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Cucamelons by Bex Cartwright

Growing cucamelons for bumblebees

Two cucamelons growing in a garden pot

By Bex Cartwright, Bumblebee Conservation Trust’s Senior Conservation Officer

Have you ever heard of a cucamelon?

Last year I tried growing this unusual little fruit. The flowers turned out to be surprisingly popular with bumblebees. So, I thought I would introduce you to them and share some tips on how to grow your own!

What is a cucamelon?

Cucamelons are also known as Mexican Sour Gherkins or Little Mouse Watermelons (‘Sandiitas de Raton’) and they do look like a mini watermelon. They are in the same family as cucumbers, squashes, pumpkins and courgettes, and are native to South America.

They taste similar to cucumbers with a slight citrus tang to them and a pleasant crunch when you bite into them, like the crunch of an apple.

The flowers are small and yellow and I saw a number of different bumblebees and solitary bees visiting them which was a lovely surprise and bonus!

How to grow cucamelons

  • Grow from seed in the spring. As plants from a warm climate, cucamelons need steady warmth to germinate so keep them on a sunny windowsill or in a greenhouse, if you have one.
  • After 10-14 days your seeds should start to germinate, but they may germinate at different rates so don’t worry if some take a little longer. Once the plants are big enough to handle, transfer your young cucamelons to individual 9cm pots.
  • Once all chance of frost has passed, you can transfer your cucamelons to their outdoor growing position. This should be somewhere warm and sunny with plenty of sunshine.
  • Cucamelons are climbing, vine-like plants. I grew mine in buckets of peat-free compost, one plant to each, and gave them a wigwam of garden canes with twine for support to clamber up.
  • Water regularly, keep the soil moist but not saturated. You can also use a normal organic tomato feed to boost growth.
  • In mid to late summer your plants should start to produce flowers and fruit. They flower and crop for a long period so keep picking them. Enjoy watching to see which bees visit your plants.
  • Harvest the fruit when they are about the size of a large olive. I enjoy eating them straight from the vine but you can also use them in salads,  tapas-style dishes or in a cocktail!
  • You can treat your plants as perennials (plants which grow again year after year). At the end of the season you can save the large root that will have developed, store in compost and plant this out again the following year for an even earlier crop.

I hope this blog has inspired you to give cucamelons a go, they are a tasty addition to any garden and the bumblebees will thank you!

More ways to help

Looking to create a bumblebee-friendly space in your local area? Check our our Bee the change resources here.