Cute cucamelons

Cucamelons (May 2014)

In May 2014 I wrote a blog post titled Inside the greenhouse - a snapshot. One plant mentioned there were cucamelons (lat. Melothria scabra, ger. Mexikanische Minigurke). Some of you might have wondered what has happened in the meantime. Well, luckily they have grown, and I have been eating a couple, here and then. Our harvest has not been massive, but the small harvest worked as nice, snacky treats, and the Head Gardener predicts an immiment avanlanche of cucamelons (just that you have been warned, if there are earthquakes in Hertfordshire). However, they are really rather smaller than a thumb, and the outside looks a bit like a water melon, but one can just eat them without peeling the 'skin', and inside it looks like a cucumber! The taste: imagine the taste of cumcumber with a hint of something more like lemon (acidity), and then imagine that if you bite a cucamelon you have a bit of 'resistance', as with a carrot. I will definitely vote to grow them again in 2015, and look forward to eating some more in the coming weeks.

Cucamelons, mid July 2014, growing slowly!

Like beans, the cucamelons like to climb our 'wigwams', carefully created by the Head Gardener.

Cucamelons, 10 August 2014, quite a bit bigger

 Above the growth after nearly 4 weeks, outside the greenhouse, is visible. Also, see the new zealand spinach (of which in another post). And below: the actual, harvested cucamelons. Aren't they cute? Aww...

Cucamelons in August 2014, yummy! :-)

CHG