When to Plant Cucamelon in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Alice Springs), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Arid / Semi-Arid
In October the Arid / Semi-Arid zone normally runs 32°C by day and 16°C overnight, with about 19 mm of rain over 2 or 3 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was 1.9°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 10 postcodes, SILO.
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This Cucamelon guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Aug to Feb
- Days to harvest
- about 14 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Low
- Spacing
- 60 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.0
Melothria scabra. Mexican sour gherkin: a climbing cucurbit with small edible fruits. Grown as a warm-season annual in frosty gardens.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Arid / Semi-Arid
- Jan D
- Feb D
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug D
- Sep D
- Oct D
- Nov D
- Dec D
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
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How to Grow Cucamelon in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
- Soil
- Rich, fertile, organic-rich well-draining loam
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.0
- Sunlight
- Full sun, at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sun a day
- Spacing
- 60cm apart, 50cm between rows
- Watering
- Keep soil moist and well drained. Once established the vine is drought tolerant, but regular water gives more fruit.
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Dwarf Beans, Lettuce, Radish, Basil
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Cucamelon
Recommended Varieties
- Mexican Sour Gherkin (climbing vine, grows to about 2 m on a trellis): Best grown up a trellis or tee pee
- D.T. Brown Gourmet Cucamelon (Mexican Gherkin) (seed): Harvest about 12 to 14 weeks from sowing. Not available to WA
Key Challenges
- Powdery Mildew: Weakens leaves and reduces the crop
- Aphids: Sap-sucking, virus transmission
- Common Garden Snail: Introduced snail with a tan spiral shell
- Slugs: Soft-bodied shell-less molluscs that feed at night on seedlings and leafy vegetables
Pro Tips
- Enrich soil with well-rotted compost before planting; feed with a high-potassium liquid fertiliser every 2 to 3 weeks during flowering and fruiting
- Apply organic straw mulch around the root zone to conserve soil moisture and protect shallow roots
- Provide a small trellis, netting, or cage for slender climbing tendrils to climb and keep fruits off the ground
Pests and problems for Cucamelon in Arid / Semi-Arid
- Powdery Mildew Grow on a trellis for airflow, water at the base of the plant and avoid overcrowding. Watch
- Common Garden Snail Common Garden Snail: Introduced snail with a tan spiral shell Watch
- Slugs Slugs: Soft-bodied shell-less molluscs that feed at night on seedlings and leafy vegetables Watch
- Aphids Aphids: Sap-sucking, virus transmission Watch
Harvesting Cucamelon
When ready: Fruits reach the size of a small grape (2 to 3 cm long) and are firm with dark green watermelon-like stripes
How to harvest: Pick fruits by hand or snip carefully from the delicate slender vines with small scissors
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Cucamelon
When do you plant cucamelon in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Apr to Aug
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Feb, Aug to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan, Sep to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Sep to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Oct to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan to Feb, Aug to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Sep to Dec
Can you grow cucamelon all year round in Alice Springs?
No. In the Arid / Semi-Arid zone the planting months are Jan to Feb, Aug to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
When should I plant Cucamelon in Alice Springs?
Sow direct from August to February once frosts have passed. Keep the soil moist.
What soil temperature do Cucamelon need?
Cucamelon germinate best when soil temperature is between 20°C and 28°C.
How do I know when Cucamelon are ready to harvest?
Fruits reach the size of a small grape (2 to 3 cm long) and are firm with dark green watermelon-like stripes
What are the best Cucamelon varieties for Alice Springs?
Recommended varieties for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone include: Mexican Sour Gherkin (climbing vine, grows to about 2 m on a trellis): Best grown up a trellis or tee pee, D.T. Brown Gourmet Cucamelon (Mexican Gherkin) (seed): Harvest about 12 to 14 weeks from sowing. Not available to WA.
What grows well with Cucamelon?
Good companion plants for Cucamelon include: Nasturtium, Dwarf Beans, Lettuce, Radish, Basil.
Are cucamelon salt tolerant?
Only a little. Cucamelon are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.