Decaying melons smell bad, so do this a good distance from your home. They also reduce the nutritional benefits of the plant and produce toxic metabolites and aflatoxins. CAUTION. They … Egusi seeds are comprised of 50% oil, 78% of which is unsaturated fatty acid, and 35% protein. There are a couple of things about this plant that makes it easy to grow. The fourth treatment consisted of the intercrop Posted on June 6, 2012 by jmolony2012. 1kg of melon can produce from 450kg to 2 ton or even more if all things work out well. Melon seeds are a good source of oil, protein, minerals, vitamins, and energy. Add manure and other organic compost as you go to boost the nutrients in the soil. Some of the plants that can be intercropped with egusi include cassava, yam and maize. The melon seeds start maturing at 4 -5 months, and depending on the kind of seeds and soil quality, a melon stem can yield a produce of about 10-15 heads. and several cucurbita species put world production of melon seed in 2002 as 576,000 t from 608,000 ha. Egusi Melon seeds are larger than watermelon seeds, and they are light colored. Be sure to keep ball shape. Slowly add the stock and set on low heat to simmer. Egusi (Melon) $ 5.50 Egusi is a West African name for the seeds of plants like squash, melons, and gourds that, when dried and ground, it is used in preparing Egusi Soup, which is a finger-licking good Nigerian soup, Egusi is famous in Nigeria and mostly eaten with Pounded Yam. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. Plant Cell Rep. 2010 Sep;29(9):943-54. doi: 10.1007/s00299-010-0880-2. Plant regeneration protocol of “Egusi” melon (Colocynthis citrullus L.) was established using three local (“Ejagham”, “Sewere” and “Barablackedge”) and one improved (NHC1-130) cultivars.Cotyledonary explants of different lengths (1/2, 1/4 and 1/6) excised from 4- or 8-day-old seedlings germinated in vitro were cultured on MS medium supplemented with … These seeds ar https://www.demandafrica.com/food/recipes/nigerian-egusi-soup melon export now. Provide support for egusi vines by staking and tying, or setting up trellises. If you are confused on which agribusiness to venture into, then consider melon (egusi) farming in Nigeria. After being dried and grounded, egusi are used as a major ingredient in many dishes of West African cuisine. Egusi (also known by variations including agusi, agushi) is the name for the protein-rich seeds of certain cucurbitaceous plants (squash, melon, gourd), which after being dried and ground are used as a major ingredient in West African cuisine. This can be given to the child as an alternative feeding formula. Egusi soup is one of the most popular soups in Nigeria. Plan to plant egusi seeds in Nigeria in August, after harvest of other fruits and vegetables is nearly complete. Usually the seedlings appear within a week. The seeds of melons are commonly referred to as egusi in areas where they are eaten. Home; About; Tag Archives: Egusi Melon Muddy Advice: What to do in the garden in June. Particularly, in Nigerian culture, egusi is a popular with pounded yam. Till the earth of your watermelon patch with a shovel or spade to a depth of 8 inches, breaking up clods and clumps of dirt until you have a fine, loose mix. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Egusi is the name for many species of cucurbits (melons, watermelons, and gourds) whose seeds are used for this purpose. It cannot grow in the shade. Keywords: cropping systems; time of planting; egusi melon; okra; kigeria. Nigerian Egusi Soup is made thick using ground melon seeds and leafy vegetables. One of these benefits is the protein content which makes it an excellent nutritional source. ‘Egusi’ melon, one of the most popular members of the melon family with diverse species, has formed a significant part of the diet of many Africans and Asians. As you should already know, the egusi plants grow into vines, so you will have to support the vines once they start growing. However, this is a very smelly process so you might need to do it far away from home especially if your farm is close to your home. 100kg of freshly peeled egusi aka melon seed available in wholesale, across nigeria. 13; Boosts appetite: It contains vitamin B1 that stimulates appetite and help in energy production. These cookies do not store any personal information. About 40% of the seed comprises oil. Epub 2010 Jun 15. You should raise some beds on which to plant your melon seeds. Egusi derives its name from Igbo and Yoruba language, and translates to menan "melon." Melon should be planted in an open field and not in a canopy. To fight poverty, hunger and starvation, by encouraging more Nigerians to engage in the business of food production. Melon Seed (Egusi) Main Producing States In Nigeria Egusi seed is widely grown in West Africa with Nigeria accounting for about 65% of total production. These seeds are rich in fat and protein, and add these essential nutrients into West African Cuisine It is also known in West Africa as Wild watermelon, Ibara, Agushi, Ikpoghiri, Neri Niri or Egusi melon. The objectives of this review are to highlight the food uses of egusi melon and its prospect for biodiesel production. Obtain a supply of seed at a local market. 