A Blog post by
Viorica Marincus
Did you know that cucumbers, squashes, and melons belong to the melon and gourds family? They are annuals and prefer growing in warm climates. They also grow in vines that follow the ground and are sensitive to frost. Cucumbers, cousins to melons and squash, prefer growing in the summer. Some of the other species in the gourds family grow in the autumn. I’ve found cucumbers to be fairly easy to grow. I plant the starts toward the end of May and enjoy a bounty all summer long. When the cucumbers are of small to medium size, I pick them, not letting them get too big. Left on the vine too long, they turn yellow and develop more seeds. These seeds, of course, can be picked, dried, and used to sprout other cucumber plants for the following spring or year-round planting seasons in warm climates.
My favorite way to use the cucumbers is in a simple cucumber tomato salad. A refreshing side dish that’s quick to prepare and perfect for hot summer days. The delicate flavor of a cucumber makes it a good addition to any recipe. The cucumber tomato salad is a quick recipe to make that works well as a cool summer side dish to a meal. (The recipe can be made with or without tomatoes, if you do not have any on hand.) Some pick the cucumbers when they are small and can them for winter. This is a nice way to preserve the bounty that several patches will bring you. A delicious way to preserve the harvest. In most recent years, I have mainly used mine for eating.
Interestingly, even the larger members of the gourd family — such as pumpkins, zucchini, and squash — are classified as a type of berry called a pepo. Their thick skins protect them from drying out, and their blossoms are considered a delicacy. They are picked in full bloom, fried and served promptly, often in quesadillas.
If you’ve grown pumpkins or zucchini before, you’ll find that cucumbers are just as easy and rewarding.