July 12, 2023, 4:09 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
The fruits of the Mexican sour gherkin look like shrunken watermelons pressed into a slightly elongated shape. Growing these exotic and attractive little cucumbers is almost child’s play. We’ll show you how it’s done.
Still relatively unknown but clearly on the rise is the Mexican sour gherkin (Melothria scabra), also known as cucamelon. It belongs to the gourd family and, as the name suggests, comes from Mexico. Visually, it stands out because the fruits look like striped watermelons but are much smaller. They reach about the size of large gooseberries or olives and are similarly elongated. In terms of taste, they are close to regular cucumbers. Some people are also reminded a bit of melon. The small cucumbers are available in some supermarkets and organic stores. If you want to not only eat the fruits but also watch them grow, you can cultivate the Mexican sour gherkin yourself. Young plants are available online, in garden centers, and some hardware stores, and seeds are also offered.
Overview
Planting Mexican Sour Gherkin
Although the climbing plant makes a very exotic and special impression, it is easy to cultivate. Indoor pre-cultivation can begin in March. The heat-loving plants are only planted out after the Ice Saints, when no more frosts are expected. If you prefer to sow directly outdoors, you can plant the seeds between mid-May and mid-June.
Appearance and Growth
This gourd plant is a climbing vine that can reach a height of up to 2.5 meters. To thrive optimally, the sour gherkin needs a trellis, such as lattices, nets, or fences. The small yellow flowers, which open from June, develop into the fruits.
Location and Soil
The Mexican sour gherkin requires a sunny to partially shaded location that is as warm and wind-protected as possible. In addition to outdoor cultivation, growing in a greenhouse is also possible. The plant loves a humus-rich, nutrient-rich, loose, and not too wet soil. Suitable neighbors in the bed include beans, dill, peas, lettuce, and fennel.
Balcony and terrace gardeners can also grow their own sour gherkins, as the plants thrive in containers–provided the container is large enough. It should have a capacity of at least 20 liters.
Caring for Mexican Sour Gherkin
The sour gherkin is robust and low-maintenance. It is relatively drought-tolerant, but occasional, not too heavy watering with lukewarm water is beneficial. This positively affects the plant’s health.
Watering
The Mexican sour gherkin is quite drought-tolerant. However, occasional, not too heavy watering with lukewarm water is beneficial. This positively affects the plant’s health.
Fertilization
If the nutrient-hungry plant is occasionally supplied with a simple vegetable fertilizer, it has everything it needs.
Also of interest: The 3 Most Common Mistakes When Watering Cucumbers
Pruning
If the Mexican sour gherkin is cultivated as an annual, pruning is not necessary.
Propagation
The plant can be propagated by saving seeds. Store the seeds in a cool, dark, and dry place after harvesting.
Winter Hardiness
In this country, the Mexican sour gherkin is not winter-hardy outdoors. However, it can be overwintered in a frost-free environment. To do this, keep it in a frost-free place during the winter months.
Alternative
An equally attractive and unique cucumber is the Inca cucumber, also known as the horned gourd. It also grows as a climbing plant and produces interesting fruits.
Bee Friendliness
Although the gourd family plant is not very susceptible to diseases and pests, it is important not to overwater to maintain its health.
How to Properly Plant and Care for Decorative Pumpkins
6 Hardy Cucumber Varieties for Outdoor Cultivation
Harvest
The Mexican sour gherkin is ready for harvest when the fruits reach a size of two to four centimeters. They are popular with children due to their unusual appearance. You can eat them straight from the plant or use them as an eye-catching ingredient in salads. They are also a good choice for pickling if you want to emphasize their sweet and sour flavor.
Use in the Kitchen
The small fruits are popular with children because of their unusual appearance. They can be eaten straight from the plant or used as an eye-catching ingredient in salads. If you want to emphasize the sweet and sour flavor, you can pickle the small cucumbers.