Cucamelons are fast-growing and naturally drought-resistant.
Theyre ready to harvest about 75 days after the seeds are planted in spring.
Heed these tips to grow bunches of them.
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Selecting a Planting Site
Cucamelons can grow in pots or garden beds that receive plenty of sun.
Cucamelons should be spaced about 12 inches apart.
Once established, cucamelons spread vigorously, but theyre much more manageable with trellising.
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Trellising also allows you to grow cucamelons vertically for space savings and prevents common plant diseases like powdery mildew.
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Water
Regular watering is key if you want cucamelons to fruit well.
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Add a thin layer of mulch around the base of your plants to reduce watering needs.
Temperature and Humidity
Cucamelons are frost-sensitive and they can be damaged by cold temperatures.
Keep plants well-pruned and follow proper spacing recommendations to reduce mildew problems.
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Pollination
Cucamelons are self-pollinating and produce both male and female blooms on a single vine.
Just keep in mind that cucamelons grown indoors or in greenhouses will need to be hand pollinated!
Its time to harvest cucamelons when they are about 1 inch long and have firm, bright green skin.
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Overly ripe cucamelons turn bitter and become soft quickly, so harvest often.
Support the plant vines when harvesting to avoid broken stems and leaves.
Fresh cucamelons can be stored for about a week in the fridge in perforated plastic bags or containers.
For longer term storage, try pickling, canning, or freezing your harvest.
Freezing changes the texture of cucamelons, but frozen cucamelons are still good for cooking.
Choose a growing container with drainage holes at least 12 inches wide by 12 inches deep.
You should water and fertilize container-grown cucamelons more regularly than plants grown in vegetable beds.
However, cucamelons can still develop issues like powdery mildew, aphids, slugs, and snails.
Cucamelons are particularly tasty when preserved in vinegar, just like standard cucumber pickles!
Yes, cucamelons can be eaten raw and they have a slightly sour, cucumber flavor.
For a mellower taste, you’re free to also cook or pickle cucamelons.
Cucamelons can come back year after year in zones 9 and 10.
