent of cucumber, citrus and kiwi. Delightful in creative cocktails! Oblong fruits grow to about 6-7 and are ripe to pick when the striped green skin turns yellow orange. Traveling through rural Kenya in 2024 I regularly saw it sold at farmers markets. Fairly easy to grow – similar to cucumbers. SSF.
