Cucamelon in Zone 11a & 11b

Melothria scabra

When to plant cucamelon in zone 11b

Zones 11a and 11b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.

Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. Cucamelon needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.

Start indoorsDec 4–Dec 11
Direct sow / transplant outsideJan 15–Jan 22
Estimated harvestMar 26–Apr 2 (~70 days after transplanting)

Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 8-13.5 ft.

Cucamelon is one of the few crops here where the fruit is a novelty and the plant is not. It grows like a small, determined cucumber and it climbs hard.

How cucamelon fits zone 11's season

Zone 11b is frost-free in this dataset, so frost is not what limits the calendar here. What you can plant, and when, comes down to summer heat and daylength instead.

Good companions

No standout companions recorded yet for Cucamelon.

Where to buy cucamelon seeds

See why we recommend these suppliers →

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See it growing

Search YouTube for "growing cucamelon" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)

← Back to the full zone 11b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →

Growing Cucamelon in USDA zone 11b

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Growing Cucamelon in USDA zone 11b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.

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