Cucamelon / Mexican Sour Gherkin (Melothria scabra) seeds
- The Mexican climber forms plentiful small cucumber fruits that remind of watermelons.
- Contents: Approx. 10 seeds
- Open-pollinated variety, seed tested regularly
€2.79
Description
The fruits, which look like tiny watermelons, are crispy and have a pronounced sweet and sour gherkin flavour. The perfect snack. Children love those gherkins. Also suitable for pickling.
The plant can be hibernated frost-free and bears fruits again in the next year.
Plant profile
| Plant type | Climber |
|---|---|
| Use | Edible plant, Ornamental plant, Vegetable |
| Lifecycle | Perennial |
| Species | Cucurbitaceae |
| Region of origin | Central America, South America |
| Eventual height | 1-3 m |
| Flower colour | Yellow |
| Flowering months | August, July, June, October, September |
| Main harvest | August, July, October, September |
| Fruit colour | Grün |
| Fruit form | pflaumenförmig |
| Root system | Tuber |
| Winter hardiness zones | 11 (4 bis 10 °C) |
Growing instructions
| When to sow outdoors | June, May |
|---|---|
| Sowing depth | 1-3 cm |
| Germination temperature | 15-20°C |
| Germination time | 2-6 weeks |
| Soil type | Free-draining, Fresh, Humus-rich, Nutrient-rich |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Planting distance | 40 cm |
| Row spacing | 40 cm |
Sowing and care
It is unpretentious and can be grown well in pots on a balcony, terrace, or in the greenhouse. Seeds are started in indoor pre-culture in spring and planted after the last frosts. Melothria scabra is a climber that can reach up to 2 metres in height and needs a trellis or some kind of support.
Other names
Botanical name: Melothria scabra, M. cordata, Zehneria scabra, Bryonia scabra
German: Mini-Melone, mexikanische Minigurke, Cucamelon, Melothria, Haarblume, Zaunrübe, Gurkenmelone
English: Mouse melon, Mexican sour gherkin, Mexican miniature watermelon, Pepquino
French: Concombre a confire
Spanish: Sandita
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freu mich schon
Bisher alle aufgegangen und wachsen und gedeihen
Originell, hübsch, lecker, pflegeleicht
Mein Star des letzten Sommers. Ein Hingucker mit den hübschen kleinen Gürkchen, die wie Miniaturmelonen aussehen. Und lecker sind sie auch noch!
Not for everyone's climate zone
In 5 month we got these plants grow up to about 20 cm length each, no fruit. The plant definitely does not like mild climates with up to +20C during day. It would probably grow much better in a toasty glasshouse or in Mediterranean regions. We will not be planting it again.
