Cucamelon Harvest Info - Learn How To Harvest A Cucamelon Plant

How do you harvest Cucamelons?

Pinch out the growing tip of the side shoots when they are 40cm (16″) in length. The plants will start to fruit in July through to late September. Cucamelons are ready to pick when they are the size of olives or small grapes and are still firm.

How do you know when to pick Cucamelons?

About a week after you see the first flowers, begin checking for ripe cucamelons. They tend to hide behind the foliage, so look closely. Once they're about an inch long, start picking. The sourness of the skin intensifies as the fruits age, so pick them young if you want to minimize the citrus bite.

How fast do Cucamelons grow?

Cucamelons are usually direct-sown into the garden after all danger of frost has passed. The seeds germinate and sprout in 7 to 14 days, and reach maturity in 60 to 70 days.

How do you eat a Cucamelon?

How to Eat Cucamelons

Eat them fresh from the garden. No need to remove the peel. ...
Pickle them. Eat on their own or add to sandwiches and wraps.
Use a whole one as an unexpected garnish in your favorite cocktail or lemonade.
Chop them up and add to salsas and salads for a bright flavor.
Cook them in a stir-fry.

Is Cucamelon perennial?

Cucamelons can act as a perennial if you are lucky enough to live in a climate where they can produce tubers, or radish-like roots. ... If you live in an area that doesn't get much frost, then you can overwinter the roots in place by insulating with 6 – 8 inches of straw mulch and lightly moistening it.

Are Cucamelons self pollinating?

Self-pollinating – Cucamelons are monoecious, meaning they have male and female flowers on one plant and are capable of self-pollination. Similar to cucumbers, fruits develop at the base of female flowers.

What does a ripe Cucamelon look like?

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. If you pick them later, they will be very seedy. Cucamelons develop and ripen pretty quickly after the flowers appear, so keep watching your vines daily.

How do you hand pollinate Cucamelons?

If you are going to hand pollinate, you can take off the entire flower and then rub it on the female flowers. From the front you can see all of the pollen-covered anthers on the male flower. This pollen has to be moved, by bees or by hand, to the female flower for successful pollination and fruit development.

How big is a ripe Cucamelon?

Cucamelons are ripe when the size of a large grape, or about 1 inch long. Harvest ripe cucamelons regularly as they can self-seed: harvesting regularly and picking up any dropped fruit will prevent unwanted cucamelon plants from emerging the following season.

Is Cucamelon a fruit or vegetable?

Melothria scabra, also known as the cucamelon, is a vine grown for its edible fruit. Fruits 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.

Are Cucamelons good for you?

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.

What does a Cucamelon taste like?

It's a grape-sized fruit that grows on vines, also known as the Mexican sour gherkin or melothria scabra. It looks like a baby watermelon outside -- but more like a cucumber inside, as you can see in the picture above. It tastes like a cucumber, but a bit sweeter, maybe with a hint of lime -- nothing like a watermelon.

Are Cucamelons invasive?

The vines are invasive, though, so if you do decide to try your hand at growing them yourself, you'll want to use a trellis and monitor the growth. What would you do with a cute cucamelon?

Are Cucamelon leaves edible?

M. Charantia is edible when green and cooked but quite toxic and not edible when ripe. ... pendula but with no reports of laxative issues when ripe is Melothria scabra, or the Mexican Gherkin or Mexican Sour Gherkin.

Can you eat Cucamelon leaves?

Generally eaten raw, but also pickled or used in salsas. Cucamelons can also be cooked, but tend to be best when cooked quickly or lightly (e.g. in a stir-fry).

How do you overwinter Cucamelon?

Store the pot in a cool, frost-free spot for winter; an unheated basement, a modestly heated garage, or a root cellar. Small-space and container gardeners who grow cucamelons in pots can also overwinter their plants. Just snip off the dead foliage and store the pot in a cool, frost-free area for winter.

How do you dry Cucamelon seeds?

Place the clean seeds on a saucer, not paper, to dry for a few days. Place your parchment paper label over the seeds. Once dried, store the cucamelon seeds in an envelope and label it. Above are two types of cucamelons seeds.

Why are my Cucamelons not swelling?

If your cucamelon fruits seem to be stuck at the size of a grain of rice, then you are not alone. ... Lack of pollination – this is a likely cause for the fruits not swelling. If you're growing them in a greenhouse/polytunnel then you might find that they're not getting enough insects through to pollinate them.

Can you plant watermelon next to cucumbers?

Because watermelons, cucumbers and squash are in the same family and are able to cross-pollinate, place each of these where the vines will not intertwine. Bitter fruit can result from cross-pollination.

Can you freeze Cucamelons?

They will keep in a fridge for a week or you can freeze them by cutting them in half and placing into an airtight plastic bag or container. Alternatively they can be pickled. Cucamelon are not usually affected by pests and diseases, which makes them a very easy plant to grow.