The scientific name of the prickly cucumber is Echinocystis lobata, which is Greek for ‘lobed hedgehog bladder’. This is where the girls come in. “Lobed” is for the leaf of the plant. “Bladder” is for all those empty spaces in the loofah-like interior of its fruit.
Do you pick cucumbers when they are prickly?
Yes, you can pick cucumbers when they’re prickly. Some varieties have naturally prickly skin. It can help to wear gloves when handling them. Any spikes can be gently rubbed off with a towel or soft brush.
Why do my cucumbers have prickles?
Not all cucumber prickles are alike. Just as they inherit size, shape, color and flavor, every cuke variety inherits its prickles. They’re Mother Nature’s way of protecting the plants from insects or hungry animals. Many modern cukes are bred for minimal prickling; English hothouse cukes have almost none.
How do you use prickly cucumbers?
It can be eaten fresh/ made into juice/ cut open, sprinkled with sugar/salt (to enhance flavor) and scooped out of the shell with a spoon/ or used in fruit salad. A jelly can be made from the fruit by boiling it until soft, straining it and boiling the fruit pulp again with a cup of sugar for each cup of water.
What are the three types of cucumbers?
There are a number of common cucumber varieties—Armenian, English, lemon, Persian—that you may encounter. Not only will this guide help you identify cucumbers, but you’ll also get a few ideas on how to use them.
What happens if you pick cucumbers too early?
They will grow bigger and can still be eaten when harvested later. However, seeds will be prevalent and pronounced, and the cucumber may have a more bitter taste than their younger counterparts. Cucumbers are not one of those vegetables that ripen when cutting early from the vine.
What does Burpless mean?
Adjective. burpless (not comparable) (of foods) Not causing the eater to burp.
How do you prepare prickly cucumbers?
If the cucumbers have a lot of spines, remove them by rubbing a cloth or a soft vegetable brush along the length of the fruit. Use a sharp knife or pruners to cut the cucumber of the vine. Be sure to leave a small, one-inch section of stem attached to the cucumber.
What are the different types of cucumbers?
Slicing Cucumbers
- English Cucumbers. These types of cucumbers are long and slender, with narrower ends.
- Green Fingers Persian Cucumbers.
- Muncher Cucumbers.
- Ashley Cucumbers.
- Diva Cucumbers.
- Sweet Success Cucumbers.
- Straight Eight Cucumbers.
Why do cucumbers have black spikes?
Among the list of pests and diseases cucumbers are vulnerable to, black specks are a symptom of four: gummy stem blight, anthracnose, squash bugs or four-lined plant bug.
Can you eat wild prickly cucumber?
Is Wild Cucumber Fruit Edible? This is an often-asked question, and the answer is, unfortunately, no. Although wild cucumbers are related to the familiar, domestic vegetable, the prickly “cucumbers” consist not of fleshy fruit, but of two seed chambers containing lacy netting.
How poisonous is wild cucumber?
The plant contains a bitter substance and all parts of the plant are mildly toxic.
What happens if you eat wild cucumber?
While they may look and smell like garden cucumbers, wild cucumber fruit is not safe to eat. It causes stomach upset, diarrhea, and even burning reactions for some people.
What is the tastiest cucumber?
The best-tasting cucumbers are those that are slicing cucumbers. English cucumbers don’t have the bitter chemical cucurbitacin that some cucumbers have. They also have higher natural sugar content, making them sweeter. The lack of seeds and thinner skin also English cucumbers more enjoyable to eat.
Which is the sweetest cucumber?
Striped Armenian is one of the sweetest cucumbers. It has small seeds and thin skin. Though it looks like a cucumber, it is actually a melon—a species of Cucumis.
How do I know what kind of cucumbers I have?
Measure the length of the cucumber. Armenian cucumbers are longer than most other varieties. English cucumbers are also long, but are usually slightly shorter than Armenian cucumbers. Garden cucumbers, which are the most common variety in North America, are usually shorter than both Armenian and English varieties.
How many cucumbers do you get per plant?
10
Depending on who you ask, a healthy cucumber plant can be expected to produce 10 large cukes or 15 small ones within a harvest period of about three weeks.
How do you store cucumbers after harvesting?
Wrap individual whole cucumbers in a paper towel to soak up the water the cucumber releases and prevent them from getting mushy. 3. Place the cucumbers in a storage container. Place the wrapped cucumbers in a zip-top bag or in an airtight container to keep them from drying out.
What makes garden cucumbers bitter?
Answer: The bitterness in cucumbers is produced by the compound cucurbitacin. Cucurbitacins are normally found in the leaves, stems, and roots of cucumber plants. The cucurbitacins spread from the vegetative parts of the plant into the cucumber fruit when plants are under stress.
Why do cucumbers make me sick?
Cucumber is also not a friendly snack for people with sensitive stomachs. It contains an ingredient called cucurbitacin, which is a powerful ingredient, known to cause indigestion problems. Even a little growling or indigestion can lead to flatulence or burping, which again makes it difficult to rest with ease.
What are the really long cucumbers called?
Armenian cucumber
With its long, curved shape, the Armenian cucumber has gained the nicknames snake cucumber and snakemelon. The thin skin of an Armenian cucumber will be either a uniform shade of light green, or have light yellow and dark green pinstripes.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.