How To Grow Cucamelon

add up a bit of whimsicality to your garden this year with an adorable cucamelon flora . This small plant is a ticklish , yet unattackable vining one that produces dainty yield resembling a tiny one - column inch Citrullus vulgaris . The yield has the surprising look of a slightly tangy cucumber . The yield ’s interesting combining of coming into court and flavour gives the cucamelon its name . The cucamelon plant makes for a fun little conversation piece in your backyard .

The cucamelon ( Melothria scabra ) is a native plant to Mexico and Central America . Evidence shows these little treat were a staple food source for many early tribal citizenry there . Nowadays , the cucamelon is also known as mouse melon , Mexican sour gherkin , or Sandiita , which means “ little watermelon ” in Spanish . They are institute grow wild in some southern locations in the United States , but they can be rise anywhere , much like its relative , the cucumber .

How to grow and care for cucamelon

Cucamelons are easy to imbed and manage for . While source can be sown directly after the peril of rime , take up the source indoors in April or May to lengthen the plant ’s fruit output period . Transplant open after danger of hoar . Provide a treillage or wire for your vines . Keep the plant watered , and prepare for a big crop from July until the first hoarfrost . reap the fruit when it feels firm . Wait until it deplume from the vine easily .

The cucamelon ’s value as an addition to your garden is not limited to its cuteness . Give the little fruit a endeavor in fuss fry , in salads , or just drink down a few in your backtalk for a snack . They add together a crispy fusillade of flavor to a sandwich or to salsa . They can also be maintain in the same fashion as pickles .

Pests and problems

Although similar to cucumber in planting and care , cucamelons are more cold kind and drought tolerant . They prove mini but mighty as they are resilient to pest and other problem . They reseed easily on their own . Overgrowing may be the only downside to these undersized cuties , but few consider their happy , proliferative nature to be a downside at all .

Cucamelon seeds are not easy to come by . Once you get a hold of some , you might choose to save seed . To do this , find fault up overripe fruit that has fallen to the priming coat . Place the yield in a cool location for a couple of weeks to ripen even further . When the fruit is ready , slice up it open and take up out the germ . pose the seeds in a jarful of H2O for at least five mean solar day . When some of the seeds have fall off to the bottom of the jar , rinse the come off , fan out them on a covert , and arrange them aside to dry out in a cool position . The source are quick to store when they are dry enough to snap when break away . Seeds can be stored in an airtight jolt for up to 10 years .