|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Mar 8, 2010 8:13:18 GMT -5
I am intrigued by this dry fleshed water melon because it is supposed to be marginally easier to grow than the other water melons but also because it keeps well, can be made into preserved and apparently (never tried) resembles apples in baked goods. Why not just grow apples, you ask? Do you have to ask. 'Cause it sounds neat, that's why.
Anyone have any experience.
If I remember correctly, there are a couple varieties of citron: red and green seeded. Now are the green seeded, hull-less or is that just their colour?
|
|
|
|
Post by canadamike on Mar 8, 2010 14:36:36 GMT -5
hard seeds Telsing, very hard seeds
|
|
|
|
Post by Hristo on Mar 8, 2010 16:04:16 GMT -5
Yes, they are hard too. I still have some, a bit old, but if you want will add of them to the others. That variety is not early BTW. Personally I do not think that citron types deserve much attention in terms of taste/flavour. Here the old people say: "Even watermelon rind will taste good if you add enough sugar to it" :-).
|
|
|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Mar 8, 2010 19:59:49 GMT -5
Not sure if that is an endorsement Hristo but maybe in the middle of winter...
Actually I remember seeing the seeds and yeah, they looked rather impenetrable.
|
|
|
|
Post by jonnyyuma on Mar 8, 2010 20:32:25 GMT -5
Hello, Citron melons aren't known for being sweet. I have never tasted a sweet one out of probably 30-40 lines. They have been used in breeding. AU Producer and AU (can't remember) were a lanatus x citron cross. You can make good rind pickles out of them i guess. I wouldn't know. Some of them are Eugusi (sp?). They have some weird seed film or coat. I don't really remember but you can look over this google search. www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&q=egusi+watermelon&aq=f&aqi=&aql=f&oq=Jonny |
|
|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Mar 9, 2010 7:31:54 GMT -5
Thanks Jonny.
That was my understanding is that they were used for baking and preserving. Really, it's their keeping quality that fascinates me.
|
|
|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Mar 9, 2010 7:33:07 GMT -5
Just saw a picture of the seeds - unique.
|
|
|
|
Post by toad on Mar 9, 2010 15:40:46 GMT -5
I grow a belgian/french green seeded citron "Gigirille" Up here in Denmark, if you can grow a watermelon and extract viable seeds, it's a cold tolerant variety, even if grown in a greenhouse. I was my first succes in watermelon growing, but I had no clue how to consume it, and raw it was terrible.
Seeds were hard and green with a waxy shine. I gave all my seeds away. Could look, if I should have e few tugged away, but then it would be something like two-three seeds.
|
|
|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Mar 10, 2010 7:44:46 GMT -5
Thanks Toad. I got a small package of them already. I"m still in early stages of this interest. We'll see if these plants are as useful as I hope them to be.
|
|
|
|
Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 10, 2010 8:11:48 GMT -5
Telsing, I grew them about 10 years ago. If you have a Bandsaw in your workshop, grow lots. Otherwise, just a few. The seeds may be hard, but the fruits are akin to a boulder.
It's not difficult to understand why those of us who bake Fruitcake faithfully every year for the Holidays, buy their candied citron instead of raising it ourselves.
|
|
|
|
Post by ottawagardener on Mar 10, 2010 9:06:50 GMT -5
So I have my work 'cut' out for me is what you're saying?  |
|
|
|
Post by bluelacedredhead on Mar 10, 2010 10:12:14 GMT -5
So I have my work 'cut' out for me is what you're saying? You're Sharp today ;D |
|
|
|
Post by blueadzuki on Mar 10, 2010 18:19:32 GMT -5
Telsing, I grew them about 10 years ago. If you have a Bandsaw in your workshop, grow lots. Otherwise, just a few. The seeds may be hard, but the fruits are akin to a boulder. It's not difficult to understand why those of us who bake Fruitcake faithfully every year for the Holidays, buy their candied citron instead of raising it ourselves. Icidentally for those who do bake fruitcake which sort of citron is better, this kind or the "real" one from the peel of Citrus medica. is it an ethnic thin fuitcake wise (this stuff for english american fruitcake, the citrus stuff for panntetone and cannoli? |
|
|
|
Post by denninmi on Mar 11, 2010 15:50:23 GMT -5
I grew Citron melons in the past, primarily out of curiosity. In 2008, I grew a number of plants, harvested, and preserved them.
Personally, while it is a bit of work, I found the final product to be quite awesome. I didn't grow any last year, since I had some of the preserved product left, but am going to do them this year.
I don't know how long the fruits will last. I kept mine for a couple of weeks without incident, as I worked on processing them. They are hard, but not THAT difficult to cut with a good, shark knife. The tedious part is removing the abundant seeds. Should someone someday breed a seedless variety, that would be a great leap forward in Citron melons.
They have absolutely no flavor or sweetness, just a firm flesh a lot like zucchini in texture and flavor.
Think of them as a canvas -- you can "paint" them with whatever flavors you like.
In 2008, I made several flavors -- lemon, lime-ginger, anise, cherry, strawberry.
I processed them by cutting the flesh into bite sized pieces, then boiling this for a bit in water with a little alum (I can look up the exact recipe/instructions if anyone wants to know, it was something I found online by googling it). Then, you rise this off, and cook them in sugar syrup with added flavor and/or color.
The final product is great for fruitcakes, muffins, etc.
FWIW, I think that candied true citron peel and candied citron melon are pretty interchangeable in recipes if both are prepared properly. Of course, the citron melon will only taste like true citron peel if you use lemon flavoring in it. It can taste like anything you want it to taste like if you can get the flavoring from someplace like Loran Oil Company in Lansing, Michigan or a similar candymaking supply house.
|
|
|
|
Post by cortona on Mar 11, 2010 17:21:06 GMT -5
hi ottawagardener if you want some seeds i can send you some of my red seeded citron, i have some remained from previus year that i dant plan to grow just a pm with your add and the seeds are yours!
|
|
