permaculture

[Ute Bohnsack <sustag@tinet.ie>]

Peter Birkett wrote:
> 
> Dear Ute
> 
> I grew Kiwanos last year in my greenhouse ( situated 35 km West of Munich).
> I didn't pay the Kiwanos much attention and grew them between Tomatoes. They
> did come in the end, but very late. I think I got my first fruit in October,
> although I did not as I remember start particularly early in the season. I
> think I sowed in April and planted at the end of May.
So there's hope yet...
> 
> I did however decide to drop them as the fruits weren't any better tasting
> than good cucumbers and a lot more difficult to handle.
Hmmm. It was the description as tasting between melon and banana that 
attracted
me...
They definitely serve well as a weed-suppressing ground cover!!!

 For massive crops I
> suggest Lagonaria which climb all over the place (one escaped onto the roof
> of my greenhouse, I was scared the fruits would break the windows) and taste
> good.

I got some seeds for next year already! 
> 
> If they don't wan't to fruit try breaking of the growing tips, maybe they'll
> change to fruiting. Whereas if they are not producing flowers maybe a
> spraying of Valerian extract (Baldrianblueten) will help.
I have cut of the tips as someone else on alt.permaculture had suggested that.
Valerian is a good idea, too.

> Kiwano seems to be in at the moment, I think mostly because they look odd.
Certainly not out here. Have never seen them anywhere. Maybe in Dublin. But 
then
there are plenty people here who have never eaten a squash, aubergine or 
radish
in their life. 
> 
> Hope this helped.
Sure did. Thanks.
> 
> Pete

Ute
BTW Have we met? In Prinzhöfte or Steyerberg?

-- 
Dipl.-Ing. TU Landschafts- und Freiraumplanung
Ute Bohnsack
Sailchearnach
Clogher
Kilfenora
Co. Clare
Ireland
mailto:sustag@tinet.ie
EN-DE-EN Naturschutz, Landschaftsplanung, Landwirtschaft
http://www.atril.com/bin/directory.dll/1546