Cucamelon (Mouse Melon) , Mexico Sour Gherkin

Melothria scabra, or Sandita (Little Melon) Circa 1880's, Mentioned in 1866 by a French botanist, this small vigorous vine is grown for its edible fruit, yet hard to position in the food chain, it’s a grape size watermelon, yet grows like a small melon & tastes like cucumber with a bit of lime thrown in. Native to Mexico & Central America & called sandita (little watermelon). Treat as a Perennial, the root is dug up & stored like your dahlias, replanting early next spring. Great in stir-fries; pickled like French or USA gherkins, eaten raw in salads or chopped & added to salsas for extra flavour, Seed Count Approx - 200 + ( avg )

  SOWING - Sow inside mid-spring into standard potting compost followed by planting out in a cold glasshouse into grow bags or well-prepared ground outside with lots of organic matter after frosts are past and the first 3 or 4 shoots show. It's best to create some support, tying the strongest shoot, Fruit from July onwards, ht: 2 to 3 ft