Sunday, December 2, 2012

Poona Kheera cucumbers

Our tag line at Second Act Farm is "...where every seed tells a story...".  This phrase reflects our interest in learning more about the food we grow and eat.  It prompts us to look for interesting varieties of vegetables that we've never found in our local grocery stores.  Once we've tried them, we want to share what we've learned with our friends, family and customers.

During our first season on the farm, we grew "Poona Kheera" cucumbers   This is an heirloom variety from India - named after the city of Poona, also known as Pune, which is one of several cities in India that Mike has visited.


















The Poona Kheera is a smooth-skinned cucumber with a mild, slightly sweet flavor. What's surprising about them is their color.  As the fruit matures it changes color from white to golden yellow (shown) to a russet brown.

Here in Columbus, Indiana we have a large Indian population, but there are only a few options for finding foods native to India.  We'll be growing Poona Kheeras next year and expect them to be a popular item at our local farmers markets.

- Mike









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