Creeping Cucumber is also known as Guadeloupe Cucumber and Creeping Delaware Cucumber. This plant originates from the southeastern United States, including the states of North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Virginia, and Kentucky. This creeping climber belongs to the Benincaseae family, together with genera such as Diplocyclos, Cucumis, Lemurosicyos, Ruthalicia, Melothria, Peponium, and Zehneria. It is a vigorous climbing plant that produces an abundance of small, melon-like mini cucumbers. The unripe fruits are edible, but the ripe, almost black fruits are not safe to eat and are considered toxic. The ripe berries have very strong laxative properties. The roots, leaves, flowers, and stems of this plant are also toxic. Only the young, unripe fruits should be consumed. When crushed, the leaves release a strong cucumber-like scent. The fruits ripen from light green, through darker green, to almost black. Once they turn black, they should no longer be eaten. The fruits resemble tiny watermelons and have a different pattern from the commonly known mouse melon. The markings of the Creeping Cucumber are irregular, with pale green patterns on a darker green background.
The small fruits grow to only 1 - 2 cm in length. Their flavour is clearly reminiscent of cucumber, and their aroma is very similar as well. Some fruits may have a slightly more bitter taste than regular cucumbers. The flesh is wonderfully crisp when unripe, but becomes soft and mushy as the fruits mature. Provide this plant with plenty of warmth, sunlight, water, and a sturdy support structure. Once established, it will use its tendrils to climb and attach itself naturally. The small yellow flowers strongly resemble cucumber flowers. The young, light green fruits can be added to salads, eaten fresh as a healthy snack, or preserved in vinegar with herbs. The plant loses its leaves during winter. Half-hardy perennial. Height: 350 - 450 cm.
Indoor sowing: end of March - mid-May
Outdoor sowing: May - June
Germination: 14 - 42 days
Germination temp.: 20 - 30 °C
Sowing depth: 1½ - 2cm
Planting distance: 60 - 90 cm
Planting position: sunny and sheltered (greenhouse)
Harvesting period: September - October
Sow indoors from March onwards in individual pots filled with well-moistened potting compost. Sow one seed per pot at a depth of 1½ - 2 cm. Place the seed on its side in the compost to help prevent rotting. Cover the seed with a thin layer of compost. Maintain a germination temperature of at least 20°C. Warmer conditions will result in faster and more reliable germination. Place the pots in a warm location with plenty of light. Keep the temperature as even as possible and avoid letting it drop too much, especially at night. Keep the compost moist but not wet, as excessive moisture can cause the seeds to rot. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, transplant them into larger pots.
From mid-May, once there is no longer any risk of night frost, place the pots outdoors during the day to gradually acclimatise the plants to outdoor conditions. Continue this for approximately 10 days. After hardening off, the young plants can be planted outdoors in a very sunny, sheltered position with well-drained soil, or grown in an unheated greenhouse. Keep the plants well watered and free from weeds. Provide a strong support structure for the climbing stems.
Seeds can be sown directly outdoors from mid-May, once the danger of night frost has passed. Choose a sunny, sheltered location with well-drained soil. Sow two seeds per planting hole at a depth of 1½ - 2 cm and cover with soil. Once the seedlings are large enough to handle, thin them out, leaving the strongest plant in each position. Maintain a planting distance of 60 - 90 cm. Keep the plants well watered and free from weeds.
Creeping Cucumbers are vigorous plants that need plenty of space, sunlight, water, nutrients, and time to grow well. Work a generous amount of compost into the soil approximately two months before sowing. Provide the plants with a strong and tall support structure. Harvest the small cucumbers by cutting them from the plant with a knife. Harvest regularly to encourage the production of new fruits. When the cucumbers begin to develop, feed the plants weekly with a liquid tomato fertiliser. Water generously every few days and provide additional water during dry periods.
