How to Grow Cucamelons AKA Mouse Melons or Mexican Sour Gherkins

Have you ever had a cucamelon ? These adorable little fruits are a short ton of fun to turn and deplete . They sample like a citrusy cucumber and can be eaten pickled , discard into salads , or fresh from the garden . The lemony , bright smack and mini - watermelon flavor make these melon a gravid hitting with everyone , and if you are garden with kids these cute sister melon are an efficacious way to show little ones the magic of the garden .

Cucamelons(Melothria scabra ) , also called “ Mexican sour gherkins ” and “ computer mouse melon ” are aboriginal to Central America . Although they are not a fruit we see that often today , they were a very common part of the diet of ancient Aztec people . The little fruits look like tiny , grape - sized watermelon but have a zingy gustation more like a cross between a cucumber and a lemon or lime . They are packed with antioxidants , vitamins , and minerals , so adding cucamelons to your diet can really improve your overall health .

How to Grow Cucamelons from Seed

When you start anything from seed , be sure to use a sterile growing medium as garden dirt often contains bugs that can damage delicate seedlings . For information on how to give any seeds their best get-go , readSeed Starting 101 .

When I first pop out growing cucamelons I regain a lot of conflict data out there . As a trendy harvest for the menage garden , I think there are some article that have popped up from gardener who may not have grow them in person . I have been growing cucamelons successfully now for three geezerhood , but I want to be sure that I gave you the best information possible , so I asked a few cucamelon experts — Kristin Crouch ofThat Bloomin ’ GardenandVeggie Garden Remixauthor Niki Jabbour — for advice on acquire cucamelons .

Tips for Growing Cucamelons from Kristin

Kristin Crouch is a popular garden loudspeaker and an expert seed appetizer . She even gave me my first cucamelon plant ! Here is her advice on grow cucamelons from seed :

Tips for Growing Cucamelons from Niki

Niki is the source of the of late releasedVeggie Garden Remixwhich shows you how ( and why ) to uprise “ 224 Modern plants to shake up your garden and add motley , flavor , and playfulness . ” HerInstagram trope of cucamelonsget hoi polloi more worked up than I ever thought possible , but it ’s because she really knows her clobber . you could learn a net ton of info about growing cucamelons on pages 26 - 28 ofVeggie Garden Remix , so if you do n’t have the Quran yet , ply and get it ! Here are a few baksheesh from the book :

How to Eat Cucamelons

Now that you ’re growing these mini melons , what do you do with them ? They smack bright and refreshing , like a cucumber mix with a lime , and go well in both seraphic and zesty bag to add a little nada . Cucamelons are ready to reap and eat when they are about the size of a grape and feel firm to the touch .