Perennial Creeping Cucumber Breeding Mix

Melothria pendula Origin: Delaware Improvement status: Wild Seeds per packet: ~25 BOTANICAL SAMPLE - NOT GERMINATION TESTED Life cycle: Perennial EFN INTRODUCTION. Also known as "Guadeloupe Cucumber", creeping cucumber is native to the US southeast and the Caribbean. It is a perennial member of the cucumber/squash/gourd family (Cucurbitaceae). This species is a close cousin to the annual Melothria scabra (commonly known as mouse melon, cucamelon, or Mexican sour gherkin), but the fruit is slightly smaller. This year's batch of seeds were grown nearby to some Melothria scabra, so it's possible some crossing has occurred — meaning you should keep your eyes out for plants that produce particularly large fruit compared to the rest, and let us know if those prove to be perennials too! The unripe fruit of this species, as shown, look like jelly-bean-sized watermelons. They taste like cucumbers, but with a bit more sweetness and sourness. They're edible raw and also good for pickles. Whe