Easiest time to identify: Late summer
when flowering and early fall when fruiting.
Harvest/forage: Early fall until freeze.
Creeping Cucumber is one of the first
wild edible plants that I found on the UNT campus. These miniature cucumbers
are amazing. They grow mainly is shade but will grow in sun if there is shrubby
plant close for the vines to grown around. I have also seen them grow on the
ground and sprawl out. The vines at the English Auditorium have not put on as
much fruit as the patch at Hickory Hall, but like the plum tree, the cucumber
patch is a late fruiter. Last year the patch was fruiting well into the fall.
Of course I only had knowledge of this one patch so further comparisons will
have to be made this year.
One source says this plant is high in
carbs and protein as well as other vitamins. Whenever I go out foraging I
always snack on these for a pick me up. It is also one of the few plants I
trust to give to first time foragers because of how familiar and accessible the
taste is. People are reluctant but are pleasantly surprised when they bite into
the fruit and recognize the flavor as distinctly cucumber.
One important characteristic to note
is the color of ripe fruit. The fruit turns a dark green and then black as the
fruit ripens. This is important because the ripe fruit is a powerful laxative
that can cause dehydration. So any fruit with dark coloration should be
avoided.
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