Cucamelons — Melons That Taste Like Cucumbers and Limes

By Mayukh Saha

Cucamelons are the latest trend in the market. These are tiny melons that taste like cucumber and lime and have an invisible assortment of health benefits associated with them. Also called ‘sandiita’, they are extremely rich in fibers, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients.

How To Grow Your Own Cucamelon

If you are buying a cucamelon, then ensure that they are organic and don’t contain harmful pesticides in it. But if you already have one at home and want to cultivate them yourself, then you have that option too. Take out the seeds and keep them in a water jar for an entire week. Then take them out, rinse them with water and store in an envelope.

A cucamelon needs at least 65-70 days to develop. It also needs a warm humid environment and the temperature of the soil should be around 75F and 85F.

Start planting it around April or May, and see to it that there is a space of at least 12 square inches between the pots. Keep them under sunlight for at least 6 hours.

The plant grows up to 10 feet and is a climber, so make sure that you have a proper setup in a place like a trellis to make the tree stay upright.

Ensure that the soil is rich in nutrients and filled with manure or compost, thereby allowing it to drain pretty easily. Add a few lava rocks that would help in draining it. After you have planted it for two months, add three inches of compost every month.

Water the cucamelons properly. You don’t have to do it every day. Just a few inches every week is enough.

The good thing about Cucamelons is they are resistant to disease or pests and can reseed themselves.

If you wrap the cucamelons as they are growing, then you can avoid any damage by twisting of their tendrils.

July marks the harvesting season. When they acquire the size of a normal grape, pick them up from the tree. Harvesting season lasts long enough till the middle of November.

As the season enters its closing period, prune the cucamelon, and eat it raw or with whatever condiments you want.

Or, you could try these out:

Cucamelon Bruschetta

Ingredients

•       Cucamelon: 1 pint, cleanly cut in half.
•       Cipollini onions: 2, diced, sliced and peeled.
•       1 Bird’s Eye Chili: sliced
•       Basil or mint: a small pinch
•       1 tbsp honey
•       Half lime juice
•       A quarter cup of olive oil
•       2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar
•       Salt and pepper
•       Toasted bread

Instructions

Take a bowl and add the first four items on the list. Then, take a shaker and add the rest. Shake them well and attain a mixture. Add the mixture over the vegetables in the bowl. And finally, you can spread it on toasted bread too.

Cucamelon Salsa

Ingredients

•       Cucamelons
•       2 chopped tomatoes
•       1 minced garlic clove
•       2 tbsp fresh lime juice
•       1 minced, seeded jalapeno pepper
•       1 chopped onion
•       1 tsp minced parsley
•       2 tsp minced cilantro
•       Half tsp. salt

Instructions

Put it all in a bowl and stir it until it becomes almost homogeneous. Then refrigerate it.

Next, take it out and spread it over grilled chicken.

Cucamelons are tasty, and healthy and fun. Do give it a try.

This article was sourced from Truth Theory.

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