Cucamelons
Approx 18 seeds per packet
Looking like a miniature watermelon, Cucamelons also known as Mexican Sour Gherkins or Mouse Melons are crunchy bite sized cucumbers with a slight lemon twist to them. They make a great garden snack, go well in a salad, can be pickled, and our favourite is slicing them in half and having them in a G&T. A climbing plant that is quite resilient to most pests and diseases, can grow as a perennial in warmer climates however is not a fan of frosts and better suited as an annual in the cooler areas.
When to plant:
Cool Climate: Oct to Dec
Temperate Climate: Sep to Jan
Arid Climate: Aug to Feb
Sub Tropical: Aug to Mar
Tropical: Apr to Sep
Planting Info:
Germination Temperature: 20°C to 30°C
Plant Spacing: 50cm
Plant Height: 300cm
Position: Full Sun
Seed Depth: 5 to 10mm
Germination Time: 10 to 21 days
Maturity Time: 80 to 120 days
Growing Tips:
Cucamelon seeds can be quite slow to germinate, start in a warm location, we start in seed trays and wait until the seedlings are producing climbing tendrils before shifting them to the garden to help avoid slugs and other insects from munching on the small plants. Plant in a sunny location after frosts have past and give them a trellis or climbing supports to grow up. Harvest the fruits when they are about as long as the tip of your thumb joint (2 to 3cm).