The Cucamelon is very trendy right now. We reveal what to consider when planting the Mexican mini cucumber and how to eat it.

Melothria scabra is the name of the mini cucumber from Mexico that is very popular at the moment

The Mexican mini cucumber is a frugal plant with one decisive advantage: the small snack cucumbers are loved by children. And because they're almost as easy to grow, we highly recommend including the little vines in your veg growing schedule.

So that you can shine with expert knowledge when someone asks you about the tiny melons in your garden, we have put together for you origin and properties, purchase, planting and care tips. Finally, you will also find some hints on how to use these special fruits.

Mexican mini cucumber: origin and properties

The mini cucumber comes from Mexico and is also native to other Central American countries. Cucamelon is a warmth-loving, climbing plant. The plant forms strong storage roots underground, which make it tolerant to drought and allow a perennial cultivation. Above ground, the young tendrils search for a support point with circular movements and then roll up helically along it. Cucamelon grows about eight feet with its three-lobed leaves and small yellow flowers.

The mini cucumber grows with its tendrils at a height of about two and a half meters

The flowers develop into grape-sized fruits that taste fresh and sour and look like tiny watermelons. This is not surprising either, since melons, cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) and miniature cucumbers are found within the order Cucurbits (Cucurbitales) in the same suborder . Only melons and cucumbers in it belong to the genus Cucumis (cucumber family), but the mini cucumber is counted to the genus Melothria . There are a total of ten species in this genus - but only Melothria scabra is available from us as plants or seeds.

Summary Origin and characteristics ofMexican Mini Cucumber:

  • Order: Cucurbitales; Genus: Melothria; Art: scabra
  • Origin is in Central America
  • Loves warmth and tolerates drought
  • Climbing plant; about 2.5 meters high
  • Forms underground storage roots for overwintering
  • Fruits about 25 mm long; externally a watermelon; taste similar to a cucumber

Buy Mexican Mini Cucumber

Mexican Mini Cucumbers are available as preferred plants or seeds. Because the cultivation is quite uncomplicated, the purchase of seeds is definitely worthwhile. If you are a bit late with sowing, you will find your mini cucumber because of its increasing popularity with various online retailers and also in some garden centers. The price is quite low, you can buy ten seeds for less than two euros and a whole plant costs no more than four euros. However, if you really want to use the small fruits, you should get more than two plants in order to be able to harvest worthwhile quantities.

If you want to harvest larger quantities of mini cucumbers, you should buy at least two plants

Tip: Continuing cultivation of the Mexican mini cucumber works well via the storage roots, which, like dahlias (Dahlia), overwinter slightly moist and frost-free can be. Because the varieties available are usually seed-solid, the small seeds can also be squeezed out of the fruit, cleaned, dried and sown again the following year.

What do you have to consider when planting the mini cucumber?

Because the Cucamelon comes from warmer zones on earth, it cannot cope with the frosty temperatures in our area. Only after the ice saints have passed - i.e. after May 15th - should plants be planted outdoors. Experience has shown that their location should be sunny to semi-shady, warm and protected. Cultivation in the greenhouse is possible, but not absolutely necessary. The soil is optimal when it is nutrient-rich and relatively dry - overwatering only increases the plant's susceptibility to disease. In order to get far up, the mini cucumber definitely needs a trellis. Incidentally, the culture also succeeds without any problems in a bucket or raised bed. The Plantura organic tomato & vegetable soil is a good choice for this. It provides the mini cucumber with ideal nutrients and is also peat-free and sustainably produced.

Proper care of the mini cucumber

For a better overview, we have put all the information in tabular form for youprepared:

Sowing windowsillEnd of February to mid-March
Seed Depth1 - 2 cm
germination temperature18 - 25 °C
Germination time22 - 26 days
PikeAbout a week after germination; in nutrient-rich substrate
Culture-Temperature18 °C and more
Plant outAfter May 15; in nutrient-rich substrate; sunny, warm location
Sowing outdoorsmid-May to mid-June
Plant spacing40 x 40 cm
CastingModerate; Earth should never be wet
HarvestContinuously possible from July to October
WinteringRemove leaves in fall; digging up storage roots; hibernate cool and frost-free in slightly damp sand
PropagationAbout Seeds

Recipes and preparation of the mini cucumber

The mini cucumber can be prepared and eaten in many ways. As a snack cucumber, children in particular like to nibble it directly from the plant. Incidentally, the slightly younger fruits have a better taste and contain fewer seeds than the ripe, yellowish fruits. In the same way, the mini cucumber can of course be used whole or sliced in salads, where it provides that certain bite.

The Cucamelon provides a crunchy and sour variety in the salad

Boiling or stewing is also possible and is rounded off with a creamy dill sauce and some potatoes. And last but not least, the Cucamelon can be pickled like real cucumbers and, thanks to its limited dimensions, saves us having to cut it into small pieces. A sweet and sour vinegar broth with apple juice, dill and onions emphasizes the special taste of the mini cucumbers particularly well.

You can find more about growing cucumbers in our special article here.

Category: