Why this Kamloops gardener is a big fan of the cucumelon
Lee Hunt is a gardener in Kamloops who grows and produces an uncommon fruit called a cucamelon, and this week she handed out bags of them to people who want to try them for the first time.
“They are super easy to grow and proficient in production so I give a lot away,” she said. “Some people don’t know about them as they are an heirloom plant.”
The cucamelons look like tiny watermelons but Hunt said they taste more like cucumber when they are small, and tart and lemony when they are bigger.
“They are a delight to serve alongside some fresh tomatoes for dinner for guests, they’re always a conversation piece,” Hunt said. “The small ones are my favourite, they taste like a crisp, crunchy cucumber.”
The tiny melons can be eaten as they are, Hunt said, just “pop it in your mouth, give it a chomp or two and yum!”
Cucamelons are known by many different names including mouse melons, Mexican sour gherkins or Mexican sour cucumbers, and are native to Mexico and Central America, according to the University of Wisconsin.
Part of the gourd family, the little fruit grows on flowering, climbing perennials and are the size of large grapes. The plants look similar to regular cucumber plants and under ideal planting and weather conditions can grow up to 10-feet tall and produce abundant fruit. Seeds can be harvested in the fall and stored for planting the following spring.
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The fruit can be eaten raw, used in stir fries or salsas or pickled. They're known as a superfood because they pack a healthful punch.
They are full of vitamins and minerals, antioxidants and fibre, and are also low in calories. The nutrients they provide can help lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer, according to several sources including Better Home and Gardens.
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