Cucamelon

How to sow cucamelon: Direct seed indoors, transplant seedlings outside after hardening off

Sun requirement for cucamelon: Plant in Full Sun

Cucamelon, or Mexican Sour Gherkin, is a member of the Cucurbit family native to Mexico and Central America. The vine produces small, grape-sized fruit that look like little watermelons and taste like cucumbers with a tinge of lime. Cucamelon is very cold sensitive and takes longer to germinate than other cucurbits - up to 4 weeks. Vines grow slowly at first, but can get to 3m long and benefit from trellising. Fruit should be harvested when it is 2.5-3cm - it can get seedy if allowed to grow larger. The plant is self-pollinating and more drought-tolerant than other cucurbits. Cucamelon can be added to salads, salsas, and stir-fries, or pickled.