Saturday 17 September 2016

The Cucamelon

Dear Family & Friends

From time to time, I get adventurous and would try growing food that I never grew or have eaten before. Cucamelon is one of them. A blogger at www.englishhomestead.com offered some seed, although I'm most timid to come forward, I summoned all courage because I've been fascinated about this plant but didn't know where I could buy them from locally. I'm ever so grateful for Kevin's kindness since and will always be.

The cucamelon has now settled happily in our garden:)

The first year with growing cucamelon wasn't a success. I only got about four tiny fruits. I was anxious but I managed to save all four fruits for seeds. Perhaps these seeds got acclimatized to our climate, because this year, the plants just took off with great enthusiasm! 

cucamelons are so cute...looks like a miniature watermelon, doesn't it?

I'm harvesting cucamelons every other day and it's producing many tiny fruit that taste lemony..my first time to taste this and we like it for snacking!


close up look of a cut cucamelon

Cucamelon or mouse melon is more a cucumber to me than a melon:) It's cute and perfect as snack food. It's very prolific in producing fruits! Cucamelon will just have to stay and join our happy garden onwards.


It's a climbing vine and they grow on a fast rate - by the minute!


When we garden, we don't just grow fruits and veggies...but we also grow knowledge. It's another good reason why we garden.

Be encouraged to garden and wishing you a happy gardening time:)

Yours

10 comments:

  1. This post has made me so happy this morning! Glad they worked out for you and good seed saving to get them from just four plants from your first harvest. They're a great veg and one we plan to grow every year from now on. The black Russian tomato seed you sent us have grown well here this year as well.

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    1. Some of our garden plants maintain their history...who they were from originally and how they landed in to live and grow with us...to me, that's what makes our garden so special. Cucamelon got your mark Kev:) I'm also happy to know your russian black tomato have done well...it's always nice to have a variety to serve on a plate of tomato salad. Enjoy the last lingering summer days with your family:)

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  2. Great post, our first attempt at cucamelons failed but I think we sowed them too late in the year, I'll definitely try again next year now that I've seen this post, especially since Kev also sent some seed to us

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    1. Definitely have another go next year...cucamelon are fascinating once you got them established...they literally grow tendrils by the minute so it's good to give them a place to climb...light weight climbers as they are just miniature size of a normal cucumber. I think you can even grow them in pots. A great plant for your little ones to call it their own:) Wishing you and your family a beautiful weekend:)

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  3. Great post, our first attempt at cucamelons failed but I think we sowed them too late in the year, I'll definitely try again next year now that I've seen this post, especially since Kev also sent some seed to us

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  4. they look like mini watermelon from outside..

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    1. Yes you're exactly right Krishna:) They are pretty fruits!

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  5. Cucamelon is totally new to me.Now I have discovered this tiny melon on your blog I shall not rest until I have found out where I can buy seeds and if we can grow them in our gardens or may be in the greenhouse. We do grow little snack cucumbers, I have grown them last year.
    Have a nice Sunday evening!
    Janneke

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    1. I'll be happy to save and post some seeds for you if you like Janneka:) Somebody did that for me once before :)

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  6. Hi there Annie! These cucamelons are really interesting! Would you mind if I used one of your pictures in my gardening blog?

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