My neighbor gave me some cucumber starts this year. She got them from a friend of a friend until no one had any idea what variety they were. Even though I have had a veggie garden for years, I had never actually grown cucumbers. Really! So I plunked them in the garden and surprise! They were rapaciously producing spiny cucumbers. Well, I’d never seen spines on cucumbers since I usually get those smooth, consumer-ready grocery store cukes. So why did my cucumbers get prickly and are spiny cucumbers normal? Let’s investigate.
Why Do My Cucumbers Get Prickly?
Cucumbers are members of the Cucurbit family along with squash, pumpkins, and melons. They are divided into two groups: pickling and slicing varieties. Both varieties may have varying degrees of cucumber prickles – so prickly cucumbers is actually quite normal. Some might have tiny little hairs and others all out spines. The slicing varieties are usually less prickly while the pickling types are spinier. Native to India, cucumbers may have become spiny for the same reason that some animals are camouflaged or have horns…to protect themselves from predators. This is no doubt the case with cucumbers. Grow cukes in full sun in well-draining soil that has been amended with plenty of compost. Sow seeds inside or wait and sow directly outside when soil temps have warmed to at least 60 degrees F. (15 C.) and all danger of frost has passed. Cucumbers thrive in temps of 70 degrees F. (21 C.) during the day and above 60 degrees F. (15 C.) at night. If you sow your seeds indoors, start them two to four weeks prior to the last frost date for your area in a soilless potting medium. Be sure to harden the seedlings off before transplanting them. Space the plants 12 to 24 inches (31-61 cm.) apart in rows 5 to 6 feet (1.5-2 m.) apart for slicing cukes. For pickling cucumbers, space 8 to 12 inches (20-31 cm.) apart in rows 3 to 6 feet (1-2 m.) apart. If direct sowing, place two to three seeds per hill and then thin out the weakest. Water deeply and regularly and fertilize. If you are growing a vining type of cuke, be sure to provide some type of support.
Can You Eat Prickly Cucumbers?
Spines on cucumbers aren’t deadly, but they would be terribly uncomfortable to eat. The good news is that you can always peel a cucumber if the cucumber prickles are on the large side. Most prickly cucumber fruit is just that, covered with minor hairy prickles. For these, a good washing will probably remove the prickles. If they won’t come off right away, use a veggie brush to remove them. Oh, and this is interesting. I just read that the pristine, smooth cukes we are used to purchasing at the supermarket have spines. They are removed prior to selling to the consumer! Who knew? It should also be noted that some varieties today are bred to be spineless.
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FAQs
Native to India, cucumbers may have become spiny for the same reason that some animals are camouflaged or have horns…to protect themselves from predators. This is no doubt the case with cucumbers. Grow cukes in full sun in well-draining soil that has been amended with plenty of compost.
Why are my cucumbers prickly? ›
Basically outdoor cucumbers are the tough guys, they develop a thicker, prickly skin so they can withstand the low temperatures, compared to their softer skin friends that are grown indoors and have a more delicate skin with no prickles.
Can you pick cucumbers when they are prickly? ›
Wear gloves when you harvest cucumbers. Some of them, particularly pickling varieties, are prickly. If the cucumbers have a lot of spines, remove them by rubbing a cloth or a soft vegetable brush along the length of the fruit. Use a sharp knife or pruners to cut the cucumber of the vine.
What are spiky cucumbers called? ›
Echinocystis is a monotypic genus in the gourd family, Cucurbitaceae. The sole species is E. lobata, commonly called wild cucumber, prickly cucumber or bur cucumber. It is an annual, sprawling plant that is native to North America.
Is prickly cucumber edible? ›
Superficially the fruit resembles a small and rounded cultivated cucumber, but with prickles all over it. The puffy, spherical to oblong, green pods with long, soft spines grow up to two inches long. Despite the common name, the fruits are not edible and can cause burning reactions in some people.
What does a prickly cucumber taste like? ›
The flavor is mild – with a sweet citrus cucumber flavor when green, and a combination of banana, kiwi and citrus when ripe. The Khoisan people of the Kalahari traditionally roast the fruit and strain the flesh and cook the leaves. The fruit are 80% water, which means they are a good source of fluids in dry areas.
Should you cut leaves off cucumber plants? ›
If you prune some of the plant's leaves, it's much easier to see cucumbers and harvest them at the peak of freshness. More productive plants. Pruning cucumbers helps your plants produce more prolifically too. By removing extra leaves, your cucumber vines can focus their energy on growing more cucumbers.
What causes pointy cucumbers? ›
Because cucumbers are heavy feeders, thirsty critters, and fast growers, they suffer quickly when temperatures fluctuate. When temperatures are high they need more water to carry nutrients. If they don't get consistent water the fruit is the first to suffer and will not fill out. This results in a pointed end.
Are spiky cucumbers OK to eat? ›
Spines on cucumbers aren't deadly, but they would be terribly uncomfortable to eat.
Should you refrigerate cucumbers when you pick them? ›
So, What's the Best Way to Store Whole Cucumbers? Even though cucumbers are prone to chilling injury, the fridge is still the best place to store them. At room temperature, cucumbers will only last for about two days.
Cucumbers are not one of those vegetables that ripen when cutting early from the vine. Plan to pick cucumbers early in the morning when the plant vines are cool and damp with dew. When harvesting cucumbers, use a sharp knife or clippers to separate them from the vine.
Why are the cucumbers I'm growing prickly? ›
Cucumbers are related to other cucumbers and melons. The spikes are a common adaptation in many unrelated fruits, probably to deter animals from eating them until the fruit is fully ripe, at which point the spikes have rubbed off or the fruit has split open.
What is the best tasting cucumber? ›
The best-tasting cucumbers are those that are slicing cucumbers. English cucumbers don't have the bitter chemical cucurbitacin that some cucumbers have. They also have higher natural sugar content, making them sweeter. The lack of seeds and thinner skin also English cucumbers more enjoyable to eat.
How can you tell when a cucumber goes bad? ›
Dark spots can also be an indicator that your cucumber is no longer a viable snack option. If your cucumbers have a foul smell or taste, they are not safe to eat. Regular, ripe cucumbers have a light, fresh scent and flavor. If you get a sour bite, go ahead and get rid of it.
