- Plant two seeds in each pot of soil, about a ¼ inch deep.
- Place pots in a warm spot where temperatures are above 70°F (21°C).
- Keep the soil consistently moist.
- After 10 to 14 days, seedlings should emerge from the soil.
- Thin seedlings to one plant per pot.
- When seedlings are 2 inches tall, harden them off and transplant into the garden.
- Plant the seedlings 9 to 12 inches apart.
How do you care for Melothria scabra?
Melothria scabra grows vigorously in full sun when temperatures are warm. Be aware that the tender young stems and tendrils are easily damaged by cold or rough handling. Once the weather warms, this plant grows rampantly, quickly covering a small trellis or wire cage.
How long does it take for Melothria to germinate?
Most seeds should germinate within 10 days. Melothria scabra grows vigorously in full sun when temperatures are warm. Be aware that the tender young stems and tendrils are easily damaged by cold or rough handling. Once the weather warms, this plant grows rampantly, quickly covering a small trellis or wire cage.
What is Melothria scabra fruit?
Melothria scabra. Melothria scabra, also known as the cucamelon, is a vine grown for its edible fruit. Fruit are about the size of grapes and taste like cucumbers with a tinge of sourness. Vernacular names include mouse melon, Mexican sour gherkin, cucamelon, Mexican miniature watermelon, Mexican sour cucumber and pepquinos.
How big do Melothria scabra cucumbers grow?
Melothria scabra female flower. These plants are slow-growing when they are establishing themselves, but can eventually grow up to ten feet under proper conditions. They are drought resistant and pest-resistant relative to other cucumbers.
How long does it take to grow cucamelons?
60 to 70 daysCucamelons are fairly easy to grow is they receive enough sunlight and warmth and have a support structure or space to grow. How long does it take to grow cucamelon? Cucamelons typically will be ready for harvesting 60 to 70 days after a seedling is planted.
Are cucamelons easy to grow?
Cucamelon plants are easy to grow and prolific, with each producing hundreds of small oval fruits that look like tiny watermelons but taste a lot like cucumbers. With more gardeners wanting to grow cucamelons, many nurseries are now offering seedlings.
Do cucamelons come back every year?
Cucamelons are tender perennials which means, if you live in a warm climate they may continue to grow year after year from the same root stock. You can test this by insulating the area with mulch after the growing season.
Can you grow cucamelons on a trellis?
Give cucamelons something to climb Provide a trellis for the tendrils to climb as the cucamelon vines grow. Growing cucamelons vertically on a trellis allows for better airflow and helps prevent damage from feet and pests. Ripe cucamelons grown on a trellis are also easier to spot and thus harvest.
Can you grow cucamelon in pots?
You can grow one or two plants in a 5 to 7-gallon pot (12-14 inches container). A 24 inches pot is good for growing 3-4 cucamelon vines. Make sure that the container has sufficient drainage holes. Amend the soil with plenty of organic matter.
Can you grow cucamelons in a hanging basket?
They grow great in hanging baskets, too. They will grow in partial shade, but seem to need full sun to get the highest yields. They don't succumb as easily to the mildew that many cucumber plants do.
Are cucamelons poisonous to dogs?
Overview. While there has research has been done on the suitability of feeding cucamelons to dogs; they are not known to be toxic to canines. Cucamelons contain powerful antioxidants, beta-carotene, and lycopene. They are also packed with other nutrients, including vitamins C, E, K, and potassium.
Are cucamelons good for you?
What Makes Cucamelons a Superfood? Cucamelons are small but pack a healthful punch. They are full of vitamins and minerals, antioxidants and fiber, and are also low in calories. The nutrients they provide can help lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer.
How do you know when a cucamelon is ripe?
0:120:39How to Harvest Cucamelons - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can harvest when they're small or when they're a little bit more filled out and round harvestMoreYou can harvest when they're small or when they're a little bit more filled out and round harvest frequently so the plant will continue to produce more flowers.
Do you need to prune cucamelon?
This exotic plant can be a great part of your garden – they're one of the easiest plants to grow as they suffer from very few pests, don't require fancy pruning or need the cover of a greenhouse. Cucamelons are very drought resistant, even more so than cucumbers.
How big does a cucamelon plant grow?
A self-fertilising plant, cucamelons produce small yellow flowers with female flowers developing a little while before the males. The fruit forms around the base of the female flowers and grows to between 2.5 and 4cm in length.
Why is my cucamelon not flowering?
