Extraordinary Cucumber Varieties to Choose From
by Louie Jerome on Sep 21, 2008 with 9 Comments
For most of us a cucumber is a long green thing that we can slice, or chop and eat pickled, or with salad. However, there is a lot more to this much underrated vegetable.
Cucumbers are very versatile and widely cultivated. They are in fact gourds of the family cucurbitaceae. This is a creeping vine that grows up trellis and fences clinging on with its on tendrils for support and its big leaves protect the fruit. There are several different varieties which are normally in their ‘green’ unripe state because ripe cucumbers turn yellow and become too bitter to eat.
Armenian Cucumber
Photo Credit: Cookhereandnow.com
This variety is snakelike in shape and crisp, mild. It has a very thin skin and so it doesn’t need to be peeled. This particular variety is probably more closely related to the melon in flavour. It isn’t easy to get hold of.
English Cucumbers
Photo credit: astralstar.com
These grow up to about 0.60cms long and have very few seeds. The skins are very delicate and can be eaten. These can be grown in all but the coldest of climates, under glass where required.
Japanese Cucumbers
Photo Credit: ampangdailyphoto.blogspot.com
These are mild in taste with a rough, bumpy skin and are used for salad and pickling. They are not seasonal and can be harvested at any time of the year.
Mediterranean Cucumber
Photo credit: bc2.blogspot
Mild tasting and thin skinned, these cucumbers are almost seedless and used for a variety of culinary purposes.
Persian Cucumber
Photo credit: flickr.com
This now available in Canada and the Dominican Republic. It is a very small seedless cucumber and grows to about 15cms long. The flavour is mild and it is easy to slice.
Dosaki (Yellow Cucumber)
Photo Credit: delawarerealestate.com
This variety is grown in India and is spherical in shape. These vegetables are commonly added to soups (sambar) and chutney.
Lemon Cucumber
Photo Credit: wikipedia.cm
This list is far from complete. We also have Saladin, Euphya, Valentin, Ilas, Marketmore, Fatum, West India Gherkin, White Wonder and a whole multitude more. So, if you search around a little you will be able to find a cucumber to suit your taste.
Cucumbers are eaten raw, or cooked in almost every country in the world.
However, this particular vegetable is not a favourite with everyone. Some find it indigestible and end up with gas and indigestion after eating. Peeling the skins off helps with digestion but the smell and taste is enough to put some people off (including me).
How about you? Love, or hate?
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Published in: Gardening
Alexa Gates | Sep 21, 2008 | Reply
I never knew there were so many.. they’re definitely my favorite veggie
Ruby Hawk | Sep 21, 2008 | Reply
I like little young cucumbers when they are the size of your thumb but I would like to try the snake like ones. I have never seen any of those. Best Wishes, Ruby
RJ Chamberlain | Sep 22, 2008 | Reply
I didn’t have any idea there were this many types of cucumber. Amazing really especially the Armenian ones. Kind of look snake like. Weird. Cool article Louie.
Karen N | Sep 22, 2008 | Reply
Good article, I also never knew that there are so many different types.
Anne Lyken-Garner | Sep 22, 2008 | Reply
I like the little ones, as I think that they’re much nicer. Great pictures of cucumbers, I didn’t know that there were so many varieties either.
Glynis Smy | Sep 22, 2008 | Reply
I love them, ours are small and sweet in Cyprus, we use them a lot. good article as usual
Darlene McFarlane | Sep 22, 2008 | Reply
Wow! Call me stupid but I didn’t know there were so many different varieties of cucumber.
Emma Cooper | Oct 29, 2008 | Reply
Very cool article
If you want to get even further away from regular cukes, have a look at achocha, and the exploding cucumber!
Celeste Silkey | Nov 16, 2008 | Reply
Yeah I love cucumbers alot so I eat them tons a day i eat them mainly in my salad.