Cucumber
Cucumber
- The cucumber (Cucumis sativus) is a widely cultivated plant in the gourd family Cucurbitaceae, which includes squash, and is in the same genus as the muskmelon.
- The cucumber is a creeping vine that roots in the ground and grows up trellises or other supporting frames, wrapping around ribbing with thin, spiraling tendrils.
January – December
Description
- The plant has large leaves that form a canopy over the fruit.
- The fruit is roughly cylindrical, elongated, with tapered ends, and may be as large as 60 cm long and 10 cm in diameter.
- Cucumbers grown to be eaten fresh (called slicers) and those intended for pickling (called picklers) are similar.
- Cucumbers are mainly eaten in the unripe green form.
- The ripe yellow form normally becomes too bitter and sour.
- Cucumbers are usually over 90% water.
- Having an enclosed seed and developing from a flower, botanically speaking, cucumbers are classified as fruits.
- However, much like tomatoes and squash they are usually perceived, prepared and eaten as vegetables.
