The apple cucumber bears small pale fruits that look like apples and taste like mild summer cucumbers
The apple cucumber (Cucumis sativus), also known as the round cucumber, is a special cucumber form with small, apple-like fruits. They grow to around 6 cm, ripen from cream-white to pale green and, with their round shape, look more like small apples than classic long salad cucumbers. Their flavour is fresh, mild and slightly sweet, while the skin remains pleasantly tender and can be eaten.
As an old, open-pollinated cucumber variety, the apple cucumber is especially interesting for anyone who wants to grow unusual cucumbers for fresh eating in the garden. The fruits are excellent for snacking straight from the plant, for salads, cold platters and summery vegetable dishes. Their compact, round shape also makes them visually appealing and brings variety among classic cucumber varieties.
Botanically, the apple cucumber belongs to Cucumis sativus like other cucumbers, and therefore to the cucurbit family. Cucumbers are among the ancient cultivated plants and have been developed over a long period in many forms - from long salad cucumbers and pickling cucumbers to small-fruited specialities such as the apple cucumber. Varieties like these show just how diverse cucumbers can be when the focus is not only on length and uniformity, but also on flavour, shape and gardening character.
The plants are warmth-loving and, depending on the growing method, can be trained up a climbing support or allowed to trail along the ground. A climbing support makes harvesting easier, improves air circulation and keeps the fruits cleaner. In sheltered outdoor positions, in the greenhouse or in large containers, the apple cucumber develops reliably with a good water supply and produces small, aromatic cucumbers for fresh eating and summer cooking.
Sowing & care of the apple cucumber
Cucumbers are warmth-loving and sensitive to cold. Although direct sowing outdoors is possible in principle, pre-cultivation indoors from April is recommended for the apple cucumber. The seeds are sown about 1 to 2 cm deep in seed compost, ideally individually in small pots, and kept moist but not wet at a steady temperature of around 20 to 25 °C. Germination usually takes place within 1