Cucumber

Overview

Production

Cultivation

Health Benefits

What is Cucumber?

The cucumber is a type of vegetable that belongs to the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae. It is a vine plant that originated in South Asia but is now grown in many parts of the world. The fruit of the cucumber plant is long and cylindrical with a smooth, dark green skin that encloses the juicy and crunchy flesh. Cucumbers are commonly consumed as raw vegetables and are used in salads, sandwiches, and dips. They are also pickled, which is a popular way to preserve them for longer periods.

Cucumbers are low in calories, making them an excellent addition to any healthy diet. They are high in water content, which helps keep the body hydrated and supports the digestive system. They are also a good source of vitamin K, which is essential for bone health, and vitamin C, which boosts the immune system. Additionally, cucumbers contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds that may help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.

Cucumbers are easy to grow and are a popular plant for home gardens. They thrive in warm weather and require ample water to produce large, juicy fruits. There are many varieties of cucumbers available, including slicing cucumbers, pickling cucumbers, and English cucumbers. Slicing cucumbers are the most common type and are typically eaten raw or used in salads while pickling cucumbers are smaller and firmer and are used for pickling. English cucumbers are longer and thinner and have a milder flavor than slicing cucumbers, making them ideal for sandwiches and dips.

In addition to their culinary uses, cucumbers are also used in cosmetics and skin care products due to their cooling and hydrating properties. Cucumber slices are often placed on the eyes to reduce puffiness and dark circles, and cucumber extract is a common ingredient in moisturizers, toners, and facial masks. Overall, cucumbers are a versatile and healthy vegetable that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, from salads and sandwiches to pickles and skincare products.

What is Gherkin?

Gherkin is a small variety of cucumber that is often used for pickling. Unlike other types of cucumbers, gherkins are picked when they are very small and immature, typically only a few centimeters long. This gives them a crisp texture and a slightly tart, tangy flavor that is ideal for pickling. Gherkins are often used to make dill pickles, sweet pickles, and other types of pickled vegetables. They can also be eaten fresh, either sliced or whole, and used in salads and sandwiches. Gherkins are a popular ingredient in many European and Middle Eastern cuisines, as well as in the United States, where they are often used in relishes and condiments.

Cucumber & Gherkin Production in the World.

China is the top country producing Cucumber in the world. As of 2022, China produced 77,258,256 tonnes of Cucumber, accounting for 81.57% of the total production. Turkiye is the world's second-largest Cucumber producer, with 1,938,545 tonnes, which represents 2.05% of the total production. In terms of Cucumber yield, the Netherlands is the most productive country on the planet with 6,351,270. Russia, Mexico, and Uzbekistan are the top three leading countries with '1,635,903', '1,078,210', '904,390', and '825,590' tonnes respectively. Djibouti has the lowest production of Cucumber in the world with only 7 tonne in 2022. The world's total production of cucumbers and gherkins was estimated at 94,718,396 tonnes in 2022.

Source: FAOSTAT

Top 10 countries by Cucumber & Gherkin Production in 2022

Top Countries by Production of Cucumber & Gherkin in 2022

Rank	Country	Production(Tonnes)	Acreage(Hectare)	Yield
1	China	77,258,256	1,309,411	590,023
2	Turkiye	1,938,545	35,333	548,650
3	Russia	1,635,903	36,506	448,118
4	Mexico	1,078,210	19,123	563,819
5	Uzbekistan	904,390	27,489	329,001
6	Ukraine	825,590	45,100	183,058
7	Spain	769,970	8,010	961,261
8	United States	595,630	33,792	176,264
9	Kazakhstan	568,748	22,970	247,603
10	Japan	548,600	9,770	561,515
11	Egypt	484,425	20,403	237,427
12	Poland	472,200	6,700	704,776
13	Indonesia	444,057	41,386	107,296
14	Iran	411,361	15,003	274,182
15	Netherlands	400,130	630	6,351,270
16	South Korea	275,203	4,008	686,594
17	Cameroon	262,121	278,341	9,417
18	Tajikistan	257,203	7,725	332,932
19	Azerbaijan	246,572	11,296	218,287
20	Germany	233,710	2,070	1,129,034
21	Belarus	228,448	5,631	405,723
22	Sudan	227,043	17,749	127,916
23	Saudi Arabia	204,720	2,386	858,005
24	Iraq	195,924	20,381	96,131
25	Algeria	190,925	4,324	441,575
26	India	183,223	28,763	63,702
27	Thailand	177,068	18,858	93,897
28	France	175,180	1,720	1,018,488
29	Bangladesh	173,998	18,419	94,465
30	Jordan	173,682	1,838	945,003
31	Greece	142,490	2,030	701,921
32	Albania	129,896	2,722	477,278
33	Kyrgyzstan	126,811	6,368	199,138
34	Syria	125,495	8,283	151,509
35	Lebanon	123,685	3,738	330,879
36	United Arab Emirates	120,743	970	1,245,147
37	Pakistan	112,231	3,573	314,109
38	Palestine	112,014	2,277	491,919
39	Mali	105,876	6,020	175,874
40	Malaysia	102,369	5,004	204,568
41	Oman	97,139	191	5,083,150
42	Israel	80,492	921	873,975
43	Kuwait	79,948	657	1,216,426
44	Cuba	79,185	6,207	127,574
45	Romania	77,830	3,890	200,077
46	Tunisia	70,111	3,211	218,343
47	North Korea	67,193	6,441	104,325
48	Morocco	63,155	1,317	479,537
49	Italy	61,830	1,980	312,273
50	Canada	60,721	2,483	244,547
51	Finland	56,960	240	2,373,333
52	Armenia	56,536	1,528	370,003
53	Bulgaria	52,270	710	736,197
54	Peru	50,559	2,577	196,171
55	Australia	48,264	1,200	402,048
56	North Macedonia	48,190	1,015	474,778
57	Taiwan	47,083	1,955	240,888
58	United Kingdom	45,000	90	5,000,000
59	Honduras	44,314	747	593,522
60	Austria	44,110	340	1,297,353
61	Chile	37,429	1,660	225,472
62	Sri Lanka	37,142	2,916	127,373
63	Sweden	36,920	230	1,605,217
64	Colombia	36,790	2,211	166,361
65	Belgium	34,920	90	3,880,000
66	Turkmenistan	34,243	1,437	238,223
67	Serbia	30,751	2,814	109,279
68	South Africa	29,651	1,652	179,494
69	Georgia	26,000	1,200	216,667
70	Lithuania	23,250	990	234,848
71	Bosnia and Herzegovina	23,142	1,102	210,000
72	Hungary	22,940	440	521,364
73	Jamaica	22,012	1,253	175,674
74	Norway	21,709	104	2,087,404
75	Cote d'Ivoire	20,740	4,276	48,505
76	Czech Republic	19,560	330	592,727
77	Qatar	18,224	146	1,244,614
78	Malawi	17,636	700	252,066
79	Moldova	16,100	3,600	44,722
80	Switzerland	16,067	132	1,217,197
81	Venezuela	15,704	1,082	145,083
82	Denmark	15,630	50	3,126,000
83	Kenya	14,404	1,697	84,880
84	Philippines	14,070	2,008	70,061
85	Yemen	13,815	930	148,579
86	Dominican Republic	13,071	705	185,352
87	Portugal	12,470	190	656,316
88	Croatia	11,370	130	874,615
89	Latvia	8,140	100	790,000
90	El Salvador	7,657	271	282,943
91	Cyprus	7,650	180	425,000
92	Libya	7,164	371	193,281
93	Mongolia	7,003	721	97,114
94	Mauritius	5,938	369	160,921
95	Estonia	5,780	80	722,500
96	Panama	5,761	576	99,947
97	Bolivia	4,821	547	88,167
98	Ecuador	4,689	580	80,890
99	Slovakia	3,840	20	1,920,000
100	Bahrain	3,601	36	1,012,219
101	Guyana	3,358	40	849,542
102	Slovenia	2,630	140	187,857
103	Dominica	2,349	372	63,098
104	Comoros	2,268	188	120,446
105	Iceland	2,086	4	5,215,000
106	Hong Kong SAR	1,960	96	204,593
107	Trinidad and Tobago	1,897	133	142,563
108	Ireland	1,790	10	1,790,000
109	Ethiopia	1,675	77	217,472
110	Costa Rica	1,651	182	90,592
111	Niger	1,593	136	116,798
112	Puerto Rico	1,298	96	135,621
113	Fiji	1,289	90	143,826
114	Barbados	1,246	51	244,527
115	Timor-Leste	1,170	138	84,905
116	Brunei Darussalam	1,141	110	103,934
117	Bhutan	1,126	167	67,533
118	St. Lucia	980	36	270,000
119	Cabo Verde	890	37	240,541
120	Malta	820	-	-
121	Madagascar	629	153	41,229
122	French Polynesia	628	62	101,412
123	New Zealand	606	25	242,378
124	Grenada	595	62	96,461
125	Democratic Republic of the Congo	376	93	40,521
126	Belize	272	23	118,261
127	Zimbabwe	226	125	18,024
128	Suriname	221	10	219,818
129	Ghana	135	10	140,824
130	Antigua and Barbuda	61	13	46,740
131	St. Kitts and Nevis	31	3	100,137
132	Luxembourg	30	-	-
133	Gabon	23	18	12,605
134	Djibouti	7	1	89,345

