Have you heard of the cucamelon? This is a fruit of a climbing plant that is very reminiscent of how watermelon looks, only in a miniature version. The taste is slightly bitter but edible, so we are going to explain how it is grown.
And it can be had even in pots!
Origin and characteristics
Our protagonist, known as cucamelon, mouse melon, Mexican sour pickle, Mexican miniature watermelon, or Mexican bitter cucumber, is a climbing or creeping plant native to southern North America. Its scientific name is Melothria scabra. The leaves are ovate or pentagonal, 2,2-10cm long by 2,5-12cm wide, dark green. The flowers are small, 1-1,5cm wide, yellow in color. The fruit is ellipsoid-cylindrical, 2,3-5cm long by 1,5-2,5cm wide; and the seeds are about 3,5mm long by 2mm wide.
Its growth rate is very fast, and as it can be easily controlled, it can be had both in pots and in the garden.
What are their cares?
If you want to have a copy, we recommend that you provide it with the following care:
- Location: outside, in full sun.
- Earth:
- Pot: universal growing substrate mixed with 30% perlite.
- Orchard: it must be fertile, with good drainage.
- Irrigation: it must be frequent, especially during the hottest season. In general, it will be watered every 2 days, but the frequency should increase if the rains are scarce and if the temperatures are high (30ºC or more).
- Subscriber: from one month after sowing until after fruiting with organic fertilizers. In the case of having it in a pot, it must be paid with liquid fertilizers following the instructions specified on the container.
- Multiplication: by seeds in spring.
- Rusticity: it is sensitive to cold and frost. In the case of living in an area where temperatures drop below 0º, it has to be grown indoors during the winter.
What did you think of the cucamelon?