Cucumber 'Painted Serpent'

Painted Serpent produces long fruit with attractive alternating dark and pale green ridges. As an Armenian type cucumber, this cucumber is actually a variety of melon with the taste and texture of a cucumber. Thin skined with an excellent flavour but best eaten young for superior crunch. Each packet contains 15 seeds.
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Price Per Packet: $ 2.50
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Growing Advice

Scientific Name: Cucumis melo var. flexuosus

Other Common Names: Snake Melon, Striped Armenian Cucumber 

Origin:

'Painted Serpent' was introduced to Italy from Armenia in the 1400s, origin likely predates this.

Culinary Uses:  

These cucumbers grow very long but are best picked young, under 40cm long for tenderness and flavour.  Sweeter than most cucumbers 'Painted Serpent' can be eaten fresh in salads or as a snack, sliced and pickled or even cooked like a squash.

Cultivation:

Cucumber 'Painted Serpent' grow tall vines that require trellising.  Good disease resistance, avoid watering leaves to reduce fungal diseases.  Keep well watered and fertilise heavily.  Grows best in full sun but will also grow in light shade.

When To Sow

In Australia sow Cucumber 'Painted Serpent' seeds from September to February in temperate regions, from August to February in subtropical regions and from April to August in the tropics.

How To Sow

Sow seeds 1.5cm deep spacing plants about 50cm apart.

Germination Time

Most seeds will germinate 7 to 13 days after sowing.

Time To Harvest

Expect to harvest your first Painted Serpent cucumbers 9 to 11 weeks after sowing the seed.