SKU: 30182784397
egusi seed plant

egusi seed plant Egusi Melon

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Description

egusi seed plant Egusi MelonEgusi is used primarily in West Africa for its de hulled seeds, which thicken soups as a flour, are a great snack whole, make a paste like peanut butter, and have a high oil content. Egusi is the name for many species of cucurbits (melons, watermelons, and gourds) whose seeds are used for this purpose. Similar to Callaloo, egusi is a category of crops based on their similar function. See the Lost Crops of Africa volume II for a short list of species

Egusi is used primarily in West Africa for its de-hulled seeds, which thicken soups as a flour, are a great snack whole, make a paste like peanut butter, and have a high oil content. Egusi is the name for many species of cucurbits (melons, watermelons, and gourds) whose seeds are used for this purpose.

Similar to Callaloo, egusi is a category of crops based on their similar function. See the Lost Crops of Africa volume II for a short list of species and lots of great info about this important seed crop. They mention that egusi is mostly grown by women, and that improvements in the promotion and sales of this seed will bring up the "egusi wage," which is defended by women farmers of all ages as their standard of living depends on it.

Egusi soup is central to many West African cuisines, and is also an offering to several Orisas (including Obatala) in Ifá religion in Nigeria and beyond. Also in Nigeria, the bitter flesh of the fruits are sometimes included in a decoction (or àgbo, in Yoruba) for various ailments or for general wellness.

We are very grateful to have sourced our seed from Serendipity Seeds, who called this variety Egusi-itoo (Cucumeropsis mannii), though we believe this may actually be another Egusi species: Brown-Seeded Melon from Nigeria (Citrullus lanatus). The seeds are fat, white, and beautiful, and according to Truelove Seeds apprentice Amirah, who requested we grow this crop, the flesh is the essence of bitterness. We are so grateful that it seemed happy in our hoop house, and excited to deepen our relationship to its seeds and its story.

Known as: Egusi, Agushi, Egusi Bara, Gusi Abara, Bitter Melon

Thank you to Yemi Amu of Oko Farms for sharing some of this information with us!

Days to maturity: 120-160

Seeds per pack: 15-18

Germination rate: 84% on 11/07/2025

Planting / harvesting notes

Direct sow in warm soil after the last frost, or seed indoors 2-3 weeks beforehand and transplant. Space 18" apart in the row. Harvest fruits before first frost, or when the attached stem withers and turns brown. Use a sledgehammer or a rock to break open fruits on a tarp. Using a knife (as shown in our photos) slices many of the seeds.

Seed keeping notes

Squash are insect pollinated and require about 1/2 a mile of isolation from other varieties of the same species, which we believe in this case to be the same as Watermelon - Citrullus lanatus.The seeds will be fully mature when the fruit gets large and the stem withers. Separate the seeds from the flesh, rinse them, and dry them on a screen or paper product away from direct sunlight in a ventilated place. The plumpest and hardest seeds will be most viable.

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SKU: 30182784397

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Deborah Cannova
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 2
Would not purchase again
Color: Gorilla, Size: Small
My yorkie tore it up in less than 5 minutes. Not as tough as I thought it would be.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2026
F
Verified Purchase
FussKM
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 5
Toughest toys around!!!
Color: Gorilla, Size: Small
After 30 years of shopping for dog toys & endless nights of sewing them back together, those days are over thanks to this brand of toys! These get taken outside where they are brutally tugged, twisted, snatched, tossed and shaken to no end by our 58lb black mouth cur & 80lb Shepherd Retriever mix. Most times they bring them back in the house but 2 of them they keep outside in the scorching Florida sun & rain & they're still tough as can be! The only damage these 2 toy punishers have managed to do is occasionally kill a squeaky inside (after about a year or more) & eventually the ones they will keep outside they have managed to get the black trim piece that goes around the outside edge to come off in a small section but it's still hanging on the toy flapping around smacking them in the face (which our black mouth cur love's,lol). I first bought 2 small ones (yellow duck & pink pig) Christmas 2020. They held up so well that a few months later I bought the fox, dog & purple gecko. We also have the gorilla, snake, green gator (their favorite right now), orange gecko, a 2nd duck, raccoon & a few others I can't think of right now. The glorious thing is I haven't had to sew a single toy in over 2 years & I don't have to worry about my girls getting too rough with them when playing & the best part is not having to worry about them defluffing them & ingesting it or choking on it especially when I'm not at home. I don't have to pick them up before leaving to ensure they are safe. They can continue to terrorize the house playing with these even when we're not there & the only thing I have to worry about is what are they going to break when they sling one of these across the room. This brand is the only brand of dog toy we buy now. We have not had to throw any of them that we've bought away either & the cost is perfect for the value that you definitely get!
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Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2022
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Verified Purchase
Heather Svoboda
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
The only toy my dog wants
Color: Gator, Size: Large, Color: Gator, Size: Large
I have a 9 year old, 12 pound chihuahua, and this toy is everything to him. Ever since he was a tiny puppy, he’s liked toys that are at least as big as he is. Once I got him this, it was the only toy he’d play with. He carries it everywhere. He likes to chew on it, and sometimes pulls apart the threads. He LOVES to play tug of war with it, so the handle is awesome. It has so many squeakers, which is also a plus, and it holds up well for our little guy. We’ve probably had at least 10 of this same toy, we get him a new one about once a year when it starts to get worn. I worry that if they ever stop making it, he’ll be depressed lol. It’s been with him at all life stages and he doesn’t go anywhere without it. Really can’t ask for more when your dog loves a toy this much
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Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2025
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MM
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
Lots of squeakers in this one!
Color: Gator, Size: Large
Our rescue dog is a power chewer so this one doesn't last long, but I still gave 5 stars because it's not advertised for power chewers, so I knew what we were getting when we bought it. So why did I buy this for our dog? The number of squeakers... the dog goes nuts for those and it makes the toy last longer because she will only play with the ones that still squeak.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2024
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Amazon Customer
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 1
NOT for aggressive chewers!
Color: Lion, Size: Medium
My aggressive chewer had destroyed this in 3 minutes! Chewed off the ears, and chewed apart the body to try to get to the squeaker - it was in the trash 5 minutes after I gave it to him! Yes, the seams are tough, but he easily chewed around them. Don’t buy this if your dog is an aggressive chewer!
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Reviewed in the United States on February 11, 2026

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