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Cucumber
Concombre
Appears in
Published 2010
Species name: Cucumis sativus
Native to India, the cucumber has been propagated for more than 3,000 years. A member of the gourd family, of which squash is also a member, the cucumber belongs to the same genus as muskmelon. The cucumber plant is a creeping vine and grows on trellises or supporting frames. It has large foliage that shades the growing fruit. The fruit is oblong with tapered ends and can grow up to 24 inches (60 cm) long.
Because it develops from a flower and has an enclosed seed, cucumbers are categorized as fruits, though like tomatoes and squash, cucumbers are prepared and consumed as vegetables. Cucumbers that are grown in a greenhouse are almost always seedless. If the grower would like the fruit to contain seeds, they will either pollinate each flower by hand, or allow bees into the greenhouse to do the work for them. Cucumbers are vitamin and nutrient rich, containing folic acid, vitamins A and C, magnesium, and phosphorus. The edible portion of the cucumber is the fruit itself, skin, flesh, and seeds, but not the plant.