Cucamelon Syn. Mexican Sour Gherkin Vegetable Seeds
Botanical Name: Melothria scabra
Syn. Mouse Melon, Sandita; heirloom vegetable from Mexico that crops abundantly. Fruit are about the size of grapes, look like a tiny watermelon, and taste like lemony cucumbers. The older fruit can become quite sour. Eaten raw in salads, used in stir-fries or pickled, they are popular with children. Very hardy, drought-tolerant, unlikely to be damaged by pests and diseases. May self-sow the following year.
Plant Type: Warm season vigorous trailing annual vine; grows best on a trellis; will also grow in a hanging basket
Sow When:
- Temperate: Late September – February
- Subtropical: July – March
- Tropical: September – December; April – August
- Cool: October – December
- Arid: August – February
Germination:
- 3 – 10 days
- Depth: 10 – 20 mm deep
Position: Full sun
Sow Where: Sow direct
Soil Type: Fertile, well-drained, add compost, pH 5.5
Spacing Details: 2 seeds spaced at 15 – 30 cm along the trellis
Details: Prefers frequent watering
Harvest: 75 days; harvest often while still firm
