Spaghetti Or Shark Fin Melon seeds

12 seeds for $20

Spaghetti or Shark Fin Melon (Cucurbita ficifolia) is a tender perennial in the cucumber family. It gets its name because the strands are scraped out and made into a broth resembling the texture of shark fin soup.
The plant is widely used both in Asia and in Southern and Central America where it goes under many different names including Chilcayote (Mexico and Central America), Chila (Peru) or Sambo (Ecuador.)

The melons are best grown on a soil that is not too high in nitrogen. Planting out on an over-rich soil only makes them produce a lot of foliage. Plants should be grown 1-2m apart, to allow them space to trail, and should be watered in well.

Towards the end of the season, the leaves may become infected with powdery mildew, but this should not affect the yield. It is customary to harvest 4-5 large fruits per plant weighing 2-3-3-4kg each. Shark fin melons are treated like an ash or winter melon and harvested at the end of the season when they are mature. They will keep very well (several months, and even up to a year) in a cool, dry, frost-free place over winter. There are many recipes available online on how to cook spaghetti or shark fin melon.