Devil's Claw (Proboscidea)

[keen101 (Biolumo / Andrew B.)]

Just curious if anyone has grown Devil's Claw (Proboscidea) before?

I got a bunch of seeds from that native seeds place, and was mostly curious in it because it's supposed to be native to my region here in the west. Anyway, i planted them all, and actually thought none of them germinated. But, i found a reddish-looking plant similar to a squash plant growing, and i think it's a Devil's Claw plant.

I've read the seed pods are edible if cooked before they ripen. I've also read that they may stink slightly. If that's the case... they may provide an excellent raccoon deterrent if planted near my corn next year.

[flowerpower]

I want to say that Blue Flint grows it. I tried, but never got any plants. Try planting squash with big spiney leaves on the borders of the corn patch. Coon hands and feet are extremely sensitive. They don't want to walk on the squash leaves or stems. It feels like a cactus to them. People think coons wash their food. But that's not true. They are just playing with it. It helps them to learn what food is shaped like.

[orflo]

First of all, this is not a cucuurbitaceae, but a martyniaceae (that's why I moved this ). I've grown some varieties, it needs a really warm summer over here to produce something. I wouldn't say the taste is great, a bit bland, and they really have to be young pods, otherwise they become very hard and unapetizing. I've added very young pods to soups, which was OK. The seeds can be eaten as well (if they are produced), but I never tried that.
The plants like a nice sunny spot, a bit of rain and do better in very fertile soil. I especially like the fully-grown dried pods, but that's more of their appearance....
Proboscidea louisianaca:


Proboscidea fragrans:

[stevil]

Much the same experience here - have to start them inside to give them a head start. I grow them as a curiosity more than anything. Haven't managed to produce mature seed, so I'm reliant on getting new seed fairly frequently - the seed loses its viability quickly.

[keen101 (Biolumo / Andrew B.)]

It was a devils claw i found growing in that pot. Unfortunately it died in the early summer heat. I forgot to tell everyone. It was the only one that germinated too. I'm dissapointed. I wanted to see it grow.