iN PHOTOS: Six unusual crops growing in Kamloops, Okanagan gardens

Tomatillos? Cucamelons? Luffa? Some gardeners in Kamloops and the Okanagan are harvesting interesting and unusual crops this fall that not everyone knows are grown in the region. Kamloops gardener Ariel Maki grew lemon cucumbers this year, small and brightly coloured cucumbers the size of lemons. “It was one of our best producing crops this year, they are crazy high producers and took over the regular cucumbers,” she said. “I had so many I was bringing them to work to share with coworkers and friends, not many people grow them and everyone seemed to like them.” Lemon cucumbers are originally from India and have been eaten for thousands of years, according to Home and Gardens https://www.homesandgardens.com/gardens/how-to-grow-lemon-cucumbers . They were brought to North American in the late 1800s and have recently gained in popularity among gardeners. The plants can be started from seed indoors, but Maki bought hers as seedlings from a garden centre this spring “on a whim.” She said lemon cukes taste much like regular cucumbers, and she eats them fresh with salt and pepper. Kamloops gardener Naomi Spendiff planted watermelon seeds this year of an unusual variety, a melon called orangeglo. The melons have a unique colour, flavour and size. Spendiff harvested a 17 pound orangeglo melon, and one weighing almost 25 pounds. “The melons are big and oblong, and yes, the ones we grew are huge,” she said. “They take consistent water over time, they are just as water loving as tomatoes would be, and it takes 90 days for them to grow.” Orangeglo watermelons were first developed by a seed company in Texas https://giyplants.com/gardening/orange-watermelon/#:~:text=Orangeglo%20watermelons%20were%20first%20developed%20by%20the%20Willhite,them%20excellent%20watermelons%20for%20desserts%2C%20juicing%2C%20or%20snacking. in the 1960s and are popular because of their patterned rind, orange flesh and tropical flavour.  Spendiff purchased her seeds from an heirloom seed site in spring, not knowing whether they would produce in Kamloops. “I try to push the envelope a bit and try to see if I can grow things that aren’t meant to grow here,” she said. She said the flavour of the melon is sweet and almost tropical like a pineapple. Some gardeners are successfully growing a green fruit called a tomatillo, and despite its name and appearance, it isn’t a tomato. Tomatillo means “little tomato” in Spanish but it is much smaller fruit covered in a papery husk, also known as Mexican ground cherry or husk cherry, according to the Old Farmers Almanac.  https://www.almanac.com/plant/tomatillos#:~:text=Tomatillos%20are%20not%20just%20small%20unripe%20tomatoes!%20These%20tasty%20treats READ MORE: iN PHOTOS: Protected wetlands burst with life in Kelowna and Kamloops https://infotel.ca/newsitem/in-photos-protected-wetlands-burst-with-life-in-kelowna-and-kamloops/it106726#:~:text=Wetlands%20are%20alive%20with%20wildlife%20in%20the%20Thompson-Okanagan%20region,%20and Native to Central America, the fruit grows wild in parts of Mexico where they have been cultivated for hundreds of years. The fruits are picked green, have some what citrusy flavour and are commonly used to make salsa verde. Penticton gardener Donna Gee submitted a photo to iNFOnews.ca of the goji berries she is successfully growing in her garden, and in a message said the berries are still producing due to a favourable climate. READ MORE: iN VIDEO: Okanagan woman turns passion for parrots into educational business https://infotel.ca/newsitem/in-video-okanagan-woman-turns-passion-for-parrots-into-educational-business/it106681#:~:text=A%20Summerland%20woman%20has%20turned%20her%20passion%20for%20parrots%20and Native to Asia, the berries are known as super fruits for the nutritional punch they pack. They are typically found in stores in dried form but can also be eaten fresh and juiced, according to the Old Farmers Almanac. https://www.almanac.com/plant/goji-berries#:~:text=Goji%20berries%20are%20all%20the%20rage,%20and%20for%20good%20reason. The berries are orange to red in colour, 1-inch-long and have a flavour similar to cranberries. Kamloops gardener Jennifer Frey grew luffa this year, sponge-like gourds that are native to tropical Asia that can be harvested and dried to be used as dish scrubbers https://www.farmersalmanac.com/grow-luffa-sponge or sudsy exfoliators. Other Thompson Okanagan gardeners have produced cucamelons, tiny green vegetables that despite their name are neither cucumbers or melons. Originating in Central America https://practicalselfreliance.com/growing-cucamelons/ , the flavour of a cucamelon is said to be like a cucumber mixed with lime.  To contact a reporter for this story, email Shannon Ainslie mailto:sainslie@infonews.ca  or call 250-819-6089 or email the editor mailto:news@infonews.ca . You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom mailto:tips@infonews.ca  and be entered to win a monthly prize draw. We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. 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