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snottiegobble starts with ...
Paddy melons! Has anyone found a use for them? They are abundant here in SW WA.
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Time: 8th May 2011 1:42am

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About the Author snottiegobble
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Jason says...
Yes when I was little and we were camping in the NT we used to make a fire from spinifex grass and cook the paddy melons until they exploded :P very messy and very fun. But don't try that these days or you might get burnt

Time: 8th May 2011 5:01am

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Original Post was last edited: 8th May 2011 5:02am

About the Author Jason
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Brendan says...
G'day sg,
Mum used to make jam out of paddy melons, it was yum.

Just googled this: http://www.au.gardenweb.com/forums/load/cornucop/msg0420234026548.html

There's recipes there.

Time: 8th May 2011 7:23am

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About the Author Brendan
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KjW says...
Yep! I would have to say "DITTO" to the Yum factor Brendan. My mum used to make melon jam as well.
I don't know if you can still get it, but you used to be able to buy Melon & Lemon jam, it came in tins those days.

Also, quite a lot of people who kept pigs would feed the melons to their pigs.

Time: 8th May 2011 9:34am

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amanda says...
Be careful SG - most of them are "pig melons" and don't make good jam. There is one that can be used - it looks a little different to the pig melons - some of the old timers should be able to point u in the right direction.


Time: 8th May 2011 11:57am

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About the Author amanda19
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KjW says...
Hi Amanda, I wonder if the pig melons your talking about are the ones that come up in Brendans link > http://www.au.gardenweb.com/forums/load/cornucop/msg0420234026548.html
The melons in SG's pics look the same(doesn't mean they are)as the ones my mum used for jam, they would have been around 8" in Dia (ha! that's 200mm to u younger ones) The ones in Brendans link look very small going by the plate their on.

I recall they were also called "pie melons" I have no idea why, they were never used to make pie's as far as I know....Could have just been a local name for them.

Time: 8th May 2011 12:20pm

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Original Post was last edited: 8th May 2011 12:28pm

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amanda says...
Not sure KjW - Diggers sell the seed though ("Jam Melon") the skin has a slighty different pattern and the flesh is a slightly different colour. My old ex-farmer mate can spot the real one's but I can't...they are all just bad weeds to me! :)

Time: 8th May 2011 12:55pm

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snottiegobble says...
2 years ago when I first dicovered them I carefully carried one home to taste! Yukkk! bitter!
These are definately different to jam melons,( grew once in Vic.) which were bland but palatable. I think the ones here are African desert pumpkins.Theyve had no rain for 3 months but thrived.

Time: 8th May 2011 2:58pm

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About the Author snottiegobble
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KjW says...
Interesting.

This link is for Jam Melon> http://www.dwpicture.com.au/picture.asp?picture=3&cat=Fruit&cat2=Fruit&cat3=Melons


And this is for African Pumpkin> http://www.superstock.com/stock-photos-images/1566-0200250

They look similar, but the leaves appear to be quite different.

Roughly what would be the size of the ones in your pics SG?

Time: 8th May 2011 3:35pm

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Jantina says...
As it happens I was given a jam melon a week or so ago and made lemon and ginger jam with it. Very nice. Had lots os seeds so if anyone wants some seeds let me know and I'll send you some.

Time: 8th May 2011 5:09pm

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About the Author Jantina
Mt Gambier
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snottiegobble says...
KjW, they are anything up to 30cm diam & a few are elongated. There are a few that have been attacked by kangaroos. ( I presume) Possibly roos first then rabbits once skin is broken! Typical Perth plains sand cleared of kwongan vegetation.

Time: 9th May 2011 11:39am

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About the Author snottiegobble
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KjW says...
Hi SG, Ok! Their a good size then, and obviously edible if the Roos and or Rabbits are eating them.
Back to ya original question, looks like only 2 good uses for em so far(jam and pig food)and then there's Jasons exploding melons, sounds like fun, but we won't tell the kids about that one.. :)
I've never heard of it, but I wonder if ya could make wine from em..

Cheers
KjW..aka Ken

Time: 10th May 2011 7:20am

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snottiegobble says...
Hi KjW, I think you can make wine from just about anything, but somehow I think I will stick to grapes.Maybe I can find a market with a local pig farmer!

Time: 10th May 2011 8:12pm

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KjW says...
Yeah SG, Ha!, you could be on a winner there :)
Let us know when ya make ya first million & want someone to carry ya bags..

Time: 13th May 2011 1:33pm

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snottiegobble says...
I would be a bit concerned about the taste of his pork though!

Time: 13th May 2011 7:48pm

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amanda says...
Hmnn..Woolies has just got the Serrano Ham (Jamon) in - the pigs that feed on hazelnuts (?).. wow. Have had mangoe fed pork too...wow...(sorry to the vegetarians here..)

Time: 13th May 2011 9:20pm

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About the Author amanda19
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KjW says...
Certainly would be quite bland if they tasted anything like the melons. :(

Not a lot of uses for them is there.
Hope the Roos & Rabbits enjoy them.

Time: 13th May 2011 9:26pm

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amanda says...
Yup KjW - they are the worst weed here :-( the mice/rats like to get into them too - they spread the seed around. I made the mistake of growing the jam melon from Diggers 3 yrs back - it's taken all this time to get rid of the seedlings popping up :-O

forgot - the neighbours goats eat them - so goat food maybe? :))

Time: 14th May 2011 10:42am

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KjW says...
So you won't be planting them again I take it Amanda... experience is a great teacher hey.

Yeah! goat food, But then again, what don't they eat.

Time: 15th May 2011 9:01pm

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amanda says...
So true KjW - I have seen them eat double-gees (the really hard 3-pointed prickles) My neighbours paddock has no pattersons curse either...(goats in there) Now - if only they would fountain grass :)

Time: 17th May 2011 9:20am

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KjW says...
Double-Gees? Not these little critters Amanda? (see pix)

I've never heard of Double-Gees over here(C/Qld), the ones in the pix are actually called Goathead Burrs..

OK! So there are some things they won't eat then..ha! surprise surprise

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Time: 17th May 2011 10:15am

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Original Post was last edited: 17th May 2011 10:17am

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snottiegobble says...
3 cornered jacks in Vic. & discovered some in Cowall SA while waiting for the peninsulars ferry & had to buy new crocs cos the spines were so embedded in the old ones I couldnt walk!

Time: 17th May 2011 1:09pm

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Phil@Tyalgum says...
Just received and am preparing my first ever jam/pie melon. This one is over twelve kilos, am steeping it in sugar overnight and will boil it up with lemon and ginger tomorrow. Plenty of seeds, a few older farmers still grow it in this area.
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Time: 27th March 2013 10:44pm

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Original Post was last edited: 27th March 2013 10:51pm

About the Author TyalgumPhil
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phil@tyalgum says...
If anyone would like to grow the old fashioned jam/pie melon I have some seed to share this year... it'd be good to keep these old standbys going as they are becoming hard to find.

Time: 29th July 2014 4:32pm

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