Underwatering – cucamelons, like tomatoes and cucumbers, do need to be regularly watered. If you've been growing them in a greenhouse or polytunnel then it may be that they weren't getting enough water in the heat this year. Lack of pollination – this is a likely cause for the fruits not swelling.
Are cucamelons poisonous to dogs?
Overview. While there has research has been done on the suitability of feeding cucamelons to dogs; they are not known to be toxic to canines. Cucamelons contain powerful antioxidants, beta-carotene, and lycopene. They are also packed with other nutrients, including vitamins C, E, K, and potassium.
What grows well with cucamelon?
Companion Planting Plant cucumbers beside asparagus, beans, Brassicas, celery, corn, dill, kohlrabi, lettuce, onion, peas, radish, and tomatoes. Avoid planting near potatoes and sage. Both corn and sunflowers can act as a trellis for cucumbers to good effect.
Why are my cucamelons not growing?
Underwatering – cucamelons, like tomatoes and cucumbers, do need to be regularly watered. If you've been growing them in a greenhouse or polytunnel then it may be that they weren't getting enough water in the heat this year. Lack of pollination – this is a likely cause for the fruits not swelling.
How big do cucamelons grow?
Cucamelons don't grow much larger than a grape, so don't wait for a cucumber-sized fruit to harvest. Cucamelon picking should be done when the fruits are not much more than an inch (2.5 cm.) in length and still firm to the touch.
How to grow Mexican sour gherkins?
How to prepare the soil to grow Mexican sour gherkins. To ensure that you get a good crop of cucamelon fruits, you should plant them in the right type of soil. Similar to growing cucumbers, cucamelons enjoy fast-draining soil that is rich in nutrients.
Where Do Cucamelons (Mexican Sour Gherkin) Grow?
Cucamelons (Mexican sour gherkin) are native to Mexico and Central America. Although most people have generally only heard about these mini-melons in the last few years, cucamelons have grown in Mexico for centuries.
How much sun does a cucamelon need?
To ensure a healthy crop, you should plant your cucamelon plants where they get plenty of sun. It is important to keep them out of any shade as the “mouse melon” plant needs 6 hours of sunlight every day to thrive.
Why are mouse melons called mouse gherkins?
Recipe for cucamelon pickles. Because cucamelons are similar to cucumbers, they are perfect for pickling. This is one of the reasons why mouse melons are also called Mexican sour gherkins. Here is how you can pickle your cucamelons to enjoy them all year round.
How long does it take for a cucamelon to grow?
The cucamelon seeds can take a few weeks to germinate, so you need to be patient. However, after about 3 or 4 weeks you should see some cucamelon seedlings spouting.
What is a mouse melons?
Cucamelons (melothria scabra) are also named mouse melons, the Mexican sour gherkin, and the Mexican sour cucumber. In Spanish cucamelons are called sandiita, or, little watermelon. You may also hear cucamelons referred to as pepquinos, or the Mexican miniature watermelon.
Do cucamelon seeds germinate?
To make sure that your cucamelon seeds germinate and grow, it’s important to purchase high-quality seeds. So, check out online reviews of the individual seller. The best cucamelon seeds should be organic or free from chemicals.
Where does Melothria scabra come from?
The leaves of Melothria scabra look like regular cucumber leaves. Native to Mexico and Central America, in the US it is an edible curiosity seen primarily in farmers markets and backyard gardens rather than in mainstream, commercial agriculture.
What is the fruit of Melothria scabra?
Fruit of Melothria scabra. Cross a cucumber and a watermelon and what do you get? Probably nothing in real life but the small cucurbit Melothria scabra fits that bill. This herbaceous climber in the cucumber family (Cucurbitaceae) is grown for its tiny edible fruit that looks just like a miniature striped watermelon.
How long does it take for mouse melon to germinate?
Most seeds should germinate within 10 days.
How far can a slug plant grow?
Under ideal conditions the plants can grow up to 10 feet and produce abundant fruit. It is best to grow these plants vertically rather than on the ground as slugs will damage fruit in contact with the soil. It’s also easier to see and pick the fruits hanging down from a trellis.
Can mouse melon be saved?
It’s also easier to see and pick the fruits hanging down from a trellis. Unlike regular cucumbers, mouse melon doesn’t have any significant pests. The small (1/8 inch long) seeds look like tiny cucumber seeds. Seeds can be saved from year to year.
Where are yellow flowers produced?
The small yellow flowers are produced in the leaf axils .
Does Melothria scabra grow in full sun?
Melothria scabra grows vigorously in full sun when temperatures are warm. Be aware that the tender young stems and tendrils are easily damaged by cold or rough handling. Once the weather warms, this plant grows rampantly, quickly covering a small trellis or wire cage.
