Cucumbers

Cucumis sativus

Overview: Cucumbers are long, lean, and green garden vegetables, but that are actually a type of fruit. There are almost 100 varieties, and they have many uses.

History: Cucumbers originated in India and has been cultivated for at least 3,000 years. It was introduced in Haiti by Christopher Columbus in 1494, following this, it was spread out all over the world.

Uses:

packed with vitamins and electrolytes
ingredient for savory dishes
used in different types of drinks

Recipes:

Cucumber Salad (https://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/cucumber-salad)
Watermelon Cucumber Juice (https://foodwithfeeling.com/watermelon-cucumber-juice/)

General Information:

Common Name: Cucumber
Scientific Name: Cucumis sativus
Planting Zone: 4-12
Plant Type: Bush and vining
Pot Size: a pot that is 1' or more in depth, and 20" wide
Days to Germinate: 3-10 days, may be longer at cooler temperatures
Planting Depth: 1" deep
Seed Spacing: 6" apart
Sun Requirements: Full sun
Water Requirements: Maintain moist soil at all times with an inch of water per week
Plant Size: 3-12'
Days to Harvest: 50-70 days
Harvesting Code: Green (easy difficulty)
Growing Code: White (easy difficulty)

Planting Instructions:

Best time to plant is when the average daily temperature is mid-70s
Plant seeds 6" apart in an area with direct sunlight and fertile, well drained soil
Mix together aged compost or rich organic matter with native soil
When soil becomes warm, add a layer of straw mulch to keep the plant area clean

Harvesting Instructions:

Cucumbers can be picked when large enough to use
Check vines and bushes daily as the fruit begins to appear
When removing the cucumber, use scissors to cut the stem. An individual can pull the cucumber off, but it could potentially ruin it
If the cucumbers become oversized, they are no longer good as they become more bitter

Resources

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cucumber

https://bonnieplants.com/blogs/how-to-grow/growing-cucumbers

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