Cultivation of Cucumber

Cucumbers are a favored vegetable that can be effortlessly cultivated in a backyard garden or even in a container. The following are some general steps for growing cucumbers:

Soil preparation: Cucumbers thrive in well-drained soil that is rich in organic matter. Prepare the soil by adding compost or other organic matter and tilling it to a depth of 6-8 inches.
Planting: Cucumber seeds can be planted directly in the soil once the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up. Alternatively, you can start them indoors a few weeks before the last frost date and then transplant them outdoors. Cucumbers need warm soil to germinate and grow, so make sure the soil temperature is at least 60°F.
Spacing: Space cucumber plants about 12-24 inches apart, depending on the variety. If you're growing cucumbers on a trellis, space them 1-2 feet apart.
Watering: Cucumbers need consistent moisture to grow well, so water them deeply once or twice a week, depending on the weather. Try to avoid getting water on the leaves to prevent fungal diseases.
Fertilization: Cucumbers need regular fertilization to thrive. Use a balanced fertilizer every 3-4 weeks, or use compost tea or other organic fertilizers.
Weed control: Keep the area around your cucumber plants free of weeds to prevent them from competing for nutrients and water.
Pest management: Cucumbers are susceptible to a range of pests and diseases, including cucumber beetles, aphids, and powdery mildew. Consider using natural pest control methods, such as handpicking or insecticidal soap, to manage these problems.
Harvesting: Cucumbers are ready to harvest when they reach a length of about 6-8 inches for slicing cucumbers or 2-4 inches for pickling cucumbers. Regular harvesting is important to encourage continued production.

By following these steps, you can successfully cultivate delicious cucumbers in your garden.

Health Benefits of Cucumber

Cucumbers are a low-calorie, refreshing, and nutritious vegetable that offer a range of health benefits. Some of the potential health benefits of cucumbers include:

Hydration: Cucumbers are over 90% water, making them a great hydrating food. Eating cucumbers can help to keep you hydrated and support healthy skin and digestion.
Nutrients: Cucumbers are rich in several vitamins and minerals such as vitamin C, vitamin K, potassium, and magnesium, which are vital for supporting the immune system, promoting bone health, and regulating blood pressure.
Antioxidants: Cucumbers contain a range of antioxidants, including flavonoids, triterpenes, and lignans. These compounds have anti-inflammatory properties and may help to reduce the risk of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
Digestion: Cucumbers are a good source of fiber, which is important for supporting healthy digestion and preventing constipation. The fiber in cucumbers may also help to reduce the risk of colon cancer.
Skin health: Cucumbers contain compounds that may help to reduce inflammation and support healthy skin. They may also help to reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes.

Overall, cucumbers are a nutritious and hydrating vegetable that can support a range of health benefits. Adding cucumbers to your diet is a simple way to boost your nutrient intake and support your overall health.

Nutritional Information of Cucumber

Here is the approximate nutritional content of cucumber per 100 grams:

Calories: 15
Protein: 0.65 grams
Fat: 0.11 grams
Carbohydrates: 3.63 grams
Fiber: 0.5 grams
Sugar: 1.67 grams
Vitamin C: 2.8 milligrams (4% of the Daily Value)
Vitamin K: 16.4 micrograms (21% of the Daily Value)
Potassium: 147 milligrams (4% of the Daily Value)
Magnesium: 13 milligrams (3% of the Daily Value)

Cucumbers are also a good source of water and contain small amounts of other vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B6, calcium, and iron.

