Origin of the Cucumber
Cucumbers are widely believed to have originated in India over 3000 years ago. They then were introduced to China and spread west to America when introduced by European colonizers.
Today, cucumbers are widely produced throughout the world. This map by The Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT) shows countries by tonnes of cucumber production in 2016.
Growing Conditions
Cucumbers do well at higher temperatures, their optimal range is 75 to 85 degrees F.
They prefer loose, well drained soil well supplied with organic matter and nutrients.
Cucumbers prefer high moisture soil. This become especially important during the fruiting stage as the cucumber plant requires more water than usual.
Life Cycle
Cucumbers prefer warm temperatures and need plenty of room to grow as they grow in a sprawling vine structure.
Once seeds germinate, they produce a first set of leaves that look different than their first "true" set of leaves.
Soon after, the seedlings produce the cotyledon, or the first set of true leaves.
As the plant matures, male (staminate) and female (pistillate) flowers are produced. The pollen from male flowers has to pollinate the female ovule for cucumbers to grow.
Once pollinated, the female flower begins to transform into the cucumber fruit.
Finally, the cucumber ripens and they are ready for harvest.
Common Pests
Striped cucumber beetle Acalymma vittatum
The striped cucumber beetle is a common pest within cucumber garden beds. These insects damage the crops throughout their entire lifecycle.
These beetles can be identified by their yellowish green bodies that have distinctive black lines running down. They also have a yellow thorax, which is the region between the head and the abdomen.
Adults that emerge from overwintering indulge on the cotyledons and stems of emerging cucurbit seedlings.
Larvae of these adults tunnel into the soil and feed on plant roots.
To control the insect populations a few different measures can be taken. Gardeners can....
- Apply kaolin clay treatment
2. Intercrop with other favorable plants
Cropping another plant that is more durable, but just as delicious to the cucumber beetle can help concentrate beetle populations away from your cucumber plants, allowing them to thrive.
Fungus and Disease
Pollinators!
Bees are the main pollinators for cucumber plants. Bees pollinate cucumbers by carrying the pollen from a male flower to the female flower so that it can form the cucumber.
However, gardeners will sometimes assist in this process to ensure their plants are pollinated. To do so, they use a paintbrush to dust the pollen from the male flower onto the female flower.
Nutrition
Cucumbers are 95% water, meaning they are a great source of hydration during the hot summer months.
Cucumbers contain vitamin C, beta-carotene and manganese, as well as flavonoids, triterpenes and lignans that have anti-inflammatory properties
Taste and Texture
- Refreshing
- Mildly sweet
- Crunchy
Recipe
Eating cucumbers is a delicious and refreshing way to stay hydrated and nourished in the summer time. Once harvested, cucumbers can be eaten on there own dipped in a side of dressing, or you could make a tasty cucumber salad.
References
https://www.deliciousmeetshealthy.com/cucumber-salad/
https://www.highmowingseeds.com/blog/organic-control-measures-for-striped-cucumber-beetles/
https://biopests.com/whats-the-difference-between-diatomaceous-earth-and-kaolin-clay/
The Food and Agriculture Organization Corporate Statistical Database (FAOSTAT)
https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/cucumber-beetles
https://extension.uga.edu/publications/detail.html?number=C1034&title=Growing%20Cucumbers%20in%20the%20Home%20Garden#:~:text=Cucumbers%20thrive%20best%20at%20relatively,cucumbers%20during%20the%20fruiting%20stage.
https://www.happysprout.com/gardening/cucumbers-pollinate-garden/
Credits:
Created with images by Africa Studio - "Many green fresh cucumbers as background" • StockMediaProduction - "Two cucumbers ripen on a bed in the sun"