In the summer, at each table there is always a large number of tasty and healthy vegetables. But does everyone know where the homeland of the cucumber is and what useful properties it has? Why is it worth to allocate a place of honor in the garden for growing this crop?
Which country is the homeland of the cucumber?
It is generally accepted that cucumber is a purely Russian vegetable, but this is a very big mistake. The homeland of a cucumber is not only not Russia, but even a country not neighboring to it.
This vegetable is a herbaceous plant
in the pumpkin family. By the way, a cucumber (just like a pumpkin) is a berry. This plant is annual. It is known that in Russia it is grown only for 400-500 years. In ancient times, cucumbers in Greece called "aguros", which means "unripe". It is believed that the smaller the fruit, the tastier it is. The homeland of cucumber is India. It has been grown there for over 5,000 years. There, this vegetable is a wild plant, and it can be found even in the forest.
Landing Features
Where the homeland of cucumbers (in India), tropical and subtropical climate prevails. It is important to know that for a good harvest you need to plant “aguros” when the temperature reaches 15-17 ° C. The most favorable month for sowing is June.
In the first month of summer, the air temperature is still not very high, and over the next sixty days of summer, the crop will reach sufficient growth and ripen.
Little known facts
The homeland of cucumber is the largest country in South Asia. Surprisingly, in India, cucumbers are not specially planted. They themselves encircle trees and fences. It is also curious that earlier, when this vegetable was a rarity, the Turkish sultan ordered his servants to open their bellies to find out who stole and ate the "aguros" that his acquaintance brought in a small amount.
Often, this particular vegetable familiar to us falls into the Guinness Book of Records. A cucumber is registered there, whose length is 1.83 m. It was found in Hungary.
Also among the champions there is the heaviest vegetable, the mass of which is more than 6 kg.
Where do cucumbers value?
The homeland of cucumber is not only India, but also China. It is there that seedlings of cucumbers are now grown in crates on the roofs of houses, and then transplanted into the ground. Vegetables were also valued in Greece: the city of Sikion, which translates as “the city of cucumbers,” was named after him.
It is known that the plant was depicted in ancient Egypt on the frescoes that have survived to this day. In Suzdal, to this day, every year in June, Cucumber Day is celebrated, and in Lukovitsy a two-meter bronze monument was erected in honor of the plant.
Useful properties of the plant
And how many useful properties does a cucumber have?
The homeland of the plant is associated with youth and endless vitality, and this is no coincidence. The fact is that the cucumber has a lot of useful vitamins and elements. Thanks to them, you can prevent many diseases or slow down their development. Such diseases include problems with the cardiovascular system, obesity, poor functioning of the kidneys and liver, as well as slow metabolism. Cucumbers not only contain a huge amount of iodine, which, by the way, prevents thyroid disease, but also has a very small number of calories. This plant will fit perfectly into the diet of those people who are overweight or are watching their figure. The minimum calorie content is due to the fact that the vegetable is more than 90% water.
Useful properties are possessed not only by the fetus itself, but also by its seeds. They remove excess cholesterol from the human body. In addition, the use of cucumbers and their juice improves skin condition and improves memory.
Cucumbers and skin care
Cucumbers are an excellent vegetable that is used for skin care. The plant tones and refreshes the face. Cucumber masks are suitable for all skin types. For those who have dry skin that is constantly peeling, cosmetologists recommend wiping their face with a swab dipped in a special mask every day. To prepare it, you need to mix diced cucumber without peel with olive oil in the proportions of 1 to 1, and then let it brew for a day. Such a daily procedure will help prevent facial irritation and get rid of peeling.
Cucumber masks are also shown to people with oily skin. They help normalize the work of sebum. To prepare a mask for this type of skin, you will need to mix the juice from half a cucumber with 1 teaspoon of cologne. With this lotion you need to wipe your face daily.
Owners of combination skin can wipe their face with ice cubes with cucumber juice to improve the condition of the face .
Contraindications
In addition to the mass of positive aspects, cucumbers also have contraindications. They are not recommended to be used by lactating women, people with stomach diseases and those who are addicted to diuretics, as well as with some endocrine diseases.
Conclusion
Cucumber is a fairly popular vegetable in our house, but does everyone know where its homeland is? Not everyone knows about the beneficial properties of the fetus, thereby underestimating the universal plant. No wonder it was cucumbers depicted in ancient Greece on the walls of temples. This plant is an endless source of health, youth and beauty. Cucumbers, following all the recommendations, are easily grown and afterwards benefit the body all summer, and the result remains the whole year. That is why gardeners recommend studying in detail the useful properties of cucumbers and allocate a little space for them in their garden.