Cucumber Lemon - Cucumis sativus

The Lemon cucumber is a variety of small yellow cucumber with white flesh that is very unique and loved by children. It is an ancient variety, originating from India, which produces round fruits the size of a large lemon. Very digestible, sweet and without bitterness, it can be cooked like classic varieties but it is necessary to remove the seeds which are tougher. The sowing period extends from April to June for a harvest from July to October.

Cucumbers appreciate light, loose, fresh and humus-rich soils. They like sunny exposures and temperatures between 18 and 22°C (64.4 and 71.6°F). They are quite water-hungry vegetables that need to be watered regularly.

Cucumber is, along with tomato, one of the star vegetables of summer: refreshing, low in calories, it can be enjoyed in a mixed salad or alone, with for example, a yogurt-based sauce, lemon and dill.

There are two main types of cucumbers: "forcing" varieties which are intended for greenhouse cultivation and those that are suitable for outdoor cultivation. They can be smooth or spiny, long or medium-long. In addition to these classic varieties, there are also more "exotic" cucumbers such as the Kenyan Cucumber or the Snake Cucumber, which are generally more heat-demanding.

Harvest: Cucumbers should be harvested when they have reached their final size, before their color turns yellow. Remember to harvest regularly to encourage the formation of new fruits.

Storage: Cucumbers can be stored for several days in the refrigerator. To enjoy your harvest for longer, you can also preserve them in jars through lacto-fermentation or in vinegar.

Gardener's tip: like all cucurbits, cucumber can be prone to powdery mildew: white fuzz appears on the leaves. It is advisable to remove severely affected leaves and spray with wettable sulfur every 2 weeks. In case of a minor attack, you can also treat the plants with skimmed milk, diluted at 10 to 20% in rainwater. As a preventive measure, avoid watering the foliage and make sure to ventilate your greenhouse well if the cultivation takes place under cover. A decoction of horsetail can also be applied to strengthen foliage resistance.

The untreated or "NT" seeds come from conventionally grown plants (often with the use of phytosanitary products), however they undergo no treatment after harvest. These seeds are allowed in organic market gardening when organic seeds are out of stock.