Experience with Cassabanana / Melocoton (Sicana odorifera)?

Has anyone grown or eaten Cassabanana / Melocoton (Sicana odorifera)?
What is it like? Would you get ripe fruit in zone 7b/8?

Thanks!
Danita

Hey Danita; I live in zone 10a -frost free.I grew this last year.It produced "Miles of Vines" it started blooming in early Oct. and then it died for no apparent reason.It is day-length sensitive and won't bloom until late fall (won't make any difference how early you plant it).This plant normally produces fruit in the winter months in it's native habitat.If you have a frost free fall and early winter you should be able to get fruit.I did order a box of ripe fruit through a company downtown L.A. Let me tell you,they are nothing to write home about!Also the skin color comes in a range of Red,Yellow or Black.These fall into the Exotic Category that also contains Kiwano,Pepino,Cyphomandra,and Dragonfruit.None of these things are really any good but they're new(on the market) and unusual.

This message was edited Dec 10, 2007 5:20 PM

Thanks zebraman! :) That's just what I needed to know.
I think I'll pass on growing this one.

I grew this in in the middle east of England and got it to maturity,seed came from Jere at Cedar Creek I had no bother but I started it early under lights. XX Jeannine