Norann Oleson, Editorial Director of Food Gardening Network

Cool, crunchy, and easy to grow, cucumbers add a refreshing taste to salads, soups, appetizers—even beverages! So, get ready to learn all about how to grow this popular crop.

According to the National Gardening Association, nearly half of all American households grow cucumbers—second only to the most popular home-grown food item, tomatoes.

Cucumbers are so popular, and yet so easy to grow. That’s why we’ve prepared this all-in-one guide for you about growing, harvesting, and eating—with some easy-to-prepare and tasty recipes—your own home-grown cucumbers.

In this collection’s Introduction, you’ll first learn some history and basics about cucumbers—to get you ready for growing your own. Then, in the Feature Articles, you’ll get specifics about cucumber gardening—from types of plants and soil preparation to watering, weeding, and controlling and preventing disease.

If you’re already an advanced cucumber and food gardener, some of this may be refresher content for you. But, stick with it, because you’re certain to learn something new, especially when it comes to the history of cucumbers and the recipes!

 In Plant Profiles, you’ll learn about six popular varieties of cucumbers, so you’ll have specific details about the characteristics and best uses for particular types of cucumbers.

While there are cucumber varieties from all parts of the world, we’ll focus on these six cucumber plant profiles because these are some of the most commonly grown. If you’d like us to include another cucumber variety that appeals to you, please let me know by commenting below.

We are, after all, a network of food gardeners—for and by fellow food gardeners—who want to enjoy all the benefits of growing our own delicious food at home!

One of the things that makes Food Gardening Network unique is the assortment of super easy and delicious Recipes, so that you can enjoy the fruits of your gardening labor. We bet you’ll be surprised at the cucumber’s versatility!

These cucumber recipes include uses for salads, soups, appetizers, and sauces—plus refreshing beverages and an easy pickling technique. You will be sure to delight everyone at your table when you prepare cucumbers any of these ways, and these dishes are sure to become your go-to recipes for many types of meals and occasions. Enjoy your cucumber harvest with these tasty recipes, and your family and friends will appreciate all of your cucumber gardening efforts!

Next, you’ll learn Nutrition Facts about Cucumbers to find out exactly which nutrients are found in cucumbers—and to what degree—and the most common compounds. Home Remedies & Health Benefits of Cucumbers will help you learn about how key nutrients in cucumbers can help prevent some diseases, such as heart disease and some forms of cancer. You’ll also learn all about other benefits and uses for cucumbers—including beauty treatments—besides just enjoying their garden-fresh deliciousness.

To help you explore the super-cool world of cucumbers even further, we’ve included a Resources section that is complementary to this collection. We aim to give you everything you need to grow, harvest, and eat delicious cucumbers, but feel free to take a deeper dive into these additional resources by visiting the links provided.

Finally, you’ll find a brief Glossary at the end of this collection in case you need a fuller explanation of any key terms and concepts.

Are you ready to learn more? Let’s get started making you the best cucumber grower you can be!