Cucamelons

Also known as a ‘mouse melon’, the cucamelon (melathria scabra) is a small, mottled dark-and-light green fruit which looks almost exactly like a miniature watermelon. The fruit is about the size of a grape and the flesh is crisp and fresh. It tastes like cucumber, but has an extra tangy, sharpness.  It’s kind of like a cucumber with a generous squeeze of lime, and looks like a watermelon for a doll’s house!

Cucamelons are great eaten on their own, straight off the plant, but they’re also very versatile. Throw handfuls of them into a big bowl of salad, or chop them into a salsa. Pickle them (it’s not a coincidence that they’re sometimes called the ‘Mexican sour gherkin’), use them in stir-fries or even have them as a classy cocktail garnish.

Given their sudden surge in popularity, you’d be forgiven for thinking that cucamelons have sprung out of thin air or are some kind of genetic mutation created by some mad scientist. This, of course, isn’t the case. The plant originated in Central America, and, thanks to its prolific fruiting and quick growth, was popular there long before Columbus came onto the scene. (Wonder why he didn’t bring some back with him …?) Only recently though has this odd little fruit started becoming better known and easier to obtain. In the UK, the popularity really began when the fruit was ‘discovered’ and endorsed by TV’s James Wong (of  ’Grow Your Own Drugs’ fame) and as its become more well known, more and more seed companies have included it in their line of products. This means you no longer have to track it down through specialist nurseries but can easily order the seeds from a number of on-line retailers. Some garden centers are now also stocking young plants, which makes getting them started even easier. The same qualities which made it popular originally are the ones which modern gardeners also enjoy – in a world where the summer climate can be unreliable and inconsistent, reliable drought and pest-resistant crops are worth their weight in gold.

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