If you're looking for something totally different and unique to grow, look no further! Cucamelons are SO unique and out there, all your friends are going to be totally envious of your new crop! Cucamelons are a viny grape-size veggie that look like miny watermelons and taste sort of like cucumbers…hence the name cucamelon! Today we'll show you how to grow cucamelons, care for them, and harvest them!
How to Grow Cucamelons – a DIY Gardening Guide
Originally from Central America, cucamelons are very easy to grow and they'll produce for months to come! Believe it or not, cucuamelons are not GMO, and have a long history! You probably won't be able to find seeds at your local nursery, so you'll have to purchase them online. Thankfully, they're not expensive and they have a high germination rate!
Planting Cucamelons:
- Sow seeds indoors in mid to late spring.
- Use a good quality potting soil or a seedling kit. Make sure your pot or container has good drainage holes and that your soil is well amended with compost.
- Germination should take up to two weeks.
- Once all danger of frost has passed, you can go ahead and transplant outdoors.
- Plant in full sun, spacing each plant about one foot apart.
- Mulch around the plants to retain soil moisture.
- Set up a trellis for them to grow up on – otherwise this viny vegetable will grow all over the place like crazy!
- Cucamelons are drought tolerant, though they do like to be watered often.
Care:
- Caring for cucamelons is much like caring for cucumbers.
- Give your cucuamelons a dose of compost once a month during growing season.
- Water regularly.
Harvesting Cucamelons:
- Cucamelons are ready to harvest once they reach about 1″ in size, but they are actually edible at any point during growth. They are best though when consumed at grape-size.
So now that you know how to grow cucamelons, it's time to roll up your sleeves and get to planting!
Happy Planting!
