[strangerachael]

I am growing mouse melons for the first time, and wondered if anyone else had done them before, how do I know when they're ready to pick?

[lacewing]

Same here?

[stompy]

Not sure about mouse melons but normal melons are ready to pick when they smell, well, melony!
Just give them a sniff on a regular basis, every couple of days and you will notice a difference in fragrance, they start to smell very sweet and fragrant.
I could tell when mine were ripe as soon as i entered the greenhouse as i could smell them.

These were Ogen, Bastion and Sweetheart that i grew though not mouse.
Yours may smell of mouse when ripe though so don't smell them too deeply. 

[strangerachael]

But mouse melons are not actually like melons at all, they are more like tiny mini cucumbers. Imagine a water melon shrunk down to 'mouse' proportions - that's what they look like, but I decided to pick one yesterday to see what they tasted like. They have a fairly tough, crunchy skin, and inside they are all seeds and a small amount of pulp. The taste is like lemony cucumber. I'm just not sure whether I am picking them too soon, or too late. Or neither. Only I have to say i was a bit disappointed....

[strangerachael]

Just did a search and found various info such as http://www.motherearthnews.com/Real-Food/2005-06-01/Mouse-Melons.aspx which says to pick them when they are less than an inch long for the tenderest ones. Have just selected a tiny one to try and it was delicious!!

[New shoot]

Glad to hear your disapointment turned to pleasure 

Sunshineband has given me some mousemelon seeds to try next year so have been reading this thread with interest.

Can you offer any growing advice 

[strangerachael]

Just grow as you would cucumbers. I am growing mine in a container in a greenhouse, but apparently they are a bit more cold tolerant than cucumbers and carry on up until the first frost. They have been really easy and trouble free. I started them off quite late as well as they were a last minute impulse decision.

[JayG]

Hope they are prolific producers because they do sound a little on the, er, small side!   

[New shoot]

Aaaahhhhh, but Strangerachael says trouble free (ie not suicidal) - don't knock it    

[sunshineband]

Aaaahhhhh, but Strangerachael says trouble free (ie not suicidal) - don't knock it    

and I am relieved to hear so too  

Got their spot planned for next year already -- one less 'proper' cucumber and a mouse melon plant instead.

Could try them at the plot as well  if the mini tunnel makes it through another winter unscathed   :blink:

[lacewing]

My plants are growing outside, climbing up chicken wire. There are loads of small speckled fruits and lots of flowers still on the plants. I will have to experiment in the kitchen, may try pickling some.

[Auntiemogs]

I'm thinking about trying these this year and am particularly interested in pickling them.  Any reports from last year as to crop/flavour?

Mags 

[strangerachael]

I got a pretty good crop, but although they were quite nice when picked small, I think they may be more use as pickles, so I will be trying that too.

[surbie100]

Am growing these too for the first time this year.
Interesting to see that they can be treated like a perennial and lifted & stored over winter. Anyone had any success with that?

[Ema]

as these the same as cucamelons? I was thinking about trying to grow some this year