Cuca-what? The tiny wonder that is a cucamelon 

Is it a cucumber? A tiny melon? Well, kind of both. Cucamelons are very small cucumbers that look like tiny watermelons. Originating in Mexico and Central America, this heirloom species is about the size of a grape and tastes like a mix between a cucumber and a lime. They are tart, crunchy, and definitely kid-friendly. 

Their other names include mouse melon, Mexican sour cucumber, Mexican sour gherkin, and sandita—meaning little watermelon in Spanish. 

What makes them special? Aside from their size, cucamelons don’t attract many pests, and nothing seems to bother the plants or fruits—always a win in my gardening book! They are also container-friendly, so anyone with enough sun can grow these little wonders, even in small spaces. 

GROWING CUCAMELONS 

If you can find cucamelon plants, by all means give them a go, but cucamelon seeds work perfectly fine when sown directly in the ground or a container. Make sure your soil temperature is warm—between 70–75° F—and plant seeds about ¼ inch deep and 6 inches apart. Cucamelons are heavy feeders, so add some extra compost to your soil when planting and when the vines start flowering. 

If you live in a colder area (looking at you, Flagstaff), you can plant seeds in walls of water, low tunnels, or use materials with extra thermal mass—large rocks, jugs of water, or nearby brick—that absorb heat during the day and release it to your plants at night. 

Cucamelons grow in a delicate vining fashion, so give them something sturdy and tall to climb. I found that using twine on a trellis helped the tendrils grab on and keep growing vertically. 

MORE GROWING TIPS: 

Plant in a sunny spot with at least 6 hours of direct sun and lots of warmth. 

In colder areas, they may seem slow to start growing. Don’t worry. They should take off once the weather warms up. 

Cucamelons take about 70 days to mature. 

Harvest while they are still small, before their skin starts to thicken. 

One last thing to note about cucamelons is that they are self-pollinating, meaning a single plant has both male and female flowers that could be pollinated via wind. To really ensure your fruits get pollinated, practice companion planting—a method of planting multiple species near each other for mutual benefit. Some of my favorite annual flowers to plant from seed with cucamelons are nasturtiums, calendula, and marigolds. 

I hope you make room for cucamelons in your garden this year and enjoy them as thoroughly as I do. Happy gardening! 

You can find cucamelon seeds online from Elevated Gardening, Seed Savers Exchange, Botanical Interests, and True Love Seeds.