What Are the Other Names for Cucumber? A Full Guide to Its Common Aliases

Other Names for Cucumber

Hu gua, qing gua

Morphological Characteristics of Cucumber

An annual trailing or climbing herb; the stems and branches are elongated, with ridged grooves, covered with white stiff hairs. The tendrils are slender, undivided, and have white soft hairs.

The petioles are slightly rough, with stiff hairs; the leaf blades are broadly ovate-cordate, membranous; both surfaces are very rough, covered with stiff hairs, the lobes are triangular and toothed; sometimes the margins are ciliate, the apex acute or acuminate, the basal sinus semicircular, sometimes the base is directed backward and closes together. Monoecious.

Growth Habits of Cucumber

Cucumber can generally be grown throughout China, and is now widely cultivated in temperate and tropical regions. Cucumber likes warmth and cannot tolerate cold, and is one of the main greenhouse products.

Cucumber Care Tips

Temperature

Cucumber likes warmth and cannot tolerate cold. The suitable temperature for growth is 10-32°C. Generally, 25-32°C during the day and 15-18°C at night are best for growth; the most suitable soil temperature is 20-25°C, with a minimum of around 15°C. The most suitable day-night temperature difference is 10-15°C. At high temperatures of 35°C, cucumber photosynthesizes poorly, and at 45°C high-temperature damage occurs; at low temperatures of -2-0°C it freezes to death, though if cold-hardened as seedlings it can withstand a low temperature of 3°C.

Light

South China-type varieties are more sensitive to short-day conditions, while North China-type varieties have less strict requirements for day length and have become day-neutral plants. Most varieties grow well under short-day conditions of 8-11 hours.

Water

Cucumber has high yields and a large water requirement. The suitable soil moisture is 60-90%; during the seedling stage, water should not be too abundant, with soil moisture at 60-70%; during the fruiting stage, sufficient water must be supplied, with soil moisture at 80-90%. The suitable relative air humidity for cucumber is 60-90%; if the relative air humidity is too high, it is very easy for disease to occur, causing reduced yields.

Soil

Cucumber likes moisture but cannot tolerate waterlogging, and likes fertilizer but cannot tolerate excessive fertilizer; it is best to choose fertile soil rich in organic matter. It generally prefers soil with a pH between 5.5-7.2, but a pH of 6.5 is best.

The Value of Cucumber

Ornamental: Growing a cucumber plant on the balcony not only serves as a green plant to enjoy, but you can also see the small yellow flowers and then the small cucumbers.

Edible: In summer, when cucumbers ripen, they are picked and eaten raw or served cold; both are ways to beat the heat and fight the intense summer heat to the end.

Face mask: Cut cucumber into thin round slices and apply them to the face to experience a cooling sensation while achieving a skincare effect.