Mexican Sour Gherkin Cucumber
By: Chris Paulk

About

Melothria scabra is a species of cucurbitaceous vine (cucumber) grown for its edible fruit. The fruit are about the size of grapes and taste like cucumbers, but have a natural sour aftertaste that comes from the skin. Other names include mouse melon, Mexican sour gherkin, cucamelon, Mexican miniature watermelon and Mexican sour cucumber.
This plant is a native of the southern part of North America, where it is called "Sandita"  It is thought to have been a domesticated crop.  It is found in Mexico, and in most of the US.
It can only be reproduced by seeds, and possibly by root cuttings. It has been a staple of Mexican and Central American diets since pre-Columbian times, hence its great array of names in indigenous languages. These people also use the melon in nonculinary ways, including in medicine, yet little of this information can be found in mainstream literature.
Mexican Sour cucumbers are terrific in stir-fries; they can be pickled just like French baby gherkins, eaten raw in salads or pickled. They also can be chopped and added to salsas for extra texture and flavor. They are a great snack to just pop in your mouth and enjoy the sour after taste.
In an effort to popularize the variety, several seed companies have coined new names, including “cucamelon,” “Mexican sour gherkin,” “cuka-nut” and, in France, “concombre à confire” (preserving cucumber) or  “sandia de raton” (mouse melon in Spanish).
Seeds are available through Territorial Seeds.

Information
Other names: Mouse Melon, Melothria Scabra, Mexican Sour Cucumber
Translations: Meksikas Skābie Īsaugļu gurķi Gurķi, Meksikos Sour agurkas agurkas, Castravete mexican Sour castravecior, Meksički krastavac krastavac Kiselo, Mexico Chua loại dưa leo dưa chuột, Ogórek korniszon meksykańskie Sour, Mexicaanse Uitsmijter Komkommer, मैक्सिकन खट्टे खीरा ककड़ी, Pepino pepino azedo mexicano, Мексиканские маринованным огурцом Огурец, Μεξικού Sour Αγγούρι Αγγουράκι τουρσί, المكسيكي الخيار الخيارة صور, 멕시코 사워 작은 오이 오이, Mexická Kyselé Okurka Okurka, Мексички Кисела Гхеркин Краставац, Mehikano Sour Gherkin pipino, 墨西哥小黄瓜酸黄瓜, Cogombre Cogombret agra mexicana, Mehiški Sour kumarice za vlaganje kumara, Mexická Kyslé Uhorka Uhorka, Messicano Cetriolo Cetriolino Sour, מקסיקני מלפפון קטן מלפפון חמוץ, Mexikos Sour druvgurka Gurka, Meksiko ketimun Ketimun Asam, メキシコサワーガーキンきゅうり, Concombre Cornichon mexicaine Sour, Mexican Sour Gherkin Gurke, Mexicanske Sour Gherkin Agurk, Meksikansk Sour Gherkin Agurk, Pepino Pepinillo agria mexicana, Мексиканські маринованим огірком Огірок, Meksikon Sour Avomaankurkku Kurkku, Мексикански кисело краставици малка руска краставичка


Physical Description
They are so cute like little watermelons and the skin is smooth. The plant is a tiny vine with tendrils that grab on to all the grass around them and the leaves are the size of a golf ball.

Comments:
Emmit

Do Mexican mini watermelon (gherkins) do they grow back every year or do you have to replant every year?