Melothria pendula, cold-hardy perennial cucumber, ~35 seeds
Delicious jelly bean sized cucumbers fit for a fairy. They pop in your mouth like a grape, exploding a sweet and sour cucumber flavor. Great as a snack or as an addition to salads. Do not eat the overly ripe black colored fruits, as they are a laxative. Easy to grow.
Latin: Melothria pendula
Common Names: Guadeloupe Cucumber, Delaware Creeping Cucumber
Zones: perennial in 7-11, but likely even zone 6. If it is not perennial in your zone save seed and grow it as an annual
Light: Full sun
Growth habit: sprawling vine
Speed: fast
Spacing: 24 inches
Seed Starting: Direct seed or start inside in a seed tray. Just make sure to pot up quickly as their growth will stunt in too small of a pot. I was blown away with how fast it grew once I planted it in a garden bed despite its slow growth in a small pot.
I'm very interested in the possibility of breeding this species for increased fruit sized in order to create a larger cold-hardy perennial cucumber. It just takes one dedicated person to make an impact. Perhaps you are the one who will create an intergenerational cucumber legacy.