Mexican Sour Gherkin, Cucumber Seeds

Mexican Sour Gherkin Cucumber Seed

Tiny watermelon lookalikes hide a lively citrus-cucumber tang
Vigorous vines produce grape-size fruits through warm weather
Easy plants appreciate a trellis for climbing
Enjoy whole in salads, salsas, or quick pickles

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Key Attributes

Botanical Name

Melothria scabra

Days to maturity

75 Days

Sun

Full Sun

Packet

100 Seeds

About Mexican Sour Gherkin, Cucumber Seed, Cucumber Seed

Mexican Sour Gherkin cucumber seeds produce small, grape-sized fruits that resemble miniature watermelons but have a refreshing cucumber-like taste with a tangy, citrusy twist. Also known as cucamelons or mouse melons, these vigorous, vining plants thrive in warm climates and are resistant to pests and diseases. They are easy to grow, requiring a trellis for support, and yield an abundant harvest throughout the season.

Growing details

Planting

Sow Depth

1/2"

Days to Germination

7–14 days

In-row plant spacing

12-18"

Row Spacing

Plant profile

Maturity

Summer

Life Cycle

Annual

Plant Height

8-12"

Growth Habits

Vining, Climbing

Type

SPECIALTY CUCUMBERS

Seed & variety

Seeds Per Ounce

1,000

Color

Green

Seed Type

Open Pollinated

Growing Season

Warm-Season Crop

Before Planting

Prepare for Cucumber by selecting a full-sun, warm location with fertile, well-drained soil and ample space for vines. Incorporate compost and correct nutrients according to a soil test, then shape raised beds or hills where drainage is slow. Wait until the soil is warm, and install trellises before planting if cucumber will be trained vertically.

Planting

Direct sow cucumbers after frost danger has passed and soil reaches about 65–70°F, or start them indoors only 3–4 weeks earlier in individual cells. Keep the medium warm and evenly moist. Harden seedlings briefly and transplant without disturbing their sensitive roots. Space trellised cucumbers about 12 inches apart; allow bush or ground-grown types roughly 3 feet.

Watering

Cucumbers need steady moisture from flowering through harvest, usually 1–2 inches per week. Direct deep irrigation toward the roots and avoid sharp wet-dry swings, which can reduce yield or leave fruit misshapen.

Fertilizer

Side-dress cucumber with balanced fertilizer after establishment and again as flowering or fruiting begins. Avoid excessive nitrogen, which promotes foliage while reducing flowers, fruit, or maturity.

Harvesting

Pick cucumbers when they reach the variety’s intended size, color, and firmness, before seeds enlarge or skin yellows. Cut the stem rather than pulling, and harvest every one or two days to sustain production.

Tips

Train vines onto a trellis to improve airflow and produce straighter fruit. Hand-pollinate early flowers when pollinator activity is low, and remove row covers once female flowers appear.

AVG. Seeding Rate

30 seeds/15', 100 seeds/50', 250 seeds/125', 500 seeds/250', 1,000 seeds/500', 15M/acre at 2 seeds/ft. in rows 6' apart.

Pests & Diseases

Bacterial wilt, downy mildew, powdery mildew, anthracnose, and angular leaf spot are key cucumber diseases. Sudden wilt following cucumber-beetle feeding strongly suggests bacterial wilt; remove the vine. Use resistant varieties, exclude beetles before flowering, rotate cucurbits, and avoid overhead irrigation where angular leaf spot recurs.

Cucumber beetles, aphids, and spider mites are key cucumber pests; squash bugs and vine borers may also appear. Cover seedlings before bloom, uncover them for pollination, and remove beetles or egg clusters early.