Cucamelon - Melón ratón mexicano (melothria scabra), 10 semillas + ¡envío combinado!. Cucamelons, also known as mouse melons, Mexican Sour Gherkin or mini Mexican Watermelons are a great fresh summer snack, like cucumbers, but a little different! Open pollinated, heirloom seed, grown using organic growing practices. Latin Name: melothria scabra Days to maturity: 60 - 70 days from transplanting Germination: up to 4 weeks, very slow, very delicate very tiny plants Life cycle: annual in the north Growing information: Cucamelons should be started indoors 4 - 6 weeks prior to planting out. They need warm temperatures to germinate, and should be sown 2-3 in a cup. Seedlings are very delicate, small vines and are agonizingly slow to get going. Plants will need to be grown against a fence or with corn so they have something for their small tendrils to grasp and vine. They do very well in hot weather and will sprawl everywhere. Cucamelons are a member of the cucurbitaceae family, like cucumbers, but are a different genus and species (melothria scabra). They look deceptively like mini watermelons, but their taste is decidedly not like a watermelon! They have a fresh, slightly sour taste and are best eaten when small - and before the skin gets tough. They are great as a snack next to a cold glass of beer on a hot summer day. Cucamelons originate from Mexico/Central America where they have been grown for a long time and where they are perennials. Here in our colder climate they are only annuals. In the south, they are known as sandiita (little water melon) or pepquinos (little cucumbers). Other names they are known by are mouse melon, Mexican sour gherkin and mini Mexican water melon. They are slightly more pest resistant than cucumbers. Like cucumbers they produce male and female flowers that pollinate eachother in order to bear fruit. The flowers are very small! In the fall, before any frost, it is possible to very gently and carefully dig up the formed tubers and - like dahlia's - to store them in sand until next spring for replanting. We haven't had success with this ourselves, but it is worth a try. Cucamelons don't store that great, it's best to eat them within a few days of picking. They can be pickled - like normal pickles, for a winter snack. Planting depth: 1/4 - 1/2 inch. Germination tested: 01/2021 yes Light requirement: Full sun Plant spacing: 8 - 12"
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Seed origin: All our seeds are cultivated in Prince Edward Island,
Canada, zone 5b and are heirloom, open pollinated, non-hybrid seeds -
unless otherwise marked! We
grow and save what we love! For
storage, seeds are packed in resealable small bags with paper labels
and include basic planting instructions.
Current
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majority of my listings were germination tested
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me.
We
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seed. I am available for suggestions and tips if things don’t go
the way you hoped… however; I can not guarantee
a living, breathing thing such as a seed will grow for you on your
timeline once it leaves my hands. From time to time I may be able to
send some replacement seeds for the cost of shipping.
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***5
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I enjoy growing and trying new things. On
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Seeds
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