FruitMelon
Oshiro Uri Numane Melon
Oshiro Uri Numane is a traditional Japanese pickling melon that looks strikingly like a thick, light green cucumber but delivers the complexity of a true melon. This heat-loving annual vining variety matures in 70-79 days and produces elongated fruits up to 12 inches long, perfect for both fresh eating and the pickle jar. Open-pollinated and non-GMO, it thrives across hardiness zones 2-13 and brings authentic Asian flavor to gardens willing to give it space and warmth.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
15 in
Height
TypeVining
Spacing
48
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-13
Size
15in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
Light green, elongated fruits resembling oversized cucumbers but with genuine melon character make this Japanese heirloom visually distinctive in the garden. The vines sprawl generously, reaching up to 10 feet, so vertical training unlocks substantial harvests from modest garden footprints. Its robust disease resistance to anthracnose, bacterial wilt, downy mildew, fusarium wilt, and powdery mildew means fewer sprays and more reliable production, even in challenging seasons.
Common Uses
This melon excels as a pickling melon, where its firm texture and elongated shape make it ideal for traditional Japanese pickle preparations. It can also be eaten fresh, sliced and enjoyed for its light, refreshing melon character. The specific morphology that makes it resemble a cucumber suits it perfectly to preparations where that familiar form matters, bridging the gap between cucumber and melon in the kitchen.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before your last expected frost date in warmth between 70-85°F. Transplant seedlings into larger containers once they develop true leaves, maintaining warm conditions to prevent transplant shock.
Transplant Outdoors
Harden off seedlings over 7-10 days before moving them outdoors. Transplant only after all frost danger has passed and soil has warmed to at least 65-70°F, spacing plants 48 inches apart in rows 72 inches apart. Handle carefully to avoid disturbing the root system.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds in warm soil after the last frost date has passed and soil temperatures reach 70°F or higher. Sow 2-3 seeds per position and thin to the strongest seedling once they've developed true leaves.
Harvesting
Harvest melons 70-79 days after planting when fruits reach their full elongated length of around 12 inches and the skin shows consistent light green color. The fruit should yield slightly to gentle pressure but not be soft. Clip the stem cleanly rather than pulling to avoid damaging the plant, and continue harvesting mature fruits regularly to encourage ongoing production.
Pruning
Allow the vines to sprawl or train them vertically on sturdy trellises to maximize garden space and improve air circulation around the developing fruits. Pinching off excessive secondary vines can direct energy toward fruit production rather than foliage.
Growing Calendar
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Cucumis melo var conomom
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Cucumis
Growth Habit
Vining
Native Status
L48 (I)PR (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Oshiro Uri Numane carries the heritage of Japanese melon cultivation, where pickling melons occupy a distinct and valued place in the culinary tradition. As an open-pollinated heirloom, it represents generations of seed saving and selection within Japanese agriculture, preserved and passed forward by gardeners who understood its worth. This variety has survived by adapting to the specific demands of home gardens and market growers across Asia, eventually reaching Western seed catalogs as interest in heritage vegetables grew.”