Cucumbers are a very popular vegetable for home gardeners because they are relatively easy to grow. As a food, they are very versatile and used to add crunch, color, or taste to salads, soups, dips, and sandwiches. If you love cucumbers and want to try a new variety, or if you’ve been failing to grow cucumbers successfully, try Armenian cucumbers (Cucumis melo).
Armenian cucumber is actually a misnomer, like koala bear (not a bear), horned toad (not a toad), or red panda (not a panda). They aren’t actually cucumbers, but a melon (a muskmelon to be exact) and are sometimes referred to as cucumber melon, aka everyone’s favorite Bath and Body Works scent from the ’90s. Armenian cucumbers have a few advantages over cucumbers. The skin is thin and doesn’t taste bitter, and they have a slightly sweet melon taste that might even appeal to the cucumber-hater in your life. Unlike regular cucumbers, Armenian cucumbers never get hollow or pithy, and the insides are less watery with fewer seeds. They also have a lovely scalloped edge, and when sliced, make a beautiful addition to a charcuterie board.
Most importantly, Armenian cucumbers are easier to grow. Like cucumbers, they love warm, sunny weather, but can also tolerate extreme heat and drought. Native all over the Middle East (not just Armenia), they thrive in hot and dry climates. If you live in a similar climate and have struggled growing cucumbers in the past, Armenian cucumbers are the perfect solution.
How to grow Armenian cucumbers
Wait to plant Armenian cucumber seeds until after the last frost and the ground has warmed up considerably (over 65 degrees Fahrenheit). You can also start the seeds indoors, and enlist the help of a garden heating mat such as the BN-LINK Hydroponic Heating Pad, or prep your soil by covering it with black plastic/garbage bags for a week or two to soak up heat before planting. They take over two months to harvest, so start planting sometime between April and June, depending on your climate.
Sow seeds one inch down, and 18 inches apart in soil treated with fertilizer, manure, or compost. You can grow Armenian cucumbers on a trellis or along the ground. Growing vertically will help avoid pests and won’t take up as much room in your garden. However, as a melon, Armenian cucumbers can grow very heavy and large (up to three feet) so stay on top of harvesting or make sure you have plenty of supports.
Although they are drought tolerant, these fruits do better if not overly dry or wet. Keep soil moist and keep water at the base of the plant and off the leaves to avoid mildew. For best results, harvest when the fruits are around one foot long by snipping (not pulling) them from the vine to avoid damage. Then, enjoy in your favorite recipes.
Read More: https://www.housedigest.com/1840488/grow-armenian-cucumber-heat-tolerant-fruit-crop-garden/
