Cucumbers have been grown for centuries. We inform you about the origin, provenance and history of this healthy 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 the relatives, the cucumber varieties have not been separated in history differentiated, so there are hardly any records about it, the information about more precise determination of origin contain.
origin of the cucumber
Experts have various theories as to 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 the southern forerunners of the Himalayas and from there the way to Europe to the ancient Romans and Greeks found. In the Middle Ages, the cucumber gradually arrived throughout Europe. The first cultivation in greenhouses can only be found in the course of the 19th century. century in Great Britain.
Cucumber growing areas
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 is the cucumber cultivation definitely recommended and rewards the hobby gardener with good yields. Cultivation in a greenhouse is definitely recommended for our climatic conditions.
If you have decided to grow cucumbers, here are some tips for you best cucumbers from your own garden.