Cucamelons look like endearing tiny watermelons — plus they ’re carry with antioxidants , vitamin , and fibre . Check out how you could develop your own cucamelons .
While you may not have heard of the cucamelon , they ’re one of the most democratic fruits on Instagram simply because they see like awatermelonzapped by a head-shrinker electron beam , Honey , I Shrunk the Kidsstyle . But these little fruit are so much more than cunning .
Also known as computer mouse melon , the Mexican false gherkin , or by its Spanish name , sandiita(little watermelon vine ) , a cucamelon is the yield of theMelothria scabravine and is about the size of a grape . But despite the name , they ’re not a hybrid of Citrullus vulgaris andcucumbers . They have a semi - hard rind with markings like a watermelon , but the entire thing is comestible , so you may pop them in your sassing for a burst of cucumber smack with a sour twist ( think a cucumber and lime tree mashup ) . And while native to Central America , they caneasily be grownin most parts of the United States .
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What Makes Cucamelons a Superfood?
Cucamelons are belittled but pack a sanitary lick . They are full of vitamins and mineral , antioxidants and character , and are also low in calories . The food they provide can assist lower the risk of sum disease , stroke , and cancer .
How Can I Eat Them?
Cucamelons can be run through raw right off the vine or used creatively . With their sour nip , cucamelons can be smashing additions to salsas , salads , and cocktails . To use in salsas , we recommend adding them to ourChunky Tomato Salsa , swapping out stock cuke for cucamelons in a cuke - base salsa , or using them in a delicious fruity - sports meeting - spicypineappleormango - ground salsa .
They can be pickled ( they ’re technically a part of the gherkin family ) and will be even crisper after pickling . Try using cucamelons rather of veritable cucumbers in ourEasy Half - Sour PicklesorBest Ever Dill Picklesrecipes .
If you want to drink your cucamelons , adjudicate them in ourCucumber - Watermelon Sangria , White Cucumber Sangria , or our refreshingPepino Punch .
So How Do I Grow Cucamelons?
Since cucamelons hail from Central America , they prefer climates with similar conditions . They requirefull sunand hot weather condition and do n’t do well at temperatures under 50 degrees Fahrenheit . But you’re able to still uprise them even if your conditions are n’t ideal . If you experience in an area withhot daysand nerveless dark , embed your cucamelons incontainersrather than a garden bottom . you’re able to rend the container inside at Nox , then bring in them out into the instinctive sunshine during the day . The vine also prosper in greenhouse consideration .
But despite their need for warmer temps , cucamelons are n’t high - sustainment plants to spring up . They are comparatively drought- andpest - resistantand are hardier than most diverseness of cucumber , stimulate this a truly anyone - can - turn - it eccentric of yield .
If you ’re develop outdoors , start the seed around the same time you would start cucumbers ( April or May ) . Like many fruits and veggies , they like rich , well - drained dirt . If you start them in a container , you cantransplantthem into the ground after the risk ofovernight frost . Water the plant well once a week , and increase to twice each week in exceedingly live weather condition . Wherever they ’re planted , give this vining plant atrellisor stake to climb .
Cucamelon seeds can be hard to do by , but you’re able to easily find them online through retailers like Amazon and Park Seed . Once you have a fruit - bearing industrial plant , carry through some semen for planting afterward by picking one of the ripe fruits , allowing it to ride for a week or two , then cut it opened and displume out the diminutive ejaculate . Lay them out to dry out and then keep them in an gasbag orplastic container for future planting .
These adorable little fruits are slow growers , so be patient ; it will typically take three to four weeks for a plant to appear when start out from seeds . Once yourvinebegins to blossom , the fruit will appear shortly after that . Wait topick themuntil the fruit are about the size of a grape and firm to the touch . To avoid damage the vine and keep it producing fruit for month to come , try snipping off the petite fruits withscissors . With care , you should have a enough harvest of fruits off a individual plant by the metre the vine pass dormant in October or November . Give them a try today !
