This is the cucumber-melon hybrid of your dreams.
This hybrid, native to Mexico and Central America, is also known as Mexican sour gherkins orMelothria scabra.
The cucamelon isn’t a figment of your imagination.
Credit: PaulWhorlow / Getty Images
This fruit-filled vine, considered invasive in some areas, would be an exciting addition to your typical garden.
Grow this tiny, juicy, edible cucamelon (even the skin).
(Cucamelon relish, anyone?)
you’ve got the option to use the cucamelon whole or blend it into other meals.
you could also pickle it, which will be a preparation near and dear to Southerners' hearts.
When spring arrives, start growing your own.
The cucamelon plant is a vine and will also need a trellis structure to climb as it grows.
Light
Cucamelons need at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily to bear fruit.
In some areas, cucamelons can tolerate partial shade, especially in the afternoon in hot climates.
The soil should be well-drained, slightly acidic, and humus-rich.
Maintaining a consistently warm soil temperature will also help cucamelons to grow.
As vines, cucamelons have shallow roots.
Provide a trellis for them to have space to grow.
Water
Fairly drought-tolerant, the soil should never be water-logged but should remain moist.
Avoid wetting cucamelon leaves at night because this can cause fungi to grow.
Temperature and Humidity
Cucamelons need warm temperatures to survive.
These vegetables are frost-sensitive and grow best in environments mimicking their native regions in Mexico and Central America.
Pruning
Cucamelon vines need a trellis to grow.
Without pruning, it can become invasive.
Prune cucamelons in the spring and summer.
Additionally, pruning can help aerate cucamelons, which stimulates more growth.
Propagating Cucamelon
The easiest way to propagate cucamelon is to save seeds from the previous fruit-bearing season.
Once this occurs, move containers indoors and keep them in an area that remains warm throughout the winter.
Some common diseases include powdery mildew and cucumber mosaic virus.
Also, avoid soaking the roots before the soil has time to drain.
Since there is no cure for cucumber mosaic virus, remove leaves with dark green irregular marks appear.
Remove all infected leaves and dispose of them so that it does not infect the entire plant.
How to Get Cucamelon to Bloom
Good pollination is essential for cucamelons.
Male flowers do not bear fruit.
Pinching vines can encourage new growth, which should appear within two to three months after transplanting.
When cucamelons are overwatered, it deprives the plant’s roots of oxygen.
Double-check that the soil is well-draining.
Adding fertilizer or mulch can also help absorb some excess water and restore the plant to its normal state.
Bacterial wilt can spread throughout the cucamelon, preventing the plant’s water and nutrient transportation.
Treat by removing all infected areas down to the crown.
Frequently Asked Questions
Grow cucamelons indoors or outside, in containers or directly in the ground.
They are climbers and so will require support from a trellis.
Cucamelons are a tender perennial, meaning that they are sensitive to frost.
If cared for properly, this plant can live for several seasons.
Over the course of a season, cucamelons develop an underground tuber.
Once vines reach about 8 feet, pinch back growing tips to encourage branching and fruiting.
