Cucumber | OtterKnow Kids Encyclopedia

What Are Cucumbers?

Cucumbers are long, green vegetables with a cool, refreshing crunch that makes them perfect for salads and snacks. Their scientific name is Cucumis sativus, and even though we treat them as vegetables in the kitchen, they are technically fruits because they grow from flowers and contain seeds. Cucumbers are made up of about 95 percent water, which is one of the highest water contents of any food. They belong to the gourd family, which makes them relatives of pumpkins, squash, and melons.

Where They Come From

Cucumbers were first grown in South Asia, probably in what is now India, about 3,000 years ago. Ancient civilizations including the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans all enjoyed eating cucumbers and valued them for their cooling properties. The phrase “cool as a cucumber” actually has some science behind it, because the inside of a cucumber can be up to 20 degrees Fahrenheit cooler than the outside air temperature on a hot day. From Asia, cucumbers spread along trade routes to Europe and eventually to the rest of the world.

Types of Cucumbers

There are two main types of cucumbers that you will find at the grocery store: slicing cucumbers and pickling cucumbers. Slicing cucumbers are the long, smooth ones you cut up for salads and sandwiches, while pickling cucumbers are shorter and bumpier with thinner skin. Pickles are simply cucumbers that have been soaked in vinegar or brine (salty water), sometimes with added spices like dill and garlic. English cucumbers are another popular variety with very thin skin and tiny seeds, so you do not need to peel them before eating.

How They Grow

A curling tendril from a cucumber vine

Cucumber plants are vines that can either crawl along the ground or climb up trellises and fences using curly tendrils. They grow quickly in warm weather and can produce their first cucumbers just 50 to 70 days after planting seeds. Each plant grows both male and female flowers, and bees carry pollen between them to help the fruit develop. Cucumbers need a lot of water to grow well, which makes sense since the fruit itself is almost entirely water.

Fun Facts About Cucumbers

Cucumbers have been used for more than just eating throughout history. People have placed cucumber slices on their eyes for centuries to reduce puffiness and soothe tired skin. If you rub a cucumber slice on a foggy mirror, it can actually prevent the mirror from fogging up for a short time. Cucumbers contain compounds that can freshen your breath, which is why some people eat a slice after a meal. The world’s longest cucumber ever grown measured over 42 inches long.