21/02/2024
Our first Winter melon harvest. At our care farm we try to have a diverse variety of fruits and veggies so that our jolly farmers can enjoy their daily activities at our Care Farm.
What is a Winter melon?
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. It's a popular ingredient in soups, sweets, and beverages. It thrives in warm climates, such as Asia and South Florida and ofcoure Curaçao.
Once picked, the melons are easy to transport, and they store well. They are sold primarily in Asian markets where there is a higher demand.
Winter melon, scientifically called Benincasa hispida, is also commonly called ash gourd, wax gourd, white gourd, and winter gourd. It is a member of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae), commonly referred to as cucurbits, which includes cucumbers, melons, zucchini, pumpkins, and other squash.
The fruit's seasonal name likely comes from the fact that, while grown during the summer and autumn, it can be stored for up to three to four months and eaten during the winter. Additionally, immature melon has fine hairs and this fuzziness reminds some people of snow. Once it matures, it loses its hair and gets a waxy coating.
Winter melon can grow to more than a foot in length and weigh more than 40 pounds. It resembles a large watermelon with its oblong shape and dark green, waxy skin, although some are more round in shape with the white fur. Unlike a watermelon, the flesh and seeds are white, it's relatively tasteless, and it cannot be eaten raw. Instead, recipes with winter melon often call for steaming, simmering, or parboiling, but be careful not to overcook it—it can get mushy. You can find winter melon as a seasonal item at our care farm. Open daily from 8 till 5 and remember swipe only!
