Mexican Sour Gherkin
Melothria scabra
HOW TO GROW MEXICAN SOUR GHERKIN
Grow like cucumber. Start indoors 3–4 weeks before last frost with bottom heat, plant out 1–2 weeks after last frost. Direct seed when soil and day temps are above 70–85˚F at least one week after last frost. Sow in rows or hills thinning to 3-4 plants per hill. These plants are slow-growing when they are establishing themselves, but can eventually grow up to 10’ under proper conditions. They are drought resistant and pest-resistant relative to other cucumbers. Will grow well on a small trellis and avoid slugs. Harvest these cucumbers promptly, they tend to get seedy if allowed to grow longer than 1". They will continue to fruit until the first frost. May re-seed itself in ideal conditions. Soil pH 6.8–7.2.
Days from maturity calculated from the date of seeding. Average 10,065 seeds per ounce. Usual seed life: 5 years.
Planting Depth 1/2"
Soil Temp. Germ. 70˚F
Days to Germ. 7–10
Plant Spacing 8–12”
Row Spacing 5–6’
Days To Maturity 70–75
Full Sun, Moist Well Drained Soil
Days from maturity calculated from the date of seeding. Average 10,065 seeds per ounce. Usual seed life: 5 years.
Planting Depth 1/2"
Soil Temp. Germ. 70˚F
Days to Germ. 7–10
Plant Spacing 8–12”
Row Spacing 5–6’
Days To Maturity 70–75
Full Sun, Moist Well Drained Soil
- 30 Seeds$3.95
- 300 Seeds$23.70
Melothria scabra is a vine grown for its edible 1” fruit. Fruit are about the size of grapes and taste like cucumbers with citrus and tangy overtones. Vigorous vining plants are loaded with 1" miniature green and white striped watermelon-like fruits. Delightful flavor is sweet and almost salty. Great when chopped an...
Melothria scabra is a vine grown for its edible 1” fruit. Fruit are about the size of grapes and taste like cucumbers with citrus and tangy overtones. Vigorous vining plants are loaded with 1" miniature green and white striped watermelon-like fruits. Delightful flavor is sweet and almost salty. Great when chopped and added to salads, stirfries or pickled like French gherkins, my partner’s favorite use. Judge’s Award at the 2004 Common Ground Fair, Maine. No a particularly high yield. The melon’s most common name in Spanish is Sandíita for little watermelon or Sandia de Raton” for mouse melon. Also known as Mouse Melon, Mexican sour Gherkin, Cucamelon, Mexican Miniature watermelon and Mexican Sour Cucumber. Tags: Color: Bi-Colored, Size: Cherry, Specialty: Disease Resistant, Specialty: Drought Tolerant, Heritage: Heirloom.
Native to Central America and Mexico. It has been a staple of Mexican and Central American diets since pre-Columbian times, hence the wide variety of names in indigenous languages. The scientific name of this plant is Melothria scabra. It is native to Mexico and Central America, and was first described scientifically in 1866 by the French botanist Charles Victor Naudin. The Latin name and where this plant belongs by botanical classification for this melon has been debated because it has very close relatives in Africa.
Native to Central America and Mexico. It has been a staple of Mexican and Central American diets since pre-Columbian times, hence the wide variety of names in indigenous languages. The scientific name of this plant is Melothria scabra. It is native to Mexico and Central America, and was first described scientifically in 1866 by the French botanist Charles Victor Naudin. The Latin name and where this plant belongs by botanical classification for this melon has been debated because it has very close relatives in Africa.
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