Did You Know – Cucumbers
We have begun picking our home grown cucumbers so I thought I would share 15 interesting cucumber facts.
- Cucumbers are from the same family as watermelons and pumpkins.
- Cucumbers can grow over 12” long.
- China is the largest producer of cucumbers in the world.
- A raw cucumber is over 90% water.
- One medium raw cucumber has about 30 calories.
- Cucumbers can be grown in soil or in water (hydroponic).
- The large leaves on the cucumber plant provide shading for the developing fruits.
- Pickled cucumbers in Northern England are sometimes called wallies.
- Cucumber plants climb for more sun exposure using thin spiraling shoots called tendrils.
- Cucumbers are a body cooling food due to their high water content which may be where the phrase “cool as a cucumber” came from.
- One cup of raw peeled cucumbers contain almost 3 grams of carbohydrates.
- Stop bad breath by holding a slice of cucumber on the roof of your mouth, with your tongue, for 30 seconds.
- Just one cucumber contains most of the vitamins you need in a day.
- To help avoid a hangover or a bad headache eat a few slices of cucumber before you go to bed. Cucumbers contain enough sugar, multiple B vitamins and electrolytes to replenish what you lost due to drinking.
- Cucumbers are one of my favorite vegetables, probably because it is technically a fruit.
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Categories: Did You Know, Vegetables/Slaws/Salads
Cucumbers are one of the perfect foods. I adore their fragrance.
I wish we could have home grown cucumbers all year long!
Fascinating
Thank you Sheree!
I like the explanation of the saying “cool as a cucumber” 😄. And nr. 16: Cucumber slices help with swollen and itchy eyes (especially during hay fever time)!
They also use them to rub on the cellulite on legs, but I’m sure you don’t have any of that! Lol
Not yet … but good to know!
Thanks for th fun cucumber facts, Diane. Your crop looks great.
Thank you Bernadette!
Great tips, and fun facts – another great post. Thanks Diane!
You’re welcome!
Amazing, I had no idea cucumbers could be used for such a variety of things. I appreciate you sharing this excellent knowledge with us.
Thank you and have a great day!
No not in North but Midland England they call pickled cucumbers Wally . I like cucumber sandwiches so we grow both ridge and greenhouse Cucumbers. Pickle most and keep back a few for salads. We grow field tomato plants in veg garden that is walled around . In here have all we need for house needs .Hard work with all gardens but in winter we can enjoy the effort of our labours .
I have never had a cucumber sandwich, what else do you put on it?
Cucumbers are awesome. So easy to make and affordable. I love making them with a little bit of salt and rice vinegar. Simple but yum. Enjoy your harvest!
I love them with vinegar too but add tomatoes and onion. My favorite way to eat them is raw with a little salt. Thank you Ab 💕
All good to know! We love cucumbers.
My husband eats them all year long but I only like our home grown cucumbers. I find the grocery store ones are bitter and old.
Good info. here on cucumbers! I love mini cucumbers, onions, and peaches! Thanks for sharing Diane!
Wow! I make a cucumber, onion and tomato recipe but I have never heard of adding peaches!!! I bet that tastes wonderful. Thank you!!!
Cukes are a great addition to salads. But also you can easily make pickles by dropping them into a jar of your favorite pickle brand and letting them sit in the liquid
I have also seen videos of how cats react to them!
I always make too many pickles to do that so I just make my own brine but that’s a great idea JC! I bet the video is hilarious!
Super interesting, Diane. I also love this “fruit”.
Thank you Kellye, that was my favorite fact too!
Your list is “cool as a cucumber”! And this is new to me, “Cucumbers are from the same family as watermelons and pumpkins.” – very interesting!
I didn’t know they are considered a fruit! Thank you Mary!
I love home grown or local cucumbers! I look forward to them every year. Thanks for the facts about cucumbers. I learned a few things!
You’re welcome Karla!
I’d have never guessed all this nutrition is in a cucumber which seems like all water … like a watermelon. Interesting and I always wondered where the expression “cool as a cucumber” originated. Thanks for the info Diane!
I didn’t know they had that much nutrition either Linda. You’re welcome!
They’re all water – who’d have thought that?
This is fascinating, Diane. So many facts I didn’t know. Just today, I was noticing on my container grown squash plants that the leaves are so big compared to those tiny fruits that are starting to grow. Now I know why!😉
How do the squash do in the container? I have never grown a vine plant in a container. We found out our cucumber leaves are delicious to ground hogs this year. Lol
I just love your food education posts – learned a lot about cucumbers!
Thank you Tierney! I love researching and posting them.
I always loved cucumbers and pickles!
When I was a little girl I used to pick the ripe cucumbers my grandmother had grown in our back yard. They were thicker and larger than the ones I used to see at our local supermarket.
They were so crunchy and delicious too!
I would peel them and eat them without slicing them. Those were the good old days.
My grandmother also grew tomatoes, green peppers and some vegetables in our backyard.
I love that you peeled them and ate them without slicing! What wonderful memories of your grandmother Latoya!
Yes!
I eat them all the time but I didn’t know that technically they are a fruit!
I know right! That was a surprise to me too Susan. The ground hogs must know that too because they are devouring the leaves on the vines!