5.50. Choose a site for planting egusi that will be sheltered, such as the margin of a garden, in between other plantings or near the edge of woods. Egusi do not do well in open and flat fields. If you are starting small to plant 500 stands, you will be harvesting about (500 x10 = … 1916-1925. In a good area (fertile land), one stem of melon can shoot out 5 to 15 heads therefore needing enough space to do well. In fact 40% of the seed is made up of protein. Egusi seeds are small and flat. Egusi belongs to the family of water melons. Recommended planting time i… Written on: July 14, 2020. melons image by Gina Smith from Fotolia.com. ABSTRACT. equivalent). Citrullus colocynthis is an evergreen Perennial growing to 3 m (9ft) by 0.3 m (1ft in) at a fast rate. Egusi Melon seeds are larger than watermelon seeds, and they are light colored. The melon plant thrives on soft soil, so the clumps of hard soil will have to be broken down. Why Egusi (Melon Seed) is Part of my Skincare Regime | House of ... SisiYemmieTV 385,695 views. How to plant, grow and harvest - 1/2 - Duration: 4:18. - Duration: 9:47. The melon plant thrives on soft soil, so the clumps of hard soil will have to be broken down. Till the earth of your watermelon patch with a shovel or spade to a depth of 8 inches, breaking up clods and clumps of dirt until you have a fine, loose mix. If there are no trees to support the climbing vine, you can use stakes to support the melon plant. A 2m by 2m spacing should be kept while planting the seeds and the seeds can be inter-planted with cassava. as a major contributor to the socio-economic and nutritional status of West Africans is not in doubt. Finally, melon can be used to supplement baby food in the absence of breast milk. Share your story with us: +2348135229228 (call and SMS only) Email: You have entered an incorrect email address! Why Egusi (Melon Seed) is Part of my Skincare Regime | House of ... SisiYemmieTV 385,695 views. Gumbo Soil Blog Gardening on the Texas Gulf Coast. 41, No. Egusi (Melon) $ 5.50 Egusi is a West African name for the seeds of plants like squash, melons, and gourds that, when dried and ground, it is used in preparing Egusi Soup, which is a finger-licking good Nigerian soup, Egusi is famous in Nigeria and mostly eaten with Pounded Yam. The spacing between seeds should be between 18 to 20 inches. (2018). Our Egusi is ground with quality in mind and ready for use in preparing Egusi soup. Use only dried and matured seeds for planting, there is no need to soak them in water overnight for quick germination. Search. Ground Egusi is used in African dishes and made from ground melon seeds. “Egusi” melon seed yield, proximate content and soil nutrient changes with poultry manure fertilization. rich in vitamins A, B1, B2, and C. an amazing source of nourishment for those on plant-based, Paleo, Keto, or other selective diets. In Nigeria, it often grows wild, but it is also farmed as an increasingly important cash crop. Then water the seeds regularly. When ready … Egusi grows very well in arid climate. The melon seeds of plants like squash, melons, and gourds that, when dried and ground become an ingredient in many West African dishes. 1. Amazing health benefits of Melon (Egusi). It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought. INTRODUCTION: Egusi Melon Farming, also called “wild watermelon,” is grown throughout Nigeria and Congo for its seeds, which are high in protein and carbohydrates. Check the seeds yourself. Melons belong to the Cucurbitaceae family and are grown in the tropical and temperate regions of the world. Usually, 1kg of melon seeds can produce between 450kg to 2 tonnes. Plant egusi during the early rains before heavy rainfall, from March-May this is because melon plant does not need too much water. Egusi watermelon, also called "wild watermelon," is grown throughout Nigeria and the Congo for its seeds, which are high in protein and carbohydrates. Cover with dirt and water thoroughly. The planting season is between April and June which is the start of the rainy season. © 2014-2020, AgroBusiness Times - www.agrobusinessngr.com. It tends to forms a blanket-like shadow on the soil that prevents weeds from getting adequate moisture and light. Buy your ground Egusi (Melon seeds) packed in 2 different sizes for your convenience. Good quality Egusi seeds for cooking of your