`Abruzzese Chiaro` Cucumber Melon - Seeds - The crunchy Italian Tortarello

Forget watery supermarket cucumbers that often taste bitter or feel heavy in your stomach after eating! With the 'Abruzzese Chiaro' (full name: Tortarello Abruzzese Chiaro), you are bringing a genuine Italian delicacy and a fascinating botanical secret into your garden. While it looks like a long, light-green cucumber and is used in the exact same way, here is the twist: botanically speaking, it is actually a melon!

This so-called "cucumber melon" from the sun-drenched Abruzzo region is the absolute star for anyone who loves extremely crunchy, fresh, and easily digestible summer vegetables.

The botanical secret: A melon in a cucumber costume

The 'Abruzzese Chiaro' (Cucumis melo var. flexuosus) originates from the warm south of Italy and has a long tradition there. Because it belongs to the melon family, unlike regular slicing cucumbers, it produces absolutely no bitter substances. This makes it the perfect choice for anyone sensitive to normal cucumbers or for whom they tend to cause indigestion. The cucumber melon is extremely digestible, stomach-friendly, and so incredibly crunchy that you will want to snack on it right off the vine.

Appearance & Harvest: Ribbed, light green, and beautiful

The name "Chiaro" means "light" in Italian – and that is exactly how this variety presents itself. The fruits glow in a beautiful, pale light green and have a distinctive, slightly ribbed surface.

• Harvest tip: Don't let them grow into giant clubs! They taste best when you harvest them as soon as they are about 25 to 30 centimeters long. That is when their flesh is juiciest, the seeds inside are still soft and tiny, and the flavor unfolds its full, slightly sweet and nutty aroma.

Growth & Location: A sun-loving climbing artist

As a true child of the south, the 'Abruzzese Chiaro' loves warmth and plenty of light. It is very vigorous and likes to spread out.

• The ideal location: Give it the warmest, sunniest spot in your garden or on your balcony. A greenhouse, a sheltered south-facing wall, or a covered balcony are ideal.

• Climbing or creeping: The choice is yours! You can let it creep over your bed as a ground cover like a squash. However, it is much more space-efficient and visually appealing to give it a trellis or a net. Grown vertically, the fruits grow beautifully straight downwards, stay clean, and can be harvested comfortably while standing.

• Care: Like all cucumber and melon plants, it needs sufficient and regular water on hot summer days (it is best to water directly at the root zone, not over the leaves). Nutrient-rich soil with a little compost ensures rich harvests well into the autumn.

Into the kitchen: The pure summer experience

In Italy, the Tortarello is celebrated as the ultimate refreshment on hot days. You don't have to peel it – the light, ribbed skin is wonderfully thin and can (and should!) simply be eaten as well.

• The fresh kick: Simply slice it, add some good olive oil, coarse sea salt, and a squeeze of lemon – and your perfect, light summer snack is ready.

• In a salad: It brings a fantastic crunch to any mixed salad or the classic Italian bread salad (Panzanella).

• Tzatziki of the highest class: Grate the 'Abruzzese Chiaro' into your yogurt – since it is less watery than a normal cucumber, your tzatziki will be particularly creamy and intense in flavor!