Cucumis sativus

Cucumis sativus (cucumber) — a crisp climbing vine first grown in India over 3,000 years ago, from smooth greenhouse types to outdoor ridge cucumbers. The botanical home of our cucumber range.

Best selling Best selling
  • Nasiona ogórka Beth Alpha (Cucumis sativus) – warzywo jednoroczne Ogórek Beth Alpha (Cucumis sativus) – nasiona warzyw jednorocznych od SeedsChoice
    18%
    Gherkin Beth Alpha Seeds Cucumis Sativus Annual Variety
    18,00 zł22,00 zł

    Product overview for compact, productive annual cucumbers gherkin beth alpha seeds are a vegetable seed choice for gardeners who want a vigorous, productive annual cucumber plant. This medium early variety produces cylindrical, green fruits with...
  • Nasiona ogórka Telegraph Improved (Cucumis sativus) – warzywo jednoroczne Ogórek Telegraph Improved (Cucumis sativus) – jednoroczne nasiona warzyw od SeedsChoice
    18%
    Cucumber Telegraph Improved Seeds Cucumis Sativus Annual
    18,00 zł22,00 zł

    Klasyczny długi ogórek do sałatek i krojenia Nasiona ogórka telegraph improved to roczna roślina warzywna dla ogrodników pragnących długich, smukłych owoców o chrupiącej konsystencji i tradycyjnym, świeżym smaku ogórka. Ta odmiana telegraph improved doskonale nadaje...
  • Nasiona ogórka snackowego Kalimero F1 (Cucumis sativus) – warzywo jednoroczne Ogórek snackowy Kalimero F1 (Cucumis sativus) – nasiona jednorocznych warzyw od SeedsChoice
    22%
    Nasiona ogórka snackowego Kalimero F1 Cucumis sativus jednoroczny
    21,00 zł27,00 zł

    Snack cucumber seeds for compact patio growing Snack cucumber seeds ‘Kalimero F1’ are a patio-friendly choice for balconies, rooftop terraces, and small gardens where space matters. This annual cucumber is well suited as a container...
  • Nasiona ogórka snackowego Kaikura F1 Mini (Cucumis sativus) – warzywo jednoroczne Ogórek snackowy Kaikura F1 Mini (Cucumis sativus) – nasiona jednorocznych warzyw od SeedsChoice
    Nasiona ogórka snackowego Kaikura F1 Mini Cucumis sativus jednoroczny
    31,00 zł

    Kaikura F1 snack cucumber for quick harvests snack cucumber seeds Kaikura F1 are an annual vegetable choice for gardeners who want compact, smooth cucumbers suited to picking young. This F1 hybrid cucumber is known as...
  • Nasiona ogórka Marketmore (Cucumis sativus) – ekologiczne warzywo
    Cucumber Seeds Organic Cucumis Sativus Marketmore Variety
    27,00 zł

    Organic Marketmore cucumber seeds for garden harvests cucumber seeds in the Marketmore cucumber variety are a popular choice for home vegetable plots and compact spaces. This organic selection is valued for producing dark green straight...
  • Nasiona ogórka konserwowego Hokus Pickling Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) – warzywo jednoroczne Ogórek konserwowy Hokus Pickling Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) – nasiona warzyw jednorocznych od SeedsChoice
    Nasiona ogórka Hokus Cucumis sativus odmiana roczna ogórek do kiszenia
    22,00 zł

    Gherkin seeds for compact, productive annual vines gherkin seeds for the Hokus annual variety are a great choice when you want small, uniform fruits suited to classic pickling use. This is a vigorous annual vegetable...
  • Nasiona ogórka Hokus (Cucumis sativus) – warzywo jednoroczne Ogórek Hokus (Cucumis sativus) – nasiona warzyw jednorocznych od SeedsChoice
    Nasiona ogórka Hokus Cucumis sativus odmiana roczna
    22,00 zł

    Gherkin Hokus seeds for crisp pickling gherkin seeds for the Hokus annual variety are a reliable choice for gardeners who want uniform, small cucumbers suited to classic pickling use. This is an annual vegetable vine...
  • Nasiona ogórka Johanna Slicing (Cucumis sativus) – jednoroczne warzywo Ogórek Johanna Slicing (Cucumis sativus) – nasiona jednorocznych warzyw od SeedsChoice
    Cucumber Johanna Seeds Cucumis Sativus Annual Variety Slicing Cucumber
    20,00 zł

    O tej odmianie ogórka Johanna Nasiona ogórka Johanna to niezawodny wybór dla ogrodników szukających jednorocznej odmiany ogórka o równomiernych, ciemnozielonych owocach. Johanna jest znana jako szybko rosnąca odmiana ogórka i jest często wybierana zarówno do...

Cucumis sativus — the cucumber

Cucumis sativus is the botanical name for the cucumber, a tender, climbing member of the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae). Crisp and refreshing, it is the species behind our whole cucumber range within the fruiting vegetable collection, and a close cousin of our gourds and squash.

History & origin

The cucumber was first domesticated in India, on the foothills of the Himalayas, where it has been cultivated for at least 3,000 years. It spread west to ancient Greece and Rome — the Emperor Tiberius is said to have demanded cucumbers year round, grown in early forcing frames — and east into China. By the Middle Ages it was established across Europe, and settlers later carried it to the Americas.

Its name is straightforward: Cucumis is the classical Latin word for cucumber and melon, and sativus means “cultivated.”

Botanical characteristics

A scrambling annual vine with tendrils, the cucumber bears separate male and female flowers, the females carrying the young fruit behind the bloom. There are two broad groups: smooth-skinned greenhouse cucumbers, which crave warmth and humidity and are often all-female to avoid bitterness, and tougher ridge and gherkin types that grow happily outdoors. Compact bush varieties suit our container range, and like other vines they crop best trained upward.

Growing Cucumis sativus from seed

Cucumbers need warmth — sow into warm soil or start in pots once it is reliably mild, never rushing them into cold ground. Train plants up a net or cane to save space and keep the fruit clean, keep the roots evenly moist, and feed once fruiting. Watch for powdery mildew late in the season. Our germination guide and vegetable sowing calendar help you time it.

Ready to grow cucumbers? Browse the varieties or learn the basics first.

Related categories: Cucumber · Gourds & Squash · Courgette · Container Veg · Fruiting Veg

At SeedsChoice, every order ships from Meppel, NL with fast, tracked EU delivery.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cucumis sativus?
It is the botanical name for the cucumber, a climbing vine in the gourd family.

Where do cucumbers originate?
From India, on the Himalayan foothills, where they have been grown for over 3,000 years.

Greenhouse or ridge cucumbers?
Greenhouse types are smooth, tender and love warmth; ridge types are tougher and grow outdoors.

Do cucumbers need support?
They crop best trained up netting or a cane, which saves space and keeps fruit clean.

How do I avoid bitter cucumbers?
Keep them evenly watered and unstressed, and grow all-female greenhouse varieties.