delicious Egusi soup. In the sole egusi melon plots, seeds were planted about 2-3 cm deep in a single row by the side of the ridge, at the intra-row spacing of 35 cm (Okaka and Remison, 1999), giving a plant population of 71 egusi melon stands per plot (28,560 plants per hectare equivalent). Egusi (also known by variations including agusi, agushi) is the name for the fat- and protein-rich seeds of certain cucurbitaceous plants (squash, melon, gourd). Egusi (Colocynthis citrullus L.) kernels contain 52.0% oil, 28.4% protein (60% in defatted flour), 2.7% fiber, 3.6% ash, and 8.2% carbohydrate. Egusi Melon is cultivated in portions of West Africa, especially in Western Nigeria, for the food in the seed and as a crop interplanted with maize, cassava, or other crops. melons image by Gina Smith from Fotolia.com. Place 3 to 5 seeds in each hole at a depth of 2 inches. The seeds are also similar in appearance to pumpkin and sunflower seeds. Egusi is a term in West African given to the seeds of plants like melons, squash, and gourds that, when dried and ground become a staple ingredient in several West African Cuisine.. A common food plant eaten mainly by Africans to balance starchy food such as fufu, eba, akpu, pounded yam etc. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. One end of the seed is rounded while the other is tapered. The oil is a useful component which can be extracted and used for soap making. If you are into melon export business , There are so many company website this days like http://www.smsglobal4.com that will enable you as an exporter to build millions of foreign buyers for your melon export business from the country of your choice through the power of bulk sms. Continue watering on a regular basis throughout the growing season. [thepledge] Melon popularly known as Egusi in Nigeria is mostly grown for consumption in Nigeria. READ MORE: Nigeria Produces 75 % Of seeds In West Africa. Try it! Egusi Melon plants closely resemble watermelon plants; both have a non climbing creeping habit and deeply cut lobed leaves. Now, check situation where a seed of melon can give up to, say 10 heads of melon which one head can sometimes contain more than 150 seeds. In my few years as a food blogger and Like I stated on the introductory page; Egusi (melon) soup is the most popular of all Nigerian soup. Unsaturated fatty acid makes up about 78% of the oil. Break open egusi melons after harvest and leave for a week or two to decompose before collecting the seeds. Though the watermelon seeds are non-edible, the protein-rich egusi seeds are edible and remains the most used part of the Colocynthis Citrullus plant. Written by: Cat McCabe. Ground Nigerian Egusi/Melon – Egusi is a West African name for the seeds of plants like squash, melons, and gourds that, when dried and ground become a staple ingredient in many West African dishes. Decaying melons smell bad, so do this a good distance from your home. Usually the melon gourd is ready for harvest within 90 days. By Donna Fay Hilliard. 1kg of melon can produce from 450kg to 2 ton or even more if all things work out well. The pulp of the watermelon fruit, however, is sweet and edible while the Egusi Melon has bitter and inedible fruit pulp. The fruit is similar to watermelon but has white seeds. Melon can be inter-cropped with major crops (cassava, yam, maize) in Nigeria as additional crop in the farm but in this case, it should be in smaller quantity so that it won’t disturb the main crop because of its climbing feature. 1 Accepted name(s) for "egusi melon": Accepted name Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) How to Plant Melon in Nigeria for Profitable. Reply. Add more manure or organic compost to the soil when seedlings are fully established, and they will flourish. Usually, 1 stem of melon can shooot out 5 to 15 heads. Stable integration and expression of wasabi defensin gene in "Egusi" melon (Colocynthis citrullus L.) confers resistance to Fusarium wilt and Alternaria leaf spot. How To Plant Egusi (Melon) Step by Step Guide. 2. Meet The 28 Year Old Who Runs A Garri Processing Plant in Nigeria - … Plant three to four egusi seeds per hole at a depth of 2 inches, with each planting 18 inches apart. Also, melon seeds contain vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C as well as alpha-tocopherol, a component of vitamin E. Additionally, melon is very rich in fibre and this makes it quite easy to digest. Egusi melon seed kernels are a good source of edible oil (31–59%), protein (19–37%), fibre (3–4%), and carbohydrate (8–20%). These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Plant regeneration protocol of “Egusi” melon (Colocynthis citrullus L.) was established using three local (“Ejagham”, “Sewere” and “Barablackedge”) and one improved (NHC1-130) cultivars.Cotyledonary