In article ,
Roger Tonkin wrote:
A neighbour gave me some plant which are growing quite happily
in my cold greenhouse. They reached about 3ft and each branch
has at least a couple of (green) lanterns developing on them.
They are also still growing upwards and producing new shoots
and flower buds. I have 2 questions:

1) In view of the fact they they will not survive the winter
frosts here, and it is unlikely that any floweres produced now
will develop, should I pinch out all growing shoots so that
they can put their energies into ripeneing the existing fruit?

It won't do any harm - or much good!

2) When are the fruit ripe?. Gooling seems inconclusive, with
site saying "pick when ripe" and other saying wait untill the
fruit falls off the plant! Also there have been references to
the lantern bit being poisonous (and even one reference to to
fruit being poisonous until ripe). Help !!!

When the husk dries to a papery light brown and the inside becomes
deep golden.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.