What Looks Like Tiny Watermelons?

Other Names. Cucamelons are grape-sized fruits that look like Lilliputian watermelons but taste like cucumbers. They are native to Mexico and Central America, where they go by nicknames such as sandita (“little watermelon”) or sandía ratón (“mouse melon”).

What looks like a watermelon but is not a watermelon?

Pickling melons, like the sweet melons, are a native of western and southern Africa.

Are there tiny watermelons?

Mini watermelons are about the size of a cantaloupe or smaller. They’re sweet, crisp and very juicy. Their flesh varies from deep pink to deep red.

What else looks like watermelon?

Some look like your favorite melon, and some taste similar, but all are worth trying out.

• Cucamelons. They look like teensy watermelons and taste like sweet cucumbers.
• Armenian Cucumbers.
• Hamis.
• Chayotes.
• Frog Skin Melons.
• Bailans.
• Casabas.
• Honeydew Melons.

What are mini melons called?

For a melon the size of a grape, this fruit sure has a lot of names: Mouse melon, cucamelon, Mexican sour gherkin, Mexican miniature watermelon, cuka-nut, and sandíita (Spanish for ‘little watermelon’).

What grows on a vine that looks like a watermelon?

Probably nothing in real life but the small cucurbit Melothria scabra fits that bill. This herbaceous climber in the cucumber family (Cucurbitaceae) is grown for its tiny edible fruit that looks just like a miniature striped watermelon.

Where do mini watermelons grow?

Watermelon plants require full sun, rich soil, consistent watering and good drainage. They require a long, warm growing season, but they can be grown in the North with some accommodations: Cover the soil with plastic to help it heat up, and place floating row covers over young plants to trap warm air around them.

What does a cucamelon taste like?

According to the Huffington Post, the cucamelon is a fruit that looks like a tiny watermelon but tastes more like a lime-dipped cucumber. It’s also known as Mexican sour gherkin, Mexican miniature watermelon, Mexican sour cucumber and mouse melon, BuzzFeed reports.

What vegetable looks like a watermelon?

cucamelon
This results in an amazing vegetable called the cucamelon! The cucamelon looks like mini watermelons but tastes like cucumbers! These are the same kinds introduced by BBC food presenter James Wong.

What is the smallest melon?

Golden Midget is one of the smallest watermelon varieties, producing melons that weigh only 3 to 5 pounds (1.3 to 2.2 kg). What is this? The sweet flesh is salmon-colored and the melons are the perfect size for one.

What looks like half a watermelon?

Enter the cucamelon: an adorable fruit that looks like a mini watermelon. About the size of a grape, a cucamelon is a mix between a cucumber and a watermelon that tastes citrusy, and is native to Mexico and Central America.

What squash looks like a watermelon?

A cross between a Delicata and Spaghetti Squash, this green and beige striped, watermelon-shaped squash is a hybrid of the spaghetti squash. Like its cousins, it was named because the flesh separates into spaghetti-like strands when cooked and its skin carries the characteristics of the Delicata.

What vegetable looks like a tiny watermelon?

Also known as Mexican gherkins, the fruit of Melothria scabra looks like watermelons shrunk for a dollhouse tea party. Each is the size of a grape, speckled white with green striations. Raw, the mouse melons have the taste and crunch of a fresh cucumber but with a burst of bright sour lemon from the skin.

How do you eat cucamelon?

How to Eat Cucamelons

1. Eat them fresh from the garden. No need to remove the peel.
2. Pickle them. Eat on their own or add to sandwiches and wraps.
3. Use a whole one as an unexpected garnish in your favorite cocktail or lemonade.
4. Chop them up and add to salsas and salads for a bright flavor.
5. Cook them in a stir-fry.

Are immature watermelons edible?

Eating watermelon that isn’t fully ripe isn’t dangerous, but it’s not as good as a ripe melon. The first factor is obviously taste — there’s no point in snacking on a flavorless watermelon. But in addition to flavor, ripe melons also have more nutrients than unripe ones.

Are Cucamelons invasive?

The vines are invasive, though, so if you do decide to try your hand at growing them yourself, you’ll want to use a trellis and monitor the growth. What would you do with a cute cucamelon?

What does a ripe cucamelon look like?

Cucamelons are ripe when the size of a large grape, or about 1 inch long. Harvest ripe cucamelons regularly as they can self-seed: harvesting regularly and picking up any dropped fruit will prevent unwanted cucamelon plants from emerging the following season.

How do you pick a cucamelon?

Cucamelon picking should be done when the fruits are not much more than an inch (2.5 cm.) in length and still firm to the touch. If you pick them later, they will be very seedy. Cucamelons develop and ripen pretty quickly after the flowers appear, so keep watching your vines daily.

How big does a mini watermelon get?

Harvest the miniature watermelons when they reach full size, which is usually about 6 to 8 inches in diameter depending on the variety, and after the small tendrils around the vine dry and turn brittle. They should be bright or dull green, according to Bonnie Plants.

Do mini watermelons have seeds?

Many of the varieties of mini watermelons at the grocery store and farmers market are seedless, while the extra-large, oblong ones are often not. If you enjoy spitting the black seeds at friends and family, then it’s not an issue, but if you’d rather enjoy your watermelon sans seeds, mini is often the way to go.

How long does it take for a mini watermelon to grow?

Watermelons require 80-90 days from seed sowing to grow a full-size watermelon. Some smaller-sized watermelons (like Sugar Baby) can reach maturity in closer to 70 days.