Armenian Cucumber Cucumis melo var. flexuosus
Other Common Name(s):
- Phonetic Spelling
- KOO-koo-mis MEL-oh fleks-yoo-OH-sus
- Description
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Armenian cucumber is a frost-tender, tendril bearing annual vine grown for its long, slender cucumber-like fruit. The fruit will mature to 36 inches but is best harvested at 12-15 inches long and about an inch in diameter. The vines can grow 6-9 feet long with leaves that are rounded with wavy margins, hairy, shallowly and irregularly lobed, and can be 6 inches across. It has yellow flowers with a 5-parted corolla and in frost-free areas can bloom much of the year.
Grow in rich, loose, acid to neutral well-drained soil in full sun; it does well on a trellis due to the long length of the fruits. While not commonly grown in the US, it can be used in a variety of ways including in salads and stir fry dishes.
Insects, Diseases, and Other Plant Problems: Cucurbits are subject to many insect pests and diseases problems including cucumber beetles and wilt caused by cold weather stress.
The Clemson Cooperative Extension Home and Garden Information Center has a factsheet on common cucumis diseases as well as a factsheet on common insect pests and other problems.
VIDEO Created by Homegrown featuring Penny Perkins-Veazie, Professor and Postharvest Physiologist at NC State's Plants for Human Health Institute
- Profile Video:
- See this plant in the following landscape:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Cucumis
- Species:
- melo
- Family:
- Cucurbitaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- They have been used as first aid for burns and abrasions, and as a cooling and light cleanser or moisturizer for skin.
- Life Cycle:
- Annual
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- India, Pakistan
- Climbing Method:
- Tendrils
- Edibility:
- Fruits and flowers are edible. Can be eaten raw or cooked. Eaten raw they taste like a cucumber. They can be added to curries, preserves, and can be pickled.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Annual
- Edible
- Vegetable
- Warm Season Vegetable
- Habit/Form:
- Prostrate
- Spreading
- Growth Rate:
- Rapid
- Maintenance:
- Medium
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Full sun (6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day)
- Soil Texture:
- Clay
- High Organic Matter
- Loam (Silt)
- Sand
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Good Drainage
- Moist
- Available Space To Plant:
- 6-feet-12 feet
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Fruit:
- Fruit Color:
- Green
- White
- Fruit Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Berry
- Fruit Length:
- > 3 inches
- Fruit Width:
- 1-3 inches
- Fruit Description:
- While not commonly grown in the U.S., the fruits can be eaten raw or cooked. The fruits can grow to 36 inches but are best harvested when about 12 inches long and 1 inch in diameter. The skins are green and bumpy.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Gold/Yellow
- Flower Value To Gardener:
- Edible
- Showy
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Trumpet
- Flower Petals:
- 4-5 petals/rays
- Flower Size:
- 1-3 inches
- Flower Description:
- The individual yellow trumpet-shaped flowers with a 5-parted corolla can be either male or female, with both found on the same plant.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Color:
- Green
- Leaf Feel:
- Rough
- Leaf Type:
- Simple
- Leaf Arrangement:
- Alternate
- Leaf Shape:
- Oblong
- Orbicular
- Leaf Margin:
- Lobed
- Undulate
- Hairs Present:
- Yes
- Leaf Length:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Width:
- 3-6 inches
- Leaf Description:
- Leaves may be up to 6 inches wide. They are lobed, with the lobes being shallow and irregular. The leaves are somewhat rounded with wavy margins and are hairy.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Green
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Cross Section:
- Round
- Stem Surface:
- Hairy (pubescent)
- Stem Description:
- Trailing stems that are soft and hairy with tendrils.
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Landscape:
- Landscape Location:
- Lawn
- Landscape Theme:
- Edible Garden
- Attracts:
- Bees
