Cucamelon

There are many types of cucumbers that you can try growing at home in the garden and allotment. The latest one to come to the Uk is called Cucamelon. They are called Cucamelon because they are like cucumbers and look like mini watermelons. however, these small little fruits have come originally from South America and have been around many years. It is just recently they have become popular to grow in the Uk in the last few years.

The actual name of them is Melothria scabra. In Mexico, they are call them Sandiitas de Raton’, or ‘Little Mouse Watermelons’. The taste of the Cucamelon is a cross between cucumber and lime. The Cucamelon does not taste of melon the name is just from the look of them.

These Cucamelons are very easy to grow and will produce mass amounts of fruit all summer. They like drought-like conditions due to coming from a hot country. They produce a female and a male flower so will need the bees to get in to help pollinate them unless you do it by hand with a paintbrush to increase pollination.

Introduction:

In the enchanting realm of unique and exotic crops, the cucamelon stands as a miniature marvel, captivating gardeners with its tiny watermelon-like appearance and a burst of refreshing cucumber flavor. Also known as “Mexican Sour Gherkin” or “Mouse Melon,” the cucamelon is a delightful addition to any garden, offering not only visual charm but also a culinary experience that surprises the palate.

This guide invites you to embark on a journey into the world of successfully growing cucamelons. From understanding their origins and distinctive characteristics to unraveling the secrets of cultivation, we delve into the steps and tips that will empower both novice and seasoned gardeners to nurture these tiny, tangy treasures in their own green spaces. Join us as we explore the whimsical world of cucamelons, discovering how to cultivate this miniature delight with success and savor its unique charm in your garden and on your plate.

Allotment and Kitchen Garden Book

Are you starting an allotment or planning on growing your own fruit, vegetables, herbs, and flowers in a kitchen garden? If so we highly recommend the book Allotment Month By Month. This does exactly what it does on the cover to help you with what you should be doing in the allotment and kitchen garden each month. Below you can see the link for Amazon where you can purchase the book directly. This book is extremely popular with all allotment holders as you will read in the reviews:-

You can check out all the allotment and kitchen garden books we recommend here.

History of the Cucamelon

The Cucamelon originally comes from South America. It grows in Mexico and Venezuela. It often is found growing wild. These have been grown from before the arrival of European settlers.

Health Benefits of Cucamelon

Cucamelons are packed full of fiber, minerals, vitamins, minerals that can help you by lowering the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

How to grow Cucamelon

When you are growing Cucamelon it’s always great to know where they should be grown whether it be outside, in the greenhouse, or in a polytunnel. Personally, I would recommend growing them in a polytunnel or a greenhouse as the temperature will be a lot hotter and they are originally from South America where the temperature is a lot hotter.

We will go through the step-by-step process of how to grow Cucamelons to get the best harvest, from sowing the seeds, planting the Cucumelon plants, and harvesting the fruit from the plants. You will be giving handfuls of cucamelons to friends, family, and neighbors.

When to sow, plant, and harvest Cucamelon

Do you want to know when the best time is to sow, plant and harvest your cucamelons? Here is a simple chart of when the best time is to do these jobs. Remember this is based on the UK and will go off the temperatures at that time.

Best place to grow Cucamelon

When choosing the best place to grow your Cucamelon you need to look at somewhere that will be warm as they come from a hot climate. So growing outdoors in the UK is not ideal. The best place that you could grow Cucamelon is in a greenhouse or if you have a polytunnel why not grow them in there. They will need a good amount of space as they do trail quite a bit.

The best soil to grow Cucamelon

When growing cuca the best soil that you could grow them in is multipurpose compost. Most people grow them in pots or tubs. Just make sure they have drainage holes in them. The multipurpose compost will have all the nutrients and food in it to help the cucamelon plants form great fruit to harvest.

How to sow Cucamelon

Sowing Cucamelon seeds is pretty easy. The cucamelon seeds will be a lot smaller than the cucumber seeds as the fruit is a lot smaller so the cucamelon seeds are maybe a bit more fiddly.

First, you need a seed tray with a layer of compost in. Sprinkle the cucamelon seeds evenly across the top of the compost so they have enough room to grow, or you can plant them in individual cells then cover them with another layer of compost. Sprinkle the compost with water – do not overwater them. If it is still cold in your greenhouse you can cover the seed tray with a layer of cling film. This will keep the soil warm and moist and help germination of the cucamelon seeds.

