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MEXICAN SOUR GHERKIN

MEXICAN SOUR GHERKIN

Product Description:

Melothria scabra 75 days. Also known as Mouse Melon or Cucamelon. An heirloom that packs a lot of flavor in an adorable, teaspoon-sized treat! These little charmers are like no other, combining a powerful, sweet, cucumber flavor with a tangy, citrus twist. Delicate foliage and fist-fulls of fruit that look like doll-sized watermelons make these plants pretty enough to grow trellised in a flower garden or cascading in a hanging basket. The 1 inch cukettes are terrific tossed in a salad, and the plants are productive enough to have plenty for pickling. Slower to germinate than other cucumbers, Mexican Sour Gherkin can take up to an extra two weeks to emerge.
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SEED

$3.85

$3.85

  • Key Features:

Customer Reviews

Based on 4 reviews
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Shannon F.
So many little cucumbers! Prolific and delicious.

These love warm soil so I start them indoors to give them a head start. By July they’re climbing our trellis 10 feet tall. The vibes are beautiful and there are so many crunchy cucumbers all the way up. The more I pick the more the grow. The secret is definitely patience but it’s well worth it.

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Susan W.
Slow grower

Plant 4 seeds at the beginning of July. No fruit yet. Planted t 5 or 6 more seeds at the end of July to see if planting them in a different spot would be an improvement. We’ll see. And why, I wonder, were there no not 9-10 seeds in the packet? Really?

Mexican Sour Gherkin is slower to germinate than other cucumbers and can take up to an extra two weeks to emerge, but once emerged should grow pretty quickly, especially if in full sun. Please feel free to reach out to us via email or phone so we can help troubleshoot further! Also, there should have been a minimum 20 seeds in your packet, if there wasn't please let us know so we can send you a replacement packet. You can contact our customer service (Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM Pacific Time) at either 800-626-0866 or info@territorialseed.com

T
Tyson M.
Didn't seem to grow for me, but maybe next year

I sowed these directly around late May, kept them moist, but nothing seemed to happen. I may try starting then indoors in peat pots and transplanting then out next year.

So sorry to hear that! They are slower to germinate than other cucumbers and can take up to an extra two weeks to emerge. We do germ test all of our seeds and to ensure we sell only top performing crops, we have established germination standards that are higher than prescribed by the Federal Seed Act. Our minimum germination standard for cucumbers is 80% and the most recent test for this variety passed at 80%. As always, our products are backed by our full guarantee. We want you, our customers, to be 100% satisfied with the seed, plants and supplies that you purchase from us. If anything you buy from Territorial proves to be unsatisfactory, we will either replace the item (if available) or refund the purchase price, whichever you prefer (for up to 1 year from purchase). You can also reach out to us for any troubleshooting! Contact our customer service (Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM Pacific Time) at either 800-626-0866 or info@territorialseed.com

S
Steve
Snacking cuke

Grew these last year in a pot on my porch and they grew like crazy! I had more than I could eat. Planted 6 seeds in groups of 3 and ended up with 6 vines with cucumbers about every inch or so along the vine which never really stopped growing when I cut it out in late fall (they had grown around my tomatoes which I wanted to remove).

They made the best snack for me. The only down side to them seems to be the skin. I didn't mind it, but I had a lot of people try them and most of them had issues with the skin being too thick. Given how easy they were to grow, I think they are worth a try, if for no other reason than to sample the unique flavor.

I never did try to pickle them... I'll have to try that this year.

Soil Temp for Germ 65–90°F
Seed Depth ½"
Seed Spacing 4–6/hill
Days to Emergence 4–13
Thin Plants to 1–2/hill
Row Spacing 3–4'
Fertilizer Needs High
Minimum Germination 80%
Seeds per Gram ≈ 25–30
Seed Life 3 years

Cucumis sativus A favorite in cuisine worldwide, cucumbers possess health benefits too numerous to mention. Incorporate cucumbers in your diet to aid with weight loss, as they are exceptionally low in calories (only about 8 calories in 1/2 cup), aid digestion, and rid toxins from the body. Among the more unusual qualities of the humble cuke is its ability to ease skin irritations. Use a piece of cucumber skin to soothe burns.

Days to maturity are calculated from date of direct seeding.

Culture
• Cucumbers perform best in fertile, well-drained soil with a pH 5.5-7.0
• Consistent, even watering is critical for best plant growth and fruit development
• Raised beds, plastic mulch, and trellising can improve yields, keep fruit straight and scab free
• Incorporate a shovelful of compost and 1/2 cup TSC's Complete fertilizer per hill

Direct Sowing
• For best germination, keep soil evenly moist but not too wet
• Cover hill with Kozy-Coats, Victorian Bell Cloches, or a row cover to speed up germination
• Thin to the strongest 1-2 plants when first true leaves emerge

Transplanting
• Start indoors in 4 inch pots, 3-4 weeks before anticipated transplant date
• Avoid letting starts get root bound; transplant carefully as to not disturb roots

Pests & Diseases
• Common pests: Striped and spotted cucumber beetles, aphids, squash bugs, stink bugs
• Pest control: Pyrethrin
• Common diseases: See chart below
• Disease prevention: 3-4 year crop rotation, Zonix for Powdery Mildew

Harvest & Storage
• Consistent harvest will keep plants productive
• Store at 45°F and 95% relative humidity
• For pickling, harvest cukes when small, before seeds form

KEY TO FLOWERS AND FRUIT SET
GY | Gynoecious - Has nearly all female flowers.
HE | Hermaphrodite - Flowers contain both male and female reproductive parts.
MO | Monoecious - Has separate male and female flowers on the same plant.
PAT | Parthenocarpic - Has the ability to set fruit without pollination.

KEY TO CUCUMBER DISEASE RESISTANCE AND TOLERANCE
HR indicates high resistance.
IR indicates intermediate resistance.
A | Anthracnose*
ACu | Alternaria Leaf Blight
ALS | Angular Leaf Spot
C | Cercospora
CCa | Corynespora Blight & Target Spot
CCu | Scab & Gummosis
CMV | Cucumber Mosaic Virus
CVYV | Cucumber Vein Yellowing Virus

CYSDV | Cucurbit Yellow Stunting Disorder Virus
DM | Downy Mildew
PM | Powdery Mildew
R | Common Rust
S | Scab
TSP | Target Spot
WMV | Watermelon Mosaic Virus
* Numbers indicate specific disease race.

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