🥒 Cucumber
Cucumis sativus
What it is
A long, cool, watery vegetable that grows on a vine and is great fresh and crunchy.
How it looks
Long and cylinder-shaped with smooth green skin and pale, watery flesh with soft seeds.
Taste
Very mild, cool, and refreshing, with a light crunch.
Why it is healthy
Mostly water, which helps keep you hydrated, plus a little vitamin K.
How to eat it
Eat it raw in slices, in salads, or turned into crunchy pickles.
How it grows
Grows on a climbing vine from yellow flowers; the fruit hangs down as it gets long.
In season
Best and most plentiful in the warm days of summer.
History
First grown thousands of years ago in India, then spread across the world.
Fun fact
A cucumber is about 95 percent water, which is why it feels so cool and juicy.
Try this
Add cucumber slices to a glass of water for a cool, refreshing drink.