Please note, we are unable to deliver seeds to countries outside the UK. Due to new BREXIT regulations, we can no longer supply to the Republic of Ireland, sorry. Day 3 – Give them a half day of sun, but bring them indoors at night if the temperature is forecast to fall below 50 F (10 C). Plant cucumbers beside asparagus, beans, Brassicas, celery, corn, dill, kohlrabi, lettuce, onion, peas, radish, and tomatoes. Avoid planting near potatoes and sage. Both corn and sunflowers can act as a trellis for cucumbers to good effect. Dill will help cucumbers by attracting predatory insects, and nasturtiums is said to improve the flavour and growth of cucumbers.

How to Grow Cucamelons | BBC Gardeners World Magazine

Begin to harden off cucamelon seedlings around your last expected spring frost date. I don’t rush my plants into the garden as cucamelons are cold sensitive and can sustain damage if the temperature drops or there is a frost. Instead, I begin the process around the last frost date and plant them in my garden beds or containers seven to ten days later when the weather is more settled. Gardeners in warmer climates – zone 7 and above – don’t need to start their seeds indoors. Their season is long enough to direct seed in garden beds once the risk of frost has passed. Cucamelon seeds are quite small so don’t plant them too deeply. Provide bottom heat by placing the trays on a heating mat. This helps speed up germination. Planting cucamelon seeds Various wilts cause the vines to wilt and die. Controls are strict sanitation in the garden and greenhouse. Avoid over-watering, plant in well-drained soil, use long rotations, and use disease resistant varieties when available. Sow Seeds Limited | Registered in England Company Number 07008164 | DEFRA registered seed merchant:7614Day 6 – They can be moved to the garden anytime. If the night temperatures are still chilly, wait another few days to transplant, or cover the plants with a cloche or mini hoop tunnel. Cucamelon are Central American fruit that are not a hybrid of melons but part of the curcubitaceae family i.e cucumbers, and for the past few years are the new (almost novelty) vegetable that has come to gardeners attention. Once cucamelon seeds sprout, the plants are relatively low care. If using grow lights, keep them turned on for sixteen hours a day. Also pay attention to soil moisture. Cucamelon plants appreciate even moisture but don’t want to be sitting in water. Too much moisture may encourage root rot. I also fertilize the young plants with a half strength dose of fish emulsion fertilizer every two weeks. Cucamelons are small grape-sized fruits that have the taste of cucumbers with a hint of lime and the shape of a mini watermelon with a patterned green shaded skin.

Cucamelon Seeds | Mexican Sour Gherkin – West Coast Seeds Cucamelon Seeds | Mexican Sour Gherkin – West Coast Seeds

Once the main shoot has reached a height of 2.5m (8ft), pinch out the growing tip. Pinch out the growing tips of the side shoots when they are 40cm (16″) in length. Sow your cucamelon seeds during April and May. Ideally, you should use a propagator or plant your seeds in the greenhouse where a steady temperature of 22-24ºC (71-75ºF) allows them to germinate in around 10 days. Sow the seed 1 cm deep, with the blunt end facing downwards. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, transfer them into 9cm (3½″) pots to grow on. We Recommend: Olympian (CU400) . All our cucumbers are excellent, but for a standard slicer for the home garden Olympian is a wonderful choice. It works just as well in a raised bed as it does under cloche protection. Trellis it or let the vines wander about over the soil.This has produced quite a stir as a novelty couple of years ago. A vigorous trailer or climber which is relatively easy to grow. Cucumelons produce an abundance of fruit resembling tiny watermelons, which taste a bit like cucumber but with a citrus tang. They need little care, are drought tolerant and if the roots are lifted before first frosts they can be stored and replanted for earlier fruiting the following season. Once cucamelon plants are established in the garden and growing well, they are pretty low maintenance. I keep an eye on soil moisture, watering when there has been no rain. I also mulch around each plant with straw or shredded leaves to help the soil retain moisture. To promote healthy growth and plenty of fruits, I fertilize every few weeks with an all purpose liquid organic fertilizer. Watch out for pests like cucumber beetle and diseases like powdery mildew. Powdery Mildew – An airborne fungal disease that causes white spots on the leaves at the end of the season. Several home-sprays are said to be somewhat effective. Spray any of the following at 7-10 day intervals. 1tsp baking soda and 1 quart of water with a squirt of dish soap, or 1 part milk to 9 parts of water. Resistant varieties get the mildew just a few days later than the other varieties. Day 2 – Put them outside again but introduce them to an hour or two of early morning or late afternoon sun. Bring them indoors at night if the temperature is forecast to fall below 50 F (10 C). When you’re ready to sow the seeds, fill seeding trays or pots with a pre-moistened high quality soilless potting mix. Sow the seeds a quarter inch deep. I like to cover my trays with a sheet of plastic wrap to hold soil moisture. Once the seeds have germinated, I remove the plastic to allow good air flow.

How to grow cucamelons - Suttons Gardening Grow How

As noted above, cucamelon plants are vigorous vines that love to climb. I usually plant a cucamelon vine on either side of my bean tunnels to mix with the various pole bean varieties, but I also plant them at the base of wire A-frame trellises or cucumber trellises. They are natural climbers and you don’t have to worry about helping the plants attach to their supports. Their tendrils latch on securely and propel the plants UP! Before transplanting, dig a few inches of compost or aged manure into the soil. Carefully pop the plant out of its pot, handling the roots carefully as they don’t like to be disturbed. Plant the seedling into the prepared spot, firming the soil gently around the roots. Water well after planting. Trellises and tunnels for cucamelons These small seeds of cucamelon can be given a head start by sowing in seed trays placed in heated propagators, after germination takes place 10 to 14 days later, thinned out into 9cm pots. Or sown late April under cover in 9cm pots with 7 to 10 days germination. Planting begins outdoors when all signs of frost has past or in greenhouse with trellis support provided. Plants will benefit from a growing base of rich moisture retentive soil. DistanceOne of the benefits of growing you own is growing new & unusual or different varieties that are not widely available especially in high street supermarkets so why not gyo tasty 'little mouse watermelons' as they are known in Mexico ( Sandiitas de raton).