Planting your Cucamelon

When your Cucamelon starts to germinate you will need to start looking at potting them up into individual pots to help. When you transplant the Cucamelon plants make sure you are careful not to disturb the roots too much as this could damage them.

When your cucamelon plants are around 10-15cm in height they are ready for transplanting to their final growing place to settle in and take hold. To grow your cucamelons either grow them in grow bags or plant them in buckets with holes in the bottom so they do not get waterlogged and rot the roots. If you are growing the cucamelons in grow bags you can plant around 3-4 plants per grow bag. As Cucamelons grow like vines you will need to put netting or supports behind them to grow them along.

Place your Cucamelons in a bright sunny spot to get them growing great. Remember they will need the bees to come in and help the plants germinate.

Looking after your Cucamelon

When you are growing your Cucamelons they do not need much attention or care. The only thing you have to keep an eye on is that they are kept fastened to the netting that they are climbing up.

Cucamelons actually like drought-like conditions so will not need watering as often as cucumbers would.

Make sure you leave the greenhouse or polytunnel door open so that the bees and insects can fly in as this is needed to help with pollination on the plants. This will help create bountiful crops of Cucamelons.

If you notice any leaves dying just cut them off as there is no point in the plant trying to send nutrients to it when it can be concentrating on something else.

How to feed your Cucamelon

Cucamelons like cucumber plants will need feeding to help them produce great and reliable crops for the months to come. You can be harvesting cucamelons right unto October if the cucamelon plants are looked after.

The best way to feed your cucamelon plant is with Tomorite. When the plants start to produce the flowers feed them once a week. When they are starting to fruit these can be fed twice a week to help produce great harvests.

You can purchase Tomorite from the link below off Amazon:-

Harvesting Cucamelon

The best time for Cucamelon is when you start to harvest them. Once you start picking the cucamelons there will be no stopping you won’t be able to keep up with picking them all. When harvesting the cucamelon don’t just pull them off the plant as this could damage the plant and ruin the rest of the harvest. The best way to pick the cucamelons is by snipping them off with a pair of sharp scissors.

Cucamelon Pests and Diseases

Being part of the same family cucamelon suffers from a lot of the same pests and diseases that cucumbers do.

The most common pest to affect cucamelon is:-

Red Spider Mite:- This pest sucks all the sap out of the leaves making the leaves look mottled. Red Spider mite do not like water so you can keep your cucamelon leaves sprayed. If you see any leaves that look affect cut them off and burn them.

Purchase Cucamelon Seeds

Are you looking at growing cucamelon seeds to grow yourself? If so we have provided some links to where you can buy them from on Amazon:-

Cucamelon Common Questions

Here are some of the most common questions asked about Cucamelons

What does a cucamelon taste like?

Cucamelons do not taste like melons they only have melon as part of the name because they look like watermelons on the outside. Cucamelons taste of cucmber with a hint of lime. They are a bit sourer than a cucumber

How do you eat cucamelon

There are many ways you can eat a cucamelon whether it be just whole or raw. You can add them to your salsa dishes or why not add them as a garnish on your favorite cocktails as a garnish. Some people even pickle them.

How long do cucamelons take to grow?

Cucamelons will take around 60 to 70 days to grow to produce flowers and fruit. So starting them of early is quite key to a long cropping period.

Conclusion

Conclusion:

As we conclude our exploration into the enchanting world of growing cucamelons successfully, it’s evident that cultivating these miniature marvels is not just a gardening endeavor but a delightful journey into the unexpected. From their whimsical appearance to the surprising burst of cucumber flavor, cucamelons bring a touch of magic to any garden.

In nurturing cucamelons, gardeners discover the joy of cultivating a unique and exotic crop that adds both visual appeal and culinary excitement. Whether trellised in the garden or adorning salads with their tiny presence, cucamelons have a way of elevating the gardening experience.

As you embark on your own cucamelon-growing adventure, may the tips and insights gathered in this guide serve as a green-thumb companion. May your garden thrive with these miniature delights, and may the harvest be not only bountiful but also a testament to the joy of cultivating the unexpected in your own green oasis.

Here’s to successful cucamelon growing, whimsical harvests, and the ongoing magic of discovering nature’s surprises in every corner of your garden. Happy gardening!

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