The Benefits and Uses, Recipes, and Cultivation Techniques of Chieh Qua (Mini Winter Melon)

Chieh qua, also known as mini winter melon, northern melon, hairy melon, and leg melon, is a variety of winter melon. It has effects such as clearing heat, relieving summer heat, detoxifying, promoting urination, and reducing swelling, and it also has a certain auxiliary effect on treating kidney disease, edema, and diabetes. So do you know the benefits and uses of chieh qua? What recipes are there for chieh qua? And chieh qua cultivation techniques.

I. The Benefits and Uses of Chieh Qua

1. Chieh qua contains carbohydrates, protein, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C, riboflavin, fructose, carotene, and minerals such as phosphorus, calcium, and iron, making it highly nutritious.

2. Among gourd vegetables, chieh qua is relatively low in sodium and fat content, and eating it regularly can help with weight loss.

3. Chieh qua has effects such as clearing heat, relieving summer heat, detoxifying, promoting urination, and reducing swelling, making it an ideal vegetable for the hot summer.

4. Chieh qua has a certain auxiliary effect on the treatment of kidney disease, edema, and diabetes.

II. What Recipes Are There for Chieh Qua?

1. Fish Tail and Chieh Qua Soup

[Ingredients] 350 grams of grass carp tail, 12 grams of American ginseng, 240 grams of pork leg meat, 500 grams of chieh qua, an appropriate amount of ginger, and an appropriate amount of salt.

[Method] ① Remove the scales from the grass carp tail and wash it clean. ② Peel the chieh qua and cut it into thick slices. ③ Heat oil in a pan and fry the fish tail over high heat until golden brown on both sides. ④ Add an appropriate amount of water and bring to a boil. ⑤ Transfer the boiled fish tail along with the soup to a soup pot, add the chieh qua and an appropriate amount of ginger, bring to a boil, then simmer over low heat for half an hour. ⑥ Add salt to the cooked soup to season, and you can also add a little monosodium glutamate if you like.

2. Chieh Qua and Tofu Soup

[Ingredients] 1 handful of goji berries, 1 chieh qua, 1 large block of tofu, an appropriate amount of salad oil, and an appropriate amount of salt.

[Method] ① Peel the chieh qua, wash it clean, and use a small scoop to scoop it into balls. ② Scoop the tofu into balls in the same way. ③ Heat oil in a pot and bring water to a boil, add the chieh qua and simmer briefly; it will be cooked through in five minutes. ④ Add the tofu balls and cook together; they will be ready in two minutes. ⑤ Add salt, adjust the seasoning, remove from the pot, and sprinkle with goji berries.

3. Chieh Qua Sunny-Side-Up Egg

[Ingredients] 1/2 chieh qua, several shallots, 3 eggs, and an appropriate amount of salt.

[Method] ① Wash the chieh qua clean and slice it. Slice the shallots, first heat oil and saute them until fragrant, then add the chieh qua and salt and stir-fry. ② Stir-fry until the chieh qua is 70 percent cooked, then remove and set aside. ③ Beat 2 whole eggs plus 1 egg white into egg liquid. Heat another oiled pan, pour in the egg liquid over medium heat, rotate the pan to make the egg liquid form an even circle, then switch to medium-low heat. ④ Arrange the chieh qua in the egg in a flower shape, and place 1 egg yolk in the center. Cover with a lid and simmer until the yolk is cooked. If you feel the heat is too high, switch to low heat and simmer.

III. Chieh Qua Cultivation Techniques

1. Open-Field Cultivation

Open-field cultivation of chieh qua covers a relatively large area in North China. Generally, seedlings are raised in mid-March in windbreak sun-facing beds or small plastic tunnels, transplanted into the open field in mid-to-late April, and harvesting begins in early June. This cultivation method brings the crop to market more than 20 days earlier than winter melon, filling the gap in winter melon supply, and its economic benefits are significantly higher than those of winter melon cultivation.

The seedling-raising period for open-field cultivation falls in March to April, when outside temperatures rise day by day, but frost can still occasionally occur at night. Therefore, temperature management in the seedbed should still be strengthened: ventilate during the day to lower the temperature and prevent leggy growth from high temperatures, and at night take care to avoid frost damage. From 7 to 10 days before transplanting, gradually increase ventilation, and finally remove the plastic film so that the seedlings are exposed to open-field conditions and their adaptability is enhanced. Other aspects of seedling management are the same as for early spring cultivation.

Transplant when the seedlings are 30 to 35 days old, have 3 to 4 true leaves, and the last frost outside has passed.

For field management, refer to early spring cultivation.

2. Climate-Based Cultivation

A small number of vegetable growers in Shandong Province have successfully used solar greenhouses for overwintering cultivation of chieh qua. Overwintering cultivation involves raising seedlings in September, transplanting in October into solar greenhouses with good insulation performance, and beginning harvest and market supply before New Year's Day, continuing until February to March of the following year. The growing period of this method falls in the cold winter, making management very difficult, but market prices are high and economic benefits are substantial, so production tends to expand.

The seedling-raising period for overwintering cultivation is in the warm autumn season, so it can be done in the open field. If frost occurs later, protection should be provided. For seedling management, refer to early spring cultivation.

At transplanting time, early frost generally begins to arrive. The solar greenhouse should have its plastic film properly secured to prevent frost damage. As outside temperatures drop, reduce ventilation openings and add straw mats at night to maintain the temperature inside the solar greenhouse. Throughout winter, the daytime temperature should be maintained at around 25°C and the nighttime temperature at around 15°C. If the winter temperature is too low, flowering stops. Raising the temperature in the greenhouse is the focus of winter management.

In winter, greenhouse temperatures are low and evaporation is small, so watering frequency can be reduced. As long as the soil is moist, there is no need to water. Generally, no watering is needed from December to January of the following year. After February, as outside temperatures rise, begin increasing watering frequency.