How to grow Mexican miniature watermelon?
Full sun and rich, fast-draining soil provide the best conditions for growing Mexican miniature watermelons. Choose a growing site with full southern exposure and at least 12 square-inches of space for each plant. As vining plants, Mexican miniature watermelons need a support structure to keep their stems and fruit off the ground, so install a small trellis or tomato cage for them to grow on. Start the seeds indoors three to six weeks before the last spring frost, sowing them in starter pots at a depth of 1/2 to 1 inch. Transplant the seedlings 12 inches apart after all frost danger has passed and the soil has warmed to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.
How long do Mexican watermelons grow?
They require a long growing season with at least 65 to 75 days of warm, frost-free weather and soil temperatures between 75 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit to bear fruit. Gardeners in cooler areas can grow Mexican miniature watermelons in pots and move them indoors to a warm, bright room when nighttime temperatures drop below 50 degrees Fahrenheit.
Do Mexican watermelon need fertilizer?
Mexican miniature watermelons are light to moderate feeders, depending on their soil. Those grown in organically rich soil require no chemical fertilizers. Amend lean or porous soil with a 2-inch layer of compost worked into the top 6 to 8 inches of soil prior to planting. Also, add 1 tablespoon of 6-10-10 analysis fertilizer to each planting hole to improve the soil's nutrient content. Once established, Mexican miniature watermelons need no supplemental feeding apart from a light, 3-inch side-dressing of compost each month starting roughly two months after planting.
How to grow cucamelon in a garden?
Provide a trellis or wire for your vines. Keep the plant watered, and prepare for a bountiful crop from July until the first frost. Harvest the fruit when it feels firm. Wait until it pulls from the vine easily. The cucamelon’s value as an addition to your garden is not limited to its cuteness.
How to save cucamelon seeds?
Once you get a hold of some, you might choose to save seeds. To do this, pick up overripe fruit that has fallen to the ground. Place the fruit in a cool location for a couple of weeks to ripen even further.
How long do you leave fruit seeds in water?
When the fruit is ready, slice it open and scoop out the seeds. Place the seeds in a jar of water for at least five days. When some of the seeds have sunk to the bottom of the jar, rinse the seeds off, spread them on a screen, and set them aside to dry in a cool location.
Where do cucamelons grow?
Nowadays, the cucamelon is also known as mouse melon, Mexican sour gherkin, or Sandiita, which means “little watermelon” in Spanish. They are found growing wild in some southern locations in the United States, but they can be grown anywhere, much like its relative, the cucumber.
Do cucamelons reseed?
Although similar to cucumbers in planting and care, cucamelons are more cold tolerant and drought tolerant. They prove mini but mighty as they are resilient to pests and other problems. 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.
Where is Melothria scabra native to?
Melothria scabra is native to Mexico and Central America where it has been cultivated and a staple of diets since Aztec times. Native American peoples also use this melon in nonculinary ways, including in medicine, yet little of this information can be found in mainstream literature.
When was Melothria scabra first discovered?
Melothria scabra was first described scientifically in 1866 by the French botanist Charles Victor Naudin. I should add in the same breath that Naudin’s Latin name for this melon is not engraved in stone because there is quite a bit of argument as to where this plant belongs by botanical classification, especially because it has very close relatives in Africa.
What is a mouse melon?
Melothria scabra, known as 'Cucamelon' or 'Mouse melon' is a tiny melon that has been creating a buzz in the farmer’s markets.
How long does it take for a seed to dry?
Then spread the seeds to dry on a screen in a cool, well-ventilated room and let them remain there for at least two weeks.
How to save seeds from melons?
If you want to save seed, choose the ripest fruits. More likely than not, these will be the little melons that have dropped to the ground, as this seems to be a signal from the plant that they are ripe. Take the melons indoors and let them stand a week or two on a tray to further ripen. Then cut them open and scoop out the seeds.
How to tell if a grape is good for pickling?
Harvest them when they are the size of a grape, but still nice and firm. The best for salads are the tender ones less than 2.5cm (1in) in length that have not developed many seeds. You can tell whether they are tender by simply squeezing them. If they are an inch long and feel hard, they are probably best saved for pickling.
Can you grow watermelon in the summer?
These tiny water melon look-a-likes from Central America have been popular since Aztec times. The vines produce a constant stream of fruit throughout the summer, known as Sandiita or 'little watermelon' in Spanish. Despite their exotic origins and adorable appearance, they are much easier to grow than regular cucumbers. Their lush vines are ignored by pests, resistant to drought and perfectly happy to grow outdoors if given a sheltered sunny site. The vine is attractive and productive enough for hanging baskets. Sow in April to May for harvesting July to September.
