Long Melon Botanical Name: Benincasa hispida

General Description/History: - looks like a large, cylindrical, mottle green cucumber - young melons are quite fuzzy, but this is lost in mature fruit - instead, mature fruit have a white waxy coating that is easily removed - a tropical fruit which does not taste sweet like a melon, despite the name - young shoots and leaves are also edible - typically fruits during the dry season from April to October - can be stored for 12 months if waxy coating is intact, so is available all year round

Alternative Names: Fuzzy Melon White Gourd Winter Melon

Availability:  Month  Jan   Feb   Mar   Apr   May   Jun   Jul   Aug   Sep   Oct   Nov   Dec   Availability                                                                         All Year

Growing Areas: NT - Northern Territory QLD - Queensland North