Mexican Sour Gherkins (Melothria scabra) look like tiny watermelons and taste similar to cucumbers but are neither. Native to Mexico and Central America where they are called sanditas (little watermelon), fruits can be pickled, thrown in salads, sautéed with oil and garlic or snacked on in the garden. Kids especially enjoy searching the vine for ripe fruit. I like to mix them into ceviche and to make Mexican sour gherkin pickles.
Mexican sour gherkins are heavy producers.
Growing Mexican Sour Gherkins
Planting
Sow seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before last spring frost. Begin hardening off plants 2-3 weeks after last frost then transplant outside.
Seeds can also be sown directly into prepped soil 2-3 weeks after last spring frost.
Plant in full sun.
Growing
Plants can spread across the ground but to maximize growth (and simplify harvest) trellis plants and watch them grow up to ten feet!
Mexican sour gherkins have shallow roots. Help protect these roots by mulching the soil.
Bees are one of the pollinators of Mexican sour gherkin plants. Learn how to bring them into your garden by reading this post:
Inviting in the Bugs: 11 Plants to Increase Garden Diversity
Harvest
Harvest Mexican sour gherkins when they are about the size of a fingernail. Check plants every few days for ripe fruit, they produce abundantly and regular harvest keeps plants producing. You will have a large harvest, preserve it by making Mexican sour gherkin pickles.
Snacking on gherkins in the garden.
Mexican Sour Gherkin Pickles Recipe
Like cucumbers, sour gherkins make tasty crunchy pickles. This recipe makes a small 8 oz. jar of pickles that complements the small size of the fruit. These jars make festive gifts.
Mexican sour gherkin pickle ingredients.
Ingredients
Makes one 8 oz. jar
- ½ cup white vinegar
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp. sugar
- brine spices according to taste (pinch of mustard seeds, coriander seeds, celery seeds, caraway seeds)
- 2 small garlic cloves
- sprig of dill
- ½ of one jalapeño
- pinch of peppercorns
- 3 oz. Mexican sour gherkins (between 40-50)
Procedure
- Simmer the vinegar, water, salt and sugar until the sugar dissolves.
- Add brine spices if using.
- In an 8 oz. mason jar add in layers, gherkins, garlic, dill, jalapeño and peppercorns.
- Pour vinegar over gherkins, seal and refrigerate.
- You can eat these right away but their flavor improves if you wait a couple of weeks. After opening finish within one week.
Let us know what you do with Mexican Sour Gherkins in the comment section below.
