Winter Melon
Winter melons are grown in warm regions specifically asia and south florida and are a variety of musk melons.
Winter melon. It has a chalky dark green some time pistachio green colored skin with a waxy feel. Winter melon benincasa hispida 冬瓜 dong gua is also known as white gourd and winter gourd. Its exact country of origin is unknown. The fruit is covered in a fuzzy coating of fine hairs when young.
Basic growing condition required. Winter melon is a light vegetable so it s delicious with meat. It s also delicious with pork in place of the chicken. Health benefits of winter melon boosts vision.
It thrives in warm climates such as asia and south florida. Once picked the melons are easy to transport and they store well. A significant amount of research has linked vision problems to a deficiency in riboflavin more commonly. Winter melons are perhaps the largest cold season melons.
It is the only member of the genus benincasa. Winter melon scientific name benincasa hispida is a plant native to southern asia. It s a popular ingredient in soups sweets and beverages. After being introduced to europe they are.
The outer layer is hard with a waxy coating and grows on curly vines much like watermelons. One of the largest fruits ever the winter melon is about a foot long can weigh up to 40 pounds and has a dark green appearance. Also known as white melons they are native to southeast asia. The melon is shaped like a long squash and can grow as large as 80 centimeters 30 inches in length.
Winter melon or ash gourd is a mild tasting fruit that s often used as a vegetable in asian cuisines most commonly in chinese and indian food. They are most often marketed by the slice due to their extreme size. With more than. They can measure 15 inches in diameter and can weigh in excess of thirty pounds at maturity.
These melons grow as big as 80 cm in. Glance over the physical traits of the fruit as given below. Different sources say that it was first cultivated in egypt china indonesia india japan or sri lanka. Benincasa hispida the wax gourd also called ash gourd white gourd winter gourd tallow gourd ash pumpkin winter melon chinese preserving melon and alu puhul is a vine grown for its very large fruit eaten as a vegetable when mature.
What is known for sure is that this fruit has been cultivated for thousands of years in various regions of asia.