Giant Achocha Seeds
Giant Achocha Seeds - Cyclanthera pedata - Caigua
Caigua
- Annual
Full Sun
- Germination Tested November 17, 2024: 100%
- 5 seeds per packet
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Achocha or caigua is a vigorous annual vine in the cucumber family. The fruits can be eaten whole when young either raw or cooked, and stuffed and cooked when larger. This is a giant variety I sourced from Slovakia, which is excellent for stuffing. The spines on the fruit are soft and pliable, and some don't have spines at all.
When raw, achocha tastes like a fresh young cucumber, with hints of green pepper or green bean. They’re juicy and crunchy. Delicious! Try the young achochas in place of cucumber in this Smashed Asian Cucumber Salad recipe. They also shine in stir fries.
When the achochas grow larger and the seeds toughen, the inside becomes hollow and the seeds can easily be taken out. Try substituting giant achocha in stuffed pepper recipes. Here is a Peruvian "caigua rellenas" (stuffed achocha) recipe. Or slice them and add to stir fries. They also make an interesting container for cocktails- see photos. The achochas can be frozen, which may eliminate the need for blanching for stuffed achocha recipes.
The stage where the fruit is medium-sized is the most challenging to work with, because the seeds have toughened up and are still encased in pulp. More effort is required to hollow the achocha out with a spoon to remove the tough seeds. The bottom line: harvest the small or large fruits, not medium, for easy cooking!
Achocha grows quickly, and is almost immune to diseases and pests that affect other plants in the same family. They would make a fantastic living shade wall on a patio or garden nook because they grow so quickly. They usually don’t start setting fruit until later in the season, but will keep producing until frost. They shine in the garden after the cucumbers have slowed down.
Achocha was domesticated centuries ago in the Andes, but interestingly it’s no longer found growing wild there. It was an important crop to the Incas. Now it is widely grown and enjoyed in South and Central America, South Asia, and beyond.
Growing Instructions
Growing Instructions
Shipping & Returns
Shipping & Returns
We ship seeds via Canada Post within Canada for $6 to $8 depending on weight, United States for $20, and Internationally for $20*. Live plants, bulbs, and bulbils can only be shipped within Canada.
Shipping in Canada
We ship seeds in Canada via regular letter mail, which is an untracked service, and usually takes 1-3 weeks to arrive once we fulfill your order, but occasionally orders take longer, especially to Ontario and East.
Customers can now opt for tracked, express shipping options at checkout if you require faster delivery.
Larger bulbs and plants are sent via tracked flat rate box.
Shipping to the US
We now require all US shoppers to obtain a Small Lot Seed Permit before we can mail your seeds. It's free to apply and you will likely be granted the permit instantly. We appreciate if you can email us your permit as soon as you can after your purchase.
How to apply for your Small Seed Lot Import Permit:
- Go to https://efile.aphis.usda.gov/s/
- Select PPQ-587 in the dropdown menu and click "Get Started".
- Login and follow the instructions to obtain a permit. It's best to list "Eligible Taxa" instead of listing all the species you'd like to import so you don't need to worry about missing any species you ordered.
- Once you receive your permit, promptly email us 2 documents: a copy of your permit and a copy of the yellow/green shipping labels. Tell us if which USDA station you want us to send the seeds to. If not mentioned we will choose one. Our email is grow@cicadaseeds.ca
- We are not able to send any pepper or tomato seeds, or any live plant materials to the US due to restrictions.
After receiving your documentation, we will mail your seeds to the inspection facility. We will ship via tracked parcel, and you will receive the tracking number when your order has shipped. Orders will be mailed first to a plant inspection facility in the US, then they forward the package on to your address after inspection. This can take several weeks, depending on how long the inspection takes. Unfortunately we are not able to replace packages that are confiscated or destroyed by customs, or for any duties or tariffs placed on your order.
Shipping Internationally
International customers can select tracked or untracked shipping at checkout. The package will list the contents as "Garden Seeds". It is your responsibility to ensure you have the required import permit. We are not able to send any live plant materials internationally. Cicada Seeds will not be responsible for any orders held or confiscated by customs, or for any additional duties or tariffs placed on your order.
International shipping countries include: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong SAR, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom.
This list may change without notice. Sometimes Canada Post will not allow us to ship to certain countries due to wars or natural disasters, see this page for delivery service alerts: https://www.canadapost-postescanada.ca/cpc/en/our-company/news-and-media/service-alerts.page
Please reach out if your country is not on this list, email us and we will try to arrange an alternate shipping option.
If you have any issues with your order, please contact us within 60 days and we will do our best to make it right.
*Shipping fees listed here are in Canadian dollars.
Ecologically Grown
Ecologically Grown
Seeds are grown ecologically without the use of chemical pesticides or fertilizers.
