Cucamelons

Hi all,
My first attempt at growing,three, Cucamelons.Will be in a large Smithy container.Shall I tripod them as I do my cucumbers
Any tips please?
Thanks
Michael.

 

Hello Michael, it will certainly make picking the fruit easier! Hopefully being in a container the plants won't be quite so rampant. I had one plant in the ground in the polytunnel and it covered about 25m2.

 

Hi @noisette47
Thanks for your reply.
Are they quick growers?
Thanks
Michael

 

Like all curcubits...given warmth and moisture, they're triffids

 

Oh gosh I got 3

 

I'm watching this topic with interest. After three years of achieving this annual bumper crop



I finally have one fruit actually swelling up in my grow box.

Things I've learnt:

• Cucas love warmth. This is in rather short supply up here in Newcastle.
• Sparrow chicks love Cuca flowers and fruitlets. They have been caught red handed (winged?) plucking them out from the plants. At least the chicks have fun.
• Starting seeds early (April) indoors works, the plants flourish up until they are moved out when the weather sets them back.

Since the fruit are actually not very nice (they say- never tasted one), I don't know why I bother. Must be the challenge.

Please keep us posted on your progress @Michael04 , good luck!

 

Hi @Selleri,
Thanks for your reply.
Here in Swansea we have a milder climate our main threat can be the wind although strong but not cold
I shall keep you updated on progress.
I have attached a photo of my three babies,they are on the right alongside my Turkish(Jerusalem)sage plants.
Good luck with yours
Michael

 

I've grown Cucamelons once, and they did nothing for me outside, in the greenhouse they were rampant.
Still dont like them.

 

Ahem...I wasn't going to say anything about the fruit, 'cos my Mum brought me up to keep quiet if I couldn't say something nice Suffice to say that I've still got about a dozen jars of them kicking about from 2011. I wonder if chickens like them?

 

Send them to Mr. Wong. He likes them.

Definitely an acquired taste, bit like a citrusy cucumber.
I grew Kiwano the "horny cucumber" years ago and it's a bit similar.

 

My enduring experiment with weird cucurbits.....Ecballium elaterium – My Education of a Gardener
I still get the odd seedling appearing every year

 

Ha ha, I've never tried that one, I'll put it on my bucket list.

 

Apparently it's irresistible to small boys and ladies of a certain age

 

ooo... need to try that!

A nursery specialising in vaguely rude plants would be a brilliant business idea. My baby was thrilled to describe her weekend job at school when she was about 7 as "planting the Bloody Cranesbills." Most daring

 

Might have known you'd like that It'd be a short catalogue, though?