Melothria Scabra, as this plant is called in Latin, tastes like a cucumber, but looks more like a small melon with its patterned skin. The attractive climbing plant also thrives in our latitudes. You can purchase these ready-made from a specialist gardening store or, using our instructions, you can easily install them yourself.
When and how do you sow the Mexican mini cucumber?
The Mexican mini cucumber (Melothria Scabra) is ideally sown at the end of March or beginning of April in cultivation pots with cultivation soil at 18-21 degrees. The seeds are planted 1-2 cm deep, the substrate is always kept evenly moist and ventilated daily. Germination time is 21 to 28 days.
The right growing time
Since the seedlings of the Mexican mini cucumber cannot tolerate frost, they can only be planted after the ice saints. So don't push the plants forward too early. The end of March or beginning of April is the optimal time.
Sowing
Since the mini cucumber is a member of the pumpkin family, it needs a warm and sunny place in the house to germinate. The ideal temperature is 18 to 21 degrees, preferably even higher. Until the first leaves appear, a window sill above a radiator is perfect.
- A mini greenhouse (€12.00 on Amazon) or small cultivation pots that are covered with a translucent film are suitable for cultivation.
- It is best to use special growing soil as a substrate. Since this is low in nutrients, the seedlings are encouraged to develop strong roots.
- Place the seeds about one to two centimeters deep in the soil (dark germinator).
- Water with a sprayer and keep the substrate evenly moist. The seeds must not dry out under any circumstances.
- Always water with room temperature, low-lime water.
- Air daily to prevent rot from forming.
Now you have to be patient, because the germination time is 21 to 28 days.
Growing the plants
So that Melothria Scabra develops vigorously, the foil or transparent lid of the indoor greenhouse is removed after germination. Provide plenty of light so that the little mini cucumbers don't rot. A plant lamp that you place directly above the bowls would be ideal.
Tip
Melothria Scabra is one of the climbing plants. It forms spiral gripping arms that wrap tightly around a scaffold and grows over it in a short time. If you want an exceptional privacy screen in your garden that also produces delicious fruit, this plant is perfect. If you protect the mini cucumber well from frost, you can even overwinter it outdoors in mild regions.