Where is Melothria scabra native?
Distribution and habitat. Melothria scabra is native to Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, and Venezuela, where it grows in forests and thickets.
How tall is Melothria scabra?
Melothria scabra is a vine similar in morphology to Melothria pendula. It has a climbing habit, and typically grows 2.5–3 m (8.2–9.8 ft) tall. It is fast growing: germination under favourable conditions takes approximately 10 days, with plants reaching maturity in approximately 60–75 days. It is a perennial species, but as it is not frost hardy it is often grown as an annual. Its leaves have three or five lobes, and are 3–7 cm (1.2–2.8 in) in length and width. The leaf margin is undulate or dentate, the apex is caudate, and the leaf base is cordate. The leaf surface is scabrous; the upper surface is covered with small hairs called trichomes. Similar to some types of cucumber, these plants are monoecious, producing both male ( staminate) and female ( pistillate) flowers on the same plant. Flowers are small and yellow, and are approximately 4 mm (0.2 in) in diameter. Unusually for the cucurbits, the female flowers appear before the male flowers. These plants can pollinate themselves, but the individual flowers are not self-fertile. Each plant can produce hundreds of fruits, which develop at the base of the female flowers (the ovaries are inferior). Fruits are olive -shaped, grow to 2.5–4 cm (1.0–1.6 in) in length, and 1.5–2.5 cm (0.6–1.0 in) in width, and are green with dark green stripes. In contrast to the fruits of most other wild species in the cucurbit family, the fruit of Melothria scabra has a sweet rather than bitter flesh. Plants are drought resistant and pest-resistant relative to other cucumbers.
What is a mouse melon?
Melothria scabra, commonly known as the cucamelon, Mexican miniature watermelon, Mexican sour cucumber, Mexican sour gherkin, mouse melon, or pepquinos, is a species of flowering plant in the cucurbit family grown for its edible fruit. Its native range spans Mexico to Venezuela.
What is the genus name of Melothria?
Binomial name. The genus name Melothria is from Ancient Greek μηλοθρων: mēlothrōn 'kind of white grape' in reference to small grapevine fruits born by the genus. The specific epithet scabra is Latin for 'rough, scabby'.
Is Melothria scabra a crop?
Melothria scabra is cultivated as a minor crop for its fruits, which are eaten raw or pickled.
What is the name of the plant that is a cross between a melon and a cucumber?
Creeping cucumber, Cucamelon, Guadeloupe cucumber, Mexican miniature watermelon, Mexican sour cucumber, Mexican sour gherkin, Mouse melon and Pepquinos are some of the popular vernacular names of the plants. The name of the fruit suggests that these fruits are a cross between melon and cucumber – but only a miniature version.
Why wrap vines together?
You can wrap the vines together as they remain to grow to avoid twisting and harm of the tendrils. The vines will pick up the pace and shape the way you will arrange them since they are very flexible to change.
How tall does a cucamelon vine grow?
Cucamelon is a fast-growing, tender tropical herbaceous, perennial climbing vine that can grows up to 2.5-3 m high under proper conditions. The plant prefers plenty of direct sunlight in order to grow well. The plant is found growing in sandy, loamy, clay soils and prefers rich, well-drained soil.
What does a grape sized melons taste like?
Grape sized mini melons, approximately 3 cm long and 2 cm wide. Flesh colors. White. Taste. Taste like a sour cucumber with a dash of lime. Health benefits. Beneficial for heart health, aging, stroke, cancer, lower cholesterol level, constipation, blood pressure, eyes and every internal organ of the body.
When do cucamelon fruits start to show?
After their blossoming, the cucamelon will start showing their fruits soon. As soon as the fruit is grown to the size of a grape, it is ready to be harvested. Since the fruits grow differently, you do not have to harvest them all at the same time. When picking the fruit, be careful not to tear the plant.
Can cucurbits pollinate themselves?
These plants can pollinate themselves, but the individual flowers are not self-fertile. Flowers are small, solitary yellow about four millimeters in diameter with five petals. This plant is unusual among cucurbits in that female flowers appear before male flowers, not the reverse like regular cucumbers.
Is it rare to find cucamelon seeds?
The cucamelon seeds are really rare to find because it is a hybrid fruit. However, you can purchase them online. If you do decide to buy the seeds, make sure that they are organic and are free of pesticides .
