Growing cucumbers can be challenging due to their need for consistent watering and a warm environment. If you’re looking for an easier alternative, consider the cucamelon, also known as the mouse melon (Melothria scabra). This small, hardy plant is simpler to cultivate and thrives with less attention.
The cucamelon produces tiny, grape-sized fruits that are abundant up until October. The plant itself is a perennial climber, reaching up to 2 meters in height, but it can also be successfully grown in 5-liter pots or hanging baskets within a polytunnel or conservatory. Native to Mexico, cucamelons were used by the Aztecs for both culinary and medicinal purposes.
The fruit resembles a miniature watermelon, complete with a similar skin pattern, but its flavor is unmistakably cucumber-like. Sow cucamelon seeds in seed trays or pots at temperatures between 20-25°C (68-77°F) around the same time as cucumbers, and transplant them outdoors after the last frost. This plant is more resilient than cucumbers and adds an exotic touch to your garden. We grow them mostly in our polytunnel because the Irish weather is quite unpredictable. They grow very well in 12l pots. They tend to trail so they do very well in hanging baskets or pots that you set on a bench. They can be eaten fresh for the “aperitif”. They can also be added to pickles.
You can find cucamelon seeds at Seedaholic (Ireland) and enjoy a unique and productive addition to your garden. They look very weak when they germinate but they will explode later on. I sow them usually at the end of April in my propagator.