Cucumbers and watermelons belong to the same family of vegetables.
Furthermore, they’re both climbing plants, and most varieties of cucumbers and watermelons are green.
Interestingly, some cucumbers even bear a striking resemblance to watermelons.
Although their size and flavors may differ, their similarity in appearance is intriguing.
This list includes garden cucumbers and related gourds with a similar appearance; they are not all varieties of one species.
Which Cucumbers and Relatives Resemble Watermelons?
Cucumbers and watermelons belong to Cucurbitaceae, the gourd family, but they are different species.
So it’s not surprising that some cucumbers resemble watermelons.
However, the resemblance is limited to looks and not taste.
Here are ten cucumbers and relatives whose color, markings or shape may remind you of watermelons.
1. Mouse Melon or Mexican Sour Cucumbers
The cucamelon or mouse melon is Melothria scabra, a cucumber relative rather than a cultivar of the garden cucumber, Cucumis sativus.
It has an elongated oval shape with dark and light green striped skin that is commonly seen on watermelons.
The cucamelon is a fast-growing climber with small yellow flowers and tiny fruits.
The fruits are light green when they first form.
The striations on the skin appear over time, and this detail makes the melon look just like a watermelon.
Mouse melons have crisp and juicy white flesh. They taste like cucumbers with a hint of sourness.
These vegetables have a citrusy flavor.
You can eat the raw and tender fruits raw, but they’re also good for making pickles and salads.
The tendrils and the stem of this plant are quite delicate and shouldn’t be handled roughly.
2. Garden Cucumbers
Garden cucumbers are one of the most easily available cucumbers in grocery stores, supermarkets, and vegetable markets.
They have smooth, dark skin that is similar to certain types of watermelons, like seedless watermelons, with dark green skin and long, oval shapes.
These cucumbers have many big seeds. Their skin is usually thick and not tasty.
Hence, it’s a common practice to peel the skin of these cucumbers before using them in recipes.
Garden cucumbers are very versatile, and you can use them in many ways.
They taste good in salads and vegetable platters. You can also use them for pickling or in stir-fry recipes.
3. Corinto Cucumbers
Corinto cucumbers are a high-yielding variety that is popular with home gardeners.
The plant produces long dark green cucumbers with shiny skin.
These cucumbers don’t have spiny skin. Instead, their surface is smooth and soft.
Their oval shape and dark green color make them resemble certain watermelon varieties.
Corinto cucumbers are slicing cucumbers. They have a mild, delicate flavor. The flesh is soft and full of moisture.
Check the seed supplier’s named disease-resistance ratings for Corinto and provide suitable growing conditions; resistance is not immunity.
4. Mandurian Round Cucumbers
Mandurian round cucumbers are specialty produce with a round or oval shape.
The skin of these cucumbers has patches or spots of varying green and white.
When these cucumbers mature, the skin develops a fuzzy texture.
These cucumbers grow as big as tennis balls and should be harvested when they’re still green.
They have a sweet and crisp flavor, which is sweeter than typical cucumber varieties.
Mandurian types are usually picked immature for their crisp texture. As they mature, their flavor and texture change.
Mandurian types are eaten young like cucumbers, but belong to Cucumis melo. Italy’s National Research Council lists Carosello tondo di Manduria among these melon populations.
The variegated skin of these fruits also contributes to this aspect.
5. Crystal Apple Cucumbers
Crystal Apple is a round, pale-skinned cucumber cultivar.
They have pale white skin and are round, which is unusual for cucumbers.
The color of this fruit is unique. Due to its shape and coloring, it resembles a watermelon.
However, it’s much smaller than watermelons and doesn’t grow bigger than a golf ball.
These cucumbers grow on delicate climbing vines that need trellis or cage support to prevent falling.
When the fruits appear, they are light green with a white tint on the skin. As it matures, the fruits turn yellow.
They’re sweet, with crisp and tender flesh. These cucumbers don’t have any bitter aftertaste.
They’re best suited for raw eating.
6. Ivy Gourd
Ivy gourd is Coccinia grandis, a separate species in the gourd family rather than a garden cucumber. Its small green fruits can resemble miniature watermelons.
It is used as a vegetable in some cuisines, but growing it can create an invasive-species problem. Hawaii’s invasive-species guidance identifies ivy gourd as invasive. Check your local rules and do not plant it merely because it is edible.
7. Diva Cucumbers
Diva is an award-winning cucumber cultivar with thin skin.
Their green skin may resemble some watermelons, but the fruit is elongated rather than round.
The fruits have slightly tapered ends. Check the supplier’s named resistance ratings rather than assuming broad resistance to pests and diseases.
Diva still needs suitable irrigation, nutrition and monitoring for pests and diseases.
The cucumbers are sweet, non-bitter, crispy, and moist.
Johnny’s recommends harvesting Diva at 5–7 inches. Its thin skin can be eaten.
Give the vines adequate space and support; their final size depends on growing conditions.
You can eat them raw as well as add them to salads and vegetable platters.
8. Unistar Cucumbers
Unistar cucumbers are a compact variety with dark green semi-glossy skin, like watermelons.
This high-yielding hybrid variety produces multiple fruits on each node.
They’re considered cocktail cucumbers because of their small fruits.
This variety produces high yields, and the cucumbers are crunchy with good flavor.
Unistar cucumbers grow in well-drained fertile soil.
They need consistent irrigation to produce impressive yields.
Once the plants start producing fruits, you can expect a continuous yield.
The fruits are juicy, crunchy, and good for slicing. You can eat them raw or add them to salads.
9. Little Leaf Cucumbers
Little leaf cucumbers are tiny green cucumbers with variegated skin that resembles watermelons.
The skin is bright green when it’s ready to be picked, and it develops a tint of yellow as it ripens further.
It’s a pickling cucumber that produces flavorful fruits that you can eat raw as well.
This is a good cucumber cultivar for container and greenhouse farming.
The fruits appear on multi-branching vines.
Although the plant produces several vines, they’re compact and don’t spread in all directions.
They have small leaves, which allow you to spot the cucumbers easily.
The plant produces generous amounts of fruits.
Interesting Reading: Cucumber vs. Zucchini: 10 Big Differences
10. Fanfare Cucumbers
Fanfare cucumbers are high-yielding plants that produce slicing cucumbers.
The fruits are dark green with glossy skin.
They grow on compact vines of two to three feet, which makes them good for container gardening.
Fanfare cucumbers are an award-winning variety that is highly prized for their ability to withstand diseases.
It doesn’t have too many seeds, and the flesh is white, juicy, and crisp.
It’s a good slicing cucumber. You can eat it raw or add it to salads and platters.
