cucumber 'Cucamelon'
Cucamelon or Melothria scabra
- Position: full sun, sheltered and warm
- Soil: moist, well-drained soil
- Rate of growth: fast-growing
- Hardiness: tender
A curious cucurbit and melon-like climbing ‘vegetable’ with crunchy, edible, grape-sized, lime and cucumber tasting fruits. Cucamelon (or ‘Mouse Melon’) is fast-growing, and requires similar warm and sheltered greenhouse conditions as cucumbers. Technically a perennial, it's most often grown as an annual climber with double-spiralled tendrils, rough-textured green leaves, and small yellow flowers about 4mm across in summer. Cucamelons are fairly easy to grow if they receive enough sunlight and warmth and have a support structure or space to grow. Use in exactly the same way you would traditional cucumbers (salads, salsas or pickled). - Growing instructions: Sow seeds 1cm deep in spring and germinate at 71F (22C) until germination which takes approx 10 days. Grow on at 65F (18C) and plant out 30-40cm (12-16") apart in moist but well-drained soil in a sunny, sheltered spot once all risk of frost has passed or a greenhouse grow bag, bed or pot. Support with canes or netting to enable the plant to climb. Water regularly and feed plants fortnightly with liquid tomato fertiliser. Roots can be lifted and stored overwinter in a frost-free place using dry compost and re-planted the following spring for an earlier crop.
- Sow: March to May
- Harvest: June to September