Armenian Cucumber

Armenian cucumber is a variety of Cucumis melo, the melon species. The species page lists Armenian Cucumber among its common names and describes the fruit as eaten fresh, wrapped in prosciutto, in salads, or as a dessert. Another description calls the species a wild melon from which other melon cultivars were bred, with skin and taste that vary by variety.

Sowing. Grow it from seed, not cuttings. Sow outdoors after the last frost, or start seed indoors four to six weeks before the average last frost date. One page suggests germinating seed in a heated propagator or on a warm windowsill in spring.

Conditions. Plant it in full sun with neutral to acidic, moist, well-drained soil. The same species page notes it grows in warm, humid conditions, ideally in a greenhouse or large coldframe.

Support and space. Vines are usually grown on cages or trellises, but they can trail along the ground if there is enough room. The plant can climb 6 to 9 feet (1.8 to 2.7 m) and spread 1 to 3 feet (30 to 90 cm) wide. Another page describes a lower, trailing, climbing plant up to 0.5 m (about 1.6 feet) tall and 1 to 1.5 m (about 3 to 5 feet) wide.

Pinching. Pinch out the growing tip to encourage side shoots, then keep the strongest few and remove the rest.

Plants in the cucumber family can be attacked by cucumber beetles and suffer from wilt, powdery mildew, downy mildew, gummy stem blight and anthracnose. Another page lists glasshouse whitefly and cucumber mosaic virus as possible problems, along with powdery mildews.

Pick the fruit when it is young, because older fruit becomes tough as it matures.

Seeds. Avoid eating the seeds, because the sprouting seed produces a toxic substance in its embryo.

Pets. Sources disagree. One lists the plant as non-toxic for cats and dogs. Another says bitter fruit can be toxic to pets if eaten. Until this is settled, keep pets away from bitter fruit.