You’ll often find citron melon growing quietly in food gardens around Mzansi. It’s one of those old favourites – add a bit of mealie meal, and you’ve got umqa (pap). Save the seeds, dry them, and toss them into a smoothie for a health boost. It is even used by traditional healers and as animal feed.
Thinking of growing your own? Whether it’s for the kitchen, the kraal, or a healthier lifestyle – this hardy fruit has plenty to offer.
Citron melon, also known as makataan or wild watermelon, has many health benefits.
More than just a traditional crop
A North West-based agronomist, Mandisa Mazibuko, says that in Mzansi, citron melon is used by traditional healers for the treatment of hypertension, and the roasted seeds can improve appetite and help with constipation.
Mazibuko says that in other countries, like Sudan, citron melon is used to treat gout and inflammation.
She further explains that citron melon contains more water and less fibre, which is good for hydration. “Citron melons have antioxidants. It has lycopene, which can reduce cardiovascular disease, breast and prostate cancer.
“Its seeds are rich in oil protein, healthy fats, magnesium, zinc, and iron.”
Mandisa Mazibuko
The key nutrients found in citron melon are vitamins A and C and potassium, Mazibuko adds.
“Citron melon is important for collagen, rich in antioxidants and has vitamin A which is important for vision and human cell growth. It contains vitamin C, which is also good for the immune system.”
She says that it is also rich in dietary fibre, which supports digestion and may help with constipation. The antioxidants it contains – in smaller amounts than red watermelon – can help combat oxidative stress and support immune health.
Because it is low in sugar compared to sweet watermelons, it might be more suitable for people managing blood sugar levels, although it’s still wise to eat it in moderation, she says.
READ NEXT: Prickly pear cactus: Never judge a plant by its exterior
Favoured by small-scale farmers
Moxolo Mtumtum, an agricultural scientist with the KwaZulu-Natal department of agriculture and rural development based in Kokstad, says citron melon, scientifically known as Citrullus lanatus, is rated first among the four that are of economic importance, as it is directly (for subsistence purposes) and indirectly (for industrial purposes) used by smallholder farmers.
She explains that citron melon is produced in the warmer parts of the entire country and more or less sandy, drier areas of southern Africa, mainly in the Kgalagadi region of the Northern Cape.
It is also found growing or under cultivation in the Mpumalanga, North West, Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal, Free State, Western Cape, and Eastern Cape.
“The citron melon is a warm temperate crop that requires a relatively long period of hot growing season of 90 – 130 days and frost-free weather,” explains Mtumtum.
She notes that it is often grown on soils of low fertility, which explains its existence within the smallholder community. “It has been reported to grow well in soils with a pH ranging between 5.0 and 8.0, but it grows best at pH 6.0 to 7.0.
“Literature indicates that wild watermelon can grow in any type of soil but grows best when it is grown on well-drained sandy-loam soil with good moisture retention capacity and high organic matter.”
Noxolo Mtumtum
She further notes that although it is known to be a low-input crop that can grow on a variety of soils, literature shows that a fertiliser mixture can improve yields.
READ NEXT: How to grow, cook, and store perfect green beans
Standing strong against drought
According to Mtumtum, citron melon is a drought-tolerant crop that thrives under dryland conditions with seasonal rainfall of 250–500 mm, thanks to its root morphogenesis.
Although it can grow with minimal water, she says an annual rainfall of about 600–1200 mm is ideal. The crop is very sensitive to a combination of high humidity and low temperatures (around 20°C), as this can lead to leaf diseases.
“Although it is drought-tolerant, a steady supply of water is needed for the best fruit production,” she adds.
She tells Health For Mzansi that citron melon requires temperatures between 20°C and 30°C, with optimum fruit development at around 30°C to 35°C. Generally, it grows well in temperatures ranging from 21°C to 32°C during the day and 18°C to 21°C at night.
“The best planting times in the western region of the Eastern Cape would be in summer, when the mean temperatures for November, December, and January are around 22°C and the days are long and hot, as it is a warm temperate crop,” Mtumtum says.
ALSO READ: Watermelon: Unveiling the secret of nature’s hydration hero
Get the Health For Mzansi newsletter: Your bi-weekly dose of kasi health, wellness and self-care inspiration.