explants of different lengths (1/2, 1/4 and 1/6) excised from 4- or 8-day-old seedlings germinated in vitro were cultured on MS medium supplemented with different … Minerals found in Egusi seeds include phosphorous, potassium, magnesium, calcium, sodium, iron, zinc, manganese and copper. The best time for planting the melon seeds is between April and June. Egusi seeds without shells. Amazing health benefits of Melon (Egusi) 10/29/2020 Tell your friends. Once the stems are dry, you can harvest your watermelons. Choose a site for planting egusi that will be sheltered, such as the margin of a garden, in between other plantings or near the edge of woods. Each mound should be approximately 1 foot (0.30 m) (30 cm) high, and between 2–3 feet (0.61–0.91 m) (60-90 cm) wide. Scoop teaspoon size balls of the egusi paste mixture into the stock. EGUSI MELON. Notwithstanding, there’s readily available market for melon seeds otherwise called egusi and it doesn’t matter what part of the country you live, you’ll certain receive a great return on your investment. Egusi seed is planted with the shell, drop 2-3 seeds into a hole of 2cm deep and cover lightly with soil. If you are starting small to plant 500 stands, you will be harvesting about (500 x10 = 5,000) heads. Application of manure Also, melon grows in such a way that it suppresses weed growth. Egusi Melon seeds are larger than watermelon seeds, and they are light colored. Egusi (Melon) $. The Hausa people call it miyan gushi; the Yoruba tribe calls it efo elegusi, while the Igbo people call it ofe egusi. The good part about the oil is it is cholesterol free. It is known under many names such as Citrullus colocynthis L, bitter apple, Agushi, Egusi Melon, Neri-niri, Ikpoghiri. This article offers a step by step guide to the interesting process of egusi farming. Skip to primary content. Egusi is easy to grow in Nigeria’s warm, arid climate. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. The different plants of the melon plant namely the seeds, roots and stem have properties that lower blood sugar hence they may help prevent or control diabetes. Obtain a supply of seed at a local market. If you are starting small to plant 500 stands, you will be harvesting about (500 x10 = 5,000) heads. The pulp of the watermelon fruit, however, is sweet and edible while the Egusi Melon has bitter and inedible fruit pulp. Unlike watermelon, the fruit is not edible, and quite bitter. The planting season is between April and June which is the start of the rainy season. Egusi seeds are in a class of their own and should never be mistaken for pumpkin seeds. Egusi, when ground into powder, is the main ingredient in the following Nigerian soups used in eating fufu meals: Egusi Soup (Caking Method) Ground Egusi (melon) seeds are used to prepare this Nigerian soup recipe with an intercontinental taste. Egusi Melon plants closely resemble watermelon plants; both have a non climbing creeping habit and deeply cut lobed leaves. The melon gourds are usually harvested between October and December. Once the seedlings are fully established, you should also add manure or organic compost. You can break the melons after harvest and leave for 1-2 weeks to allow the melons decompose then you can start collecting the seeds. 15, pp. F. A. O. statistics which combines ‘egusi’, Cucumeropsis spp. The areas of high melon seed production in the country include Enugu, Benue, Nasarawa, Taraba and Kogi state. Egusi soup or melon soup is made from the dry seeds of the melon plant closely related to squash. The melon plant generally thrives in the Nigerian climate hence you can choose to cultivate it on your farm. That is, the stem climbs on any other plant around or crawl on the ground. It still needs wider spacing than groundnut needs to help in proper weeding. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. And our recipe will teach you how to cook egusi soup with the nutritious ugwu leaves. Egusi doesn't do well when the rainfall is heavy hence thinking of June planting is not advisable. Skip to secondary content. Plant Cell Rep. 2010 Sep;29(9):943-54. doi: 10.1007/s00299-010-0880-2. Geography/History Egusi is native to West and Central Africa, and can be found especially in Nigeria, Namibia, Ghana and Sierra Leon. Egusi soup is a popular West African soup. The pulp of the watermelon fruit, however, is sweet and edible while the Egusi Melon has bitter and inedible fruit pulp. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Posts about Egusi Melon written by jmolony2012. Cultivation. Egusi soup is unarguably the most popular Nigerian soup. The seeds are harvested, processed and used as ingredient in soups and stews. Egusi do not do well in open, flat fields. Matsun and Nakai] and ‘egusi-itoo’ melon (Cucumeropsis mannii Naudin.)