Are Watermelons And Cucumbers Related

Though they are two different kinds of plants, watermelon and cucumber have similarities in color and texture. Thanks to these similarities, these two plants are also very similar in how you need to care for them. This will leave many people wondering: are watermelons and cucumbers related? 

Yes, watermelons and cucumbers are loosely related because they are both plant members of the Cucurbitaceae family. Species of guards and squash are also in this plant family. 

Here we will be going into detail on how watermelon and cucumber are related plants. We will also be answering other commonly asked questions about these two plant species. Let’s get into it! 

Are Cucumbers Berries Or Melons? 

Though they are technically considered fruits, cucumbers are neither classified as berries nor melons. This is because cucumbers are their own distinct species and are not part of the plant family for berries. 

Meanwhile, cucumbers and melons are both in the same plant family. However, they are different species within that family. This means that though cucumbers and melons are related, they are not the same plant species. 

Are Cucumbers Considered To Be Fruits? 

It may surprise some people that cucumbers are fruits, not vegetables. Cucumbers are considered to be fruits because they grow from flowers on a seed-bearing plant. This means that even though cucumbers are savory, they are technically considered a fruit. 

Every edible plant that grows from a flower is considered to be fruit, whether sweet or savory. This includes savory fruits like tomatoes, zucchini, and even squash. 

Is Cucumber Part Of The Melon Family? 

No, cucumber is not a part of the melon family. Even though watermelon and cucumbers are both a part of the Cucurbitaceae family, they are two distinctly different species. Following this logic, species of melon are not considered to be cucumbers either. 

Still, watermelon and cucumber are distantly related. They have similar appearances, grow in similar ways, and have similar care requirements. However, the cucumber genus and the melon genus are distinct and different from one another. 

Is Watermelon A Type Of Cucumber?

 Although watermelon and cucumber are in the same general plant family, they are two distinct species. This means that they are very similar in how they grow and look, but they are classified as being different species. This means that the watermelon is not a cucumber, and cucumber is not a melon. 

What Is Watermelon Related To? 

Watermelon is related to many different species of edible plants. As we have already explained, watermelon is loosely related to cucumber because they are both in the Cucurbitaceae family of plants. 

Of course, watermelon is most closely related to other species of melons like Muskmelon, Honeydew, and Cantaloupe. Many different types of melons grow all over the world. Watermelon is more closely related to melons than other members of the Cucurbitaceae family. 

In addition to other species of melon and cucumber, watermelon is loosely related to species of guards and squash. This includes pumpkins, butternut squash, and acorn squash. Cucumber and watermelon are also loosely related to zucchini and eggplant. 

Outside Of Cucumbers, What Is The Closest Thing To A Watermelon? 

The closest plants to watermelon are other species of melon. This includes well-known fruits like green muskmelons, cantaloupe, and honeydew. However, a significantly wider variety of melons are out there, and they grow worldwide. All of these melons are relatively close in relation to the watermelon. 

Growing Cucumber And Watermelon Together, Is This An Option?

Expert gardeners do not recommend planting any members of the Cucurbitaceae family together. Unfortunately, this includes watermelon and cucumber. 

You should never plant cucumber and watermelon next to each other because they are affected by the same pests and plant illnesses. This means that if your cucumbers are affected by these things, they will also spread to your watermelon easily if planted nearby. 

Planting cucumbers, watermelon, and other species of guards and squash with some distance between them will help prevent illnesses and pests from spreading to other crops. 

Growing Cucumber And Watermelons, Is It Easy?

Cucumbers are fairly easy for gardeners to grow. It is best to give your cucumbers lots of water and ensure they are planted in warm weather. These conditions are favorable to cucumbers. 

Like cucumber, watermelon is also pretty easy for gardeners to grow. Also, like cucumber, watermelon needs lots of warm weather and water to grow and develop properly. 

The main difference between growing cucumbers and watermelon is that watermelon needs more space to grow. As a result, you will need to be very careful about proper spacing when planting watermelon. 

Things To Consider 

There are some more things that you may want to consider about cucumbers and watermelon being related. These things include why cucumbers sometimes taste like watermelon and what other plants cucumbers and watermelon are related to. Here are some additional things for plant lovers to consider about cucumbers and watermelon being related. 

Cucumbers and watermelons sharing a similar flavor

There has been a recent Tik Tok trend that is all about making cucumber taste like watermelon. The trick is easier than you think and involves putting some sugar on cucumber before eating it. Considering that cucumber and watermelon are loosely related, this is not surprising when you think about it. 

Other plants that are related to watermelon and cucumber

In addition to cucumbers and species of melon, squash, pumpkins, and guards are in the Cucurbitaceae family. This means that all of these plants are loosely related. All of these plants have similarities in how they grow. Similarly, there are similar in the way that you will need to care for them during the growing process.