Slow growing Cucamelons

I was very curious to grow some cucamelons so I planted some seeds in April and they germinated quite easily.
I planted them out in May. A few succumbed to slugs, which apparently love them to bits, and the surviving ones have been very disappointing.

In the same amount of time, my tomatoes have grown 3 feet and a few Tromboncino squashes nearly 5 feet.
The cucamelons have remained extremely small.

I have planted them in good quality compost, mixed with perlite, vermiculite, a bit of epsom salts and fish, blood and bone. I water them regularly, every few weeks adding either seaweeds extract or molasses, which is what I do with all my other vegetables.
They get a minimum of 6 hours sun per day, I think over 8 actually.
It has been quite windy and I am starting wondering whether they perhaps dislike wind.

I see from previous posts that some members managed to grow them succesfully (@Marley Farley ?)

Do you think I did anyting wrong?
Is there anything I might try to boost them a bit?

 

I've not grown these but your post prompted me to read up. Interestingly it's a perennial and if you dig the root up you can store it in a garage or shed overwinter. I guess potentially you may get them established this year then potentially get a good crop from them next year.

 

I grew them a couple of years ago, as a greenhouse plant, I'm not sure they will do well outside.
Especially in this half hearted summer we have been having.

To me they were a curiosity that I'll not bother growing again.

Personally I think Cape gooseberry is a much better option.

 

Thanks Mike, that is a good suggestion, if they fail entirely to grow this year.. At least, that will give the plants a good headstart next spring.

 

Thanks Marley,

So it is kind of normal that they will be slow at first.. Perhaps they stand a chance then, if the weather holds. I planted them in bottomless pots, perhaps that will help.
But like Pete said, this Summer sun and heat are lacking, so perhaps not.

Actually, you are not the first gardener telling me that one succesfull season of cucamelons is plenty sufficient for a life time
Still, they look quite decorative, and I was trying to make use of climbing edible varieties for an arch and a row at the front of the house. At least, tomatoes and tromboncino squashes are doing well enough.. I wanted an arch with tomatoes on one side, tromboncino and cucamelon on the other and blackberries on top, and now I have it, kind of..

Also, my kid only likes tomatoes and cucumbers, I was hoping he would like the cucamelons too.. My other cucumbers are doing very poorly this year unfortunately.

Well, thanks again, I will wait and hope then. If nothing happens at least I can go for the Sour Cucamelons route, and tell myself it is not a great loss

 

Thanks Pete, I agree that the weather has not been very good over the last few months.
I hope it gets a bit better over the coming months..

Cape Gooseberries sounds interesting , I like that allegedly they " do well in poor, drought-prone soils, too". I might give it a go next year.
What do they taste like?

 

Well I just think they are more likely to do well outside.
Obviously they don't taste much like melon or cucumber more of a fruity taste, quite tangy.
You could probably get some at the supermarket, and grow them from the seeds if you like the taste. A bit too late for fruit this year though.

But they are a tender perennial so over wintered frost free you would have a head start next year.

They like similar conditions to tomatoes.

 

I'm trialling cucamelons too.


As others have pointed out they seem to be extremely slow growing until conditions are right.

This was planted on the third week of May.

 

Yes, I guess they are happier at tropical latitudes..
Having started gardening only last year and having no greenhouse, I might have been too optimistic. Last year everything seemed to grow well, but it was way warmer than the average Summer..

 

Good idea thanks, getting some at the supermarket would also a good way of testing if the rest of the family actually like them, given planting space in our small garden is a bit limited. I will give it a go

 

I've planted three spare melon plants outside, we all live in hope.
We still have time for it to come good for the next two months, but not banking on it.

 

Thanks for the comparison, mine are the same size, pretty much.. To be honest, they seemed to be growing faster on my windowsill, so probably they like the warmth.
Perhaps if the weather warms up a bit in July they will pick up.

 

Night temps are usually the problem with these kind of plants, they hate cool nights, which is why they grow better under glass, it tends to hold some of the warmth from the day at this time of year.
Soil temps are also a big factor, so always water with water at air temperature or above, not from a tap.