Help the development of the site, sharing the article with friends!
Cucumbers have been cultivated for centuries. We will inform you about the origin, provenance and history of this he althy and juicy vegetable.
The cucumber is closely related to the cucurbits and melons. And this is exactly where the problem lies in determining the exact place of origin and the course of cucumber development in general. Due to the similarity with their relatives, the cucumber varieties have not been distinguished from one another in history, so there are hardly any records that contain information about a more precise determination of origin.
Origin of Cucumber
Experts have various theories about the origin of the watery vegetable. One variant is that the green cucumber originated in Africa or India. This theory is based on the fact that the cucumber was already present in southern Europe during the Middle Ages and was appreciated by both the Romans and the Greeks. Some people assume that the first cucumbers were cultivated around 4000 years ago in northern India, namely on the southern foothills of the Himalayas and from there found their way to Europe to the ancient Romans and Greeks. In the Middle Ages, the cucumber gradually arrived throughout Europe. The first record of cultivation in greenhouses dates back to the 19th century in Great Britain.
Growing areas of cucumbers
Today, the largest growing areas are in the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Greece. In Germany, the Spreewald region in particular is famous for the cultivation of the small pickling cucumbers. In Asia, some cucumbers still grow wild. The tender, still young leaves and sprouts are also very popular there for the preparation of food. Wild forms can also still be found in Europe. In the home garden, cucumber cultivation is definitely recommended and rewards the hobby gardener with good yields. However, cultivation in a greenhouse is definitely recommended for our climatic conditions.
If you have decided to grow cucumbers, here are some tips for youbest cucumbers from your own garden.