Mouse Melon, Melothria scabra, is a delightful little climbing vegetable that produces masses of tiny grape-sized fruits that look remarkably like miniature watermelons. Also known as Cucamelon, Mexican Sour Gherkin and Sandita, it is a fun and productive addition to the vegetable garden. Despite its watermelon-like appearance, the fruit tastes more like a crisp cucumber with a refreshing citrusy tang.

Melothria scabra is native to Mexico and Central America, where it has been eaten since pre-Columbian times. It grows naturally in warm regions and has long been used in traditional Mexican and Central American cooking. Although cucamelons have only become fashionable internationally relatively recently, they are certainly not a new vegetable and have a very long history in their native region.

Mouse Melons are small but nutritious. The fresh fruit provides vitamin C, potassium, fibre and various antioxidant plant compounds, while its high water content makes it refreshing and hydrating. Because the entire little fruit can be eaten skin and all, there is virtually no preparation required.

One of the best things about Mouse Melon is its versatility in the kitchen. Pick the fruits when they are young and firm and eat them straight from the vine, toss them whole or sliced into salads, add them to lunchboxes or serve them with dips. They are also fantastic for pickling, where their miniature watermelon appearance makes them particularly attractive in jars. Their fresh, slightly sour cucumber flavour works beautifully with herbs, chilli, garlic and vinegar.

The plant itself is a vigorous but relatively delicate-looking climbing vine. It produces slender stems, small green leaves and tiny yellow flowers followed by an abundance of striped green fruits usually around 2–3 cm long. Once established in warm weather, the vines can grow approximately 1.5–3 metres and will happily climb a trellis, fence or other support.

Mouse Melons love warm weather and full sun. They prefer fertile, well-drained soil with regular moisture but are generally more tolerant of occasional dry conditions than ordinary cucumbers once established. In particularly hot Australian climates, some protection from fierce afternoon sun can be beneficial.

Although generally grown as an annual, Mouse Melon is actually a tender perennial in frost-free climates. It develops an underground tuberous root that can survive and reshoot when conditions are suitable. In colder areas, frost will usually kill the above-ground growth, so it is most commonly treated as a summer annual.

The vines are wonderfully productive once they get going. Regular harvesting is important because the little fruits can hide amongst the foliage surprisingly well. Pick them while they are firm and about grape-sized for the best crisp texture. Leaving them too long can result in softer fruit with larger seeds.

How to Grow From Seed:

Sow Mouse Melon seeds in spring to early summer, once temperatures are consistently warm. In cooler areas, seeds can be started indoors several weeks before the last expected frost.

Sow the tiny seeds approximately 5 mm deep into good-quality seed-raising mix. Keep the mix warm and consistently moist but not waterlogged. A temperature of approximately 20–25°C will encourage good germination.

Germination generally takes around 7–21 days, although seedlings can sometimes take a little longer to appear. Once they have developed several true leaves and conditions outside are warm, transplant them carefully into the garden.

Space plants approximately 30–45 cm apart and provide a trellis, fence or climbing frame. The vines use tendrils to attach themselves and will quickly begin climbing once established.

Water regularly during flowering and fruit development and mulch around the roots to conserve moisture. Small yellow flowers will eventually be followed by the unmistakable miniature watermelon-like fruits.

Begin harvesting when the Mouse Melons are around 2–3 cm long, firm and brightly coloured. Check the vines regularly because once production begins you may find new little fruits ready to pick every few days. The more regularly you harvest them, the more the plant is encouraged to continue producing these wonderfully unusual little cucamelons!