Structure of Cucumber

Here are some points describing the structure of a cucumber:

Shape: Cucumbers are generally cylindrical, with a length that can range from a few inches to over a foot.
Skin: The skin of a cucumber is thin and waxy, and it can be either smooth or bumpy depending on the variety.
Flesh: The flesh of a cucumber is light green or yellowish-white in color and has a crisp, watery texture.
Seeds: Cucumbers typically have a central cavity filled with small, edible seeds that are surrounded by a gel-like substance.
Leaves: Cucumbers are part of the gourd family, and their leaves are large and lobed with a rough, hairy texture.
Vines: Cucumber plants are vining plants that grow quickly and can become quite long if left to grow unchecked. They produce tendrils that help them to climb and attach to supports.
Flowers: Cucumber plants produce small, yellow flowers that are either male or female. The female flowers have a small cucumber-like fruit at the base, which will grow into a mature cucumber if fertilized.

Overall, cucumbers have a relatively simple structure with thin skin, watery flesh, and edible seeds. They are easy-to-grow and nutritious vegetables that can be enjoyed fresh or in a range of recipes.

Types of Cucumber

There are many different types of cucumbers, each with its unique characteristics and uses. Here are some of the most common types of cucumber:

Slicing cucumbers: These are the most commonly eaten cucumbers and are typically eaten fresh in salads or sandwiches. They are long and cylindrical, with thin skin and a mild flavor. Examples include the English cucumber and the American slicer.
Pickling cucumbers: The cucumbers in question are comparatively petite and have a thicker skin than slicing cucumbers. They are ideal for pickling purposes, including both dill and sweet variations. Some examples of these cucumbers include the National Pickling cucumber and the Kirby cucumber.
Burpless cucumbers: These cucumbers are often marketed as being gentler on digestion and less likely to cause belching or indigestion in comparison to other types of cucumbers. Their shape is typically slender and elongated, and they possess delicate skin with a mild and sweet flavor.
Seedless cucumbers: As the name suggests, these cucumbers are grown without seeds. They are typically sweeter than other types of cucumbers and have thinner skin. They are often marketed as a premium variety and can be more expensive than other types of cucumbers.
Lemon cucumbers: The cucumbers possess a lemon-like bright yellow skin and are petite and circular. They have a slightly sweet and gentle taste and are commonly utilized for pickling or adding to salads.
Armenian cucumbers: These cucumbers are long and slender, with a slightly curved shape and thin, light green skin. They have a crisp texture and a mild, slightly sweet flavor.

Uses of Cucumber

Cucumbers are a versatile vegetable that can be used in a wide variety of dishes and preparations. Here are some common uses of cucumber:

Salads: Cucumbers are a common ingredient in salads, either sliced or diced. They add a refreshing, crisp texture and a mild flavor that pairs well with a range of other ingredients.
Sandwiches and wraps: Sliced cucumbers can be used as a filling for sandwiches or wraps. They add a refreshing crunch and can be used in place of lettuce or other greens.
Pickles: Cucumbers can be pickled in vinegar, salt, and spices to make dill pickles or other types of pickled vegetables. Pickled cucumbers can be used as a condiment or added to sandwiches or salads.
Cold soups: Cucumbers are a common ingredient in cold soups such as gazpacho. They add a refreshing, cooling element and pair well with other ingredients like tomatoes and peppers.
Smoothies and juices: Cucumbers can be blended into smoothies or juices to add a refreshing flavor and a boost of nutrients.
Skincare: Cucumbers can be used topically to soothe and hydrate the skin. They are often used in DIY skincare recipes like cucumber face masks and eye treatments.
Cocktails: Cucumbers can be muddled and used as a base for refreshing cocktails like cucumber martinis and cucumber mojitos.

Overall, cucumbers are a versatile vegetable that can be used in a range of sweet and savory dishes. They add a refreshing, hydrating element and a mild flavor that pairs well with a variety of other ingredients.