How to grow cucamelons, the tiny fruits that taste like cucumbers

These tiny watermelon lookalikes are easy to grow with the right care.

Cucamelons (Melothria scabra) are small, grape-sized fruits that look like miniature watermelons and are undeniably adorable. This intriguing fruit belongs to the gourd family and has a taste reminiscent of a crisp cucumber, complemented by a tart, citrusy splash of lime. With the right growing conditions, cucamelons are easy to cultivate. Their vigorous vines are drought-tolerant, pest-resistant, and thrive in full sun.

Not only are they relatively low-maintenance, but cucamelons also create an interesting visual display as they climb up their trellis. Ahead, experts share how to cultivate cucamelons from seed, as well as tips on care, harvesting, and storing so you can be fully prepared when growing these tiny fruits.

Meet Our Expert

Jessica Mercer, horticulturist at Plant Addicts, a family-owned online nursery that offers over 3,000 nursery-quality plants

Related: 15 Companion Plants You Should Grow Next to Watermelon—and 6 You Shouldn't

How to Plant Cucamelons From Seed

Cultivating cucamelons from seed is fun and straightforward. Before you sow your seeds, Jessica Mercer, horticulturist at Plant Addicts, recommends knowing your growing zone. Those in zones 3 to 6 should start cucamelon seeds indoors four to six weeks before the last expected frost date, then transplant them outside. Gardeners in zone 7 and up can direct sow cucamelon seeds outdoors once temperatures are warm enough.

1. Start seedlings: Fill small pots or seed-starting trays with a moist seed-starting mix. Sow the seeds about 1/4 inch deep. Mercer recommends keeping the mix evenly moist by using a spray bottle or by bottom-watering the tray. “Cucamelons germinate best in warm soil,” says Mercer, and recommends using a heating mat. Once sown, the seeds may take 10 days to several weeks to sprout.
2. Provide sunlight and moisture: Once the seeds germinate, Mercer recommends moving the seedlings to a sunny window or installing grow lights and setting them to 16 hours per day. Continue to provide moisture so the potting mix doesn’t dry out. “If seedlings become crowded or start growing long vines indoors, move them into slightly larger pots and add a small stick to keep the stems from tangling,” she says.
3. Harden off: Cucamelons are sensitive to frost; wait until after the last frost date to plant them outside. To prepare seedlings, “harden them off by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions for about a week: keep them in shade the first day, then increase their time in the sun each day,” says Mercer. For the first few nights, especially if temperatures dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, bring the seedlings indoors.
4. Plant: Plant the cucamelons outdoors when nighttime temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees Fahrenheit and the soil has warmed. Choose a sunny location that receives full sunlight and has well-draining soil. Additionally, add trellis support to allow for climbing.

Care Requirements

With your young cucamelon starts in hand, it’s time to provide them with the location and care they need to thrive.

Sunlight

Plant cucamelons in a warm spot that receives six to eight hours of sunlight for the best growth and fruiting. “Some afternoon shade can help in very hot climates, but too much shade reduces flowering and fruiting,” Mercer notes. A spot with protection from strong winds is ideal.

Soil

Cucamelons grow best in fertile, well-draining soil with a slightly acidic to neutral pH. Mercer recommends mixing compost into the planting area before transplanting and avoiding heavy, soggy soil, which can stress the roots and encourage disease. 

Water

Water cucamelons regularly until they are established, then provide supplemental watering during dry weather and during the flowering and fruiting stages. Mercer recommends applying a lightweight mulch, such as straw, around the base of the plant to reduce evaporation and keep the root zone cooler.

Temperature

Cucamelons thrive in outdoor temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees Fahrenheit. They will naturally die back in late fall or early winter when they experience the first frost.

Fertilizer

Cucamelons are not heavy feeders and may not need any extra feeding when planted in compost-amended garden soil. “If growth is weak or the plants are growing in containers, feed the vines every few weeks with a diluted all-purpose organic vegetable fertilizer,” says Mercer. Once flowers and fruit appear, she recommends using a liquid tomato fertilizer or another vegetable fertilizer with higher potassium to support fruit production.

Support

Space cucamelon plants 12 to 18 inches apart at the base of a tall support, such as a trellis or fence. The vines can grow several feet long and produce many side shoots, so the support should be strong and provide ample surface area, Mercer says. Growing the vines vertically also makes it easier to harvest the small fruits.

How to Harvest

Harvesting cucamelons is a delightful experience, especially when you can pick and eat them right off the vine. “Harvest cucamelons when they are about the size of a large grape or olive, around 3/4 to 1 inch long,” says Mercer.  To harvest, carefully twist or cut the fruit off the vine. Avoid pulling on the fruit; instead, use a twisting motion. Regular harvesting will encourage this tasty plant to keep producing its unique fruit.

How to Store

After harvesting fresh cucamelons, Mercer suggests storing them in the refrigerator without washing them. Place them in a container with a loose lid or in a perforated bag to keep them fresh. “Cucamelons are best used within a few days but can usually be stored for about a week,” says Mercer. For long-term storage, consider pickling them. Avoid freezing cucamelons, as this can ruin their texture.

How to Grow in Containers

Growing cucamelons in containers is both rewarding and relatively easy. Keeping potted cucamelons outdoors during the summer months is a fantastic strategy; however, it’s important to bring them inside when temperatures dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit or before the first frost arrives, so they can be properly overwintered.

1. Prepare your container: Start by selecting a 5- to 10-gallon container with adequate drainage, and fill it with well-draining potting mix.
2. Add support: Stick a sturdy vertical trellis or tomato cage into the soil for the vigorous vines to climb.
3. Plant seeds: Plant the seeds 1/4 inch deep. Cover them with soil, lightly water them, and place the pot in full sunlight. If you’re transplanting a young cucamelon plant, place the plant into the soil so that the top of the root ball is level with the soil surface.
4. Keep the soil moist: Ensure the soil remains moist but not waterlogged, and provide thorough, gentle watering.

Winter Dormancy

Cucamelons go dormant during the cold months. They form small tubers underground and may regrow as perennials in mild, frost-free, or protected climates, says Mercer. If you live in a cold climate, Mercer recommends lifting the tubers out of the ground after the vines die back and storing them in a cool, frost-free location for replanting the following season.

If you’re growing cucamelons in containers, bring them indoors when temperatures dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Trim back the vines and place the pot in a cool, frost-free location, such as a basement, insulated garage, or root cellar, to allow it to overwinter properly.

Common Pests and Diseases

Cucamelons are quite resilient, but they can occasionally face threats such as aphids, spider mites, cucumber beetles, and powdery mildew. To mitigate these issues, inspect the foliage regularly and spray organic neem oil at the first sign of pests and disease. To prevent soil-borne diseases, ensure proper vertical trellising and water the plants strictly at their base.

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