The fruits of Melothria Scabra look like two to three centimeter watermelons, but they taste like aromatic cucumbers. The relatively easy-care plant is becoming more and more common in our gardens because it is also ideal as a privacy screen. The Mexican mini cucumber also bears fruit much earlier than other cucumbers. You can find out how you can tell when they are ripe in the following article.
When are Mexican mini cucumbers ripe?
Mexican mini cucumbers (Melothria scabra) are ripe when they are about 2 to 4 centimeters long and have an aromatic, cucumber-like flavor. The ripe fruits have a dark green, oval shape with light speckles of color and are still quite firm.
When is harvesting?
The fruits ripen continuously from June to October and can therefore be harvested until the first frost. The new varieties are relatively cold-tolerant, which ensures high yields.
When are the fruits ripe?
The oval, dark green cucumbers with light speckles of color have reached their harvest size when they are around two to four centimeters long. If you pick these from the bush, they should taste aromatic, similar to cucumbers and are still fairly firm.
Fully ripe fruits fall off on their own. However, the shell is then relatively hard, which reduces the enjoyment.
How do the fruits taste?
The taste of Melothria Scabra is strongly reminiscent of cucumbers with a pleasantly sour note.
Do the Mexican mini cucumbers have to be peeled?
The peel is eaten because it contains most of the aromatics. Thanks to its delicate flavor, Melothria Scabra is the ideal snack cucumber that you can snack on directly from the plant.
Trellis required
Be sure to attach the Mexican mini cucumber to a climbing aid (€17.00 on Amazon), as the delicate shoots break easily. This means your children can also harvest the delicious cucumbers without having to worry about the plant being damaged.
Tip
You can eat the small cucumbers directly from the bush or cut them in half lengthways like cucumber salad. If you want to enjoy the wonderful aroma in winter, you can pickle and preserve Melothria Scabra like gherkins.
