Cucamelon Seeds

Start your Cucamelon seeds indoors 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost date. This plant needs warmth to germinate, and putting them outside in cold soil will only delay them. Plant ¼ inch deep in moistened seed starting mix. At 70°F consistently, you will see little sprouts in 10-14 days. Direct sowing Melothria Scabra seeds can be done outdoors when the soil temperature consistently holds at 70°F. Space your plants 12 inches apart, one plant per trellis.

Cucamelon plants grow well in full sun – at least six hours per day. Any less and the production of fruit sets decreases significantly. The plant will produce flowers but not convert well. Well-drained soil is more important than well-fertilized for Mexican Sour Gherkin seeds. Clay soils that stay wet will rot the tubers before the vine gets a chance to put down roots. Water one inch per week. Once the root system is established – which is usually the first month – the plant will survive drought conditions better than most cucumbers.

Train vines upward on a trellis, fence, or cage from the start to prevent fungal issues and make harvest easier. Pinch the growing tip of the vine when it reaches a support; this will encourage lateral growth rather than vertical. Feed lightly during the first blooming with a balanced fertilizer. But don't overuse it, as too much nitrogen will get you more leaves and less fruit. Harvest when grapes are grape-sized for maximum crunch and wonderful sour-lime taste. If you wait too long, the seeds will get hard. Harvest every two or three days once fruiting begins to encourage more harvest.