Cucamelon
These tiny fruits originate in Central America, deliver a taste of watermelon with a hint of lime. The trailing vines are rampant and at home in any unheated glasshouse as well as a sunny sheltered spot outdoors. Despite their exotic origins they are much easier to grow than regular cucumbers and not touched by the usual range of pests. The plant is actually a perennial and provided the radish like root is dug up and stored much as a dahlia tuber over winter, they will flourish for many years.
Cultivation advice Cucamelon
Type: Half-Hardy Annual
Time to Germinate: 10-14 Days
Temperature Required: 20-25°c +
Days to Maturity: 60-70 Days
Light: Full Sun
- Sow under cover (protected / heated) from Mid spring, 3-4 seeds 1/2in deep in a 3in pot in good compost. (These will not germinate in cold / damp conditions, use a heated propagator or somewhere very warm (20-25C))
- Transplant no later than 3 weeks after seeding as they have a tap root that can be easily damaged. . Best under glass but will grow outdoors in s sheltered sunny spot.
- Will tolerate drought better than cucumbers. Avoid over-watering.
- Provide support and space as these will rampantly trail over a large area
- Keep them picked and they’ll keep producing.
- Harvest Jul-Sep
