MOUSE MELON SEEDS

Melothria scabra

Sometimes called “Cucamelon" or “Mexican Sour Gherkin", my first Melothria scabra seed came from a catalog in which it was listed as “Mouse Melon", so for me they will always be Mouse Melons. The name fits. These odd little cucurbits are tiny enough that a mouse really could hold one in his little hands!

The taste of these little fruits is definitely similar to cucumber. But a sour cucumber. There is something spritely and refreshing about them, a pleasant acidity, as though they have already been pickled. The flavor has nothing in common with what we call melons, but the fruits do look exactly like tiny watermelons, and the plant itself (especially the roots) have a marvelous melon fragrance.

Mouse Melons are extraordinarily easy and delicious on a hummus plate. As a garnish for beverages they are incredibly charming. Perfect to bite into on a hot day with a mixed drink in hand. Suitable for refrigerator pickles, and especially beautiful when packed in a clear sweet brine with Cumari do Para or Biquinho Amarelo peppers and sprigs of Lemon Verbena.

Over the course of a very hot summer a single plant can produce hundreds of tiny fruits. In cooler climates, the plants can have a hard time. If you live in Kansas you'll be up to your ears in Mouse Melons with just a single trellised plant in the ground. If you live in Seattle, you may want to have a few plants, and at least one in a pot that can be placed strategically.

Wherever you live, start these plants indoors: 4-6 weeks before the last frost, tuck seeds just below the surface of moist soil, pressing to keep seed snug, and mist generously with warm water. Cover pot with plastic to maintain moisture and temperature. Kept moist in bright light at around 75°F seeds should germinate within a week. Pot up in individual 3" containers once seedlings have two sets of true leaves. Keep seedlings warm in bright light before hardening off around the date of the last spring frost. Plant outdoors in full sun when soil is at least 65°F and night temperatures are above 50°F. Alternatively, they may be planted into a large container placed in full sun and brought indoors on cold nights. Either way, they are going to need a trellis. A single plant can sometimes grow to 10 feet in ideal conditions. In a small pot, they will be happy to grow on a decorative 4’ trellis.

Packet contains at least 15 seeds.