Tsamma Watermelon Seeds

currently unavailable Wild Watermelon - Prior to Modern Cultivation The Wild Watermelon Makes a Come Back

Fruit of tsamma is best described as plain-like a water laden juice with a light cucumber like flavor, . It really has no distinct flavor however once in a while a seedling will produce a sweeter version of itself with some remnant hints of what we know as watermelon. This is likely how the watermelon got its start. Someone noticed "hey, this is not so bland. Keep the seeds."

This species can be found in large piles in the middle of the dessert as they are drought resistant and spread by the animals and birds. They are an indispensable part of life for the indigenous peoples of the Kalahari, who store them as a standby source of water. It is only possible to travel across the desert during melon season. The seeds have higher food value than the flesh, and have been roasted and in some cases made into a peanut butter-like paste. Tsamma are highly vigorous growing up to 40 feet long. The plants will self root as they go along. All sizes and shapes of this species was found when I did my first grow out. For a while I was experimenting with this species  as an understory crop in the oak tree crop plantings due to its vigor and yield in poor soil. The goal is to create a wild self seeding population. The jelly melon did very well here and that species was used like tsamma but was more consumable fresh than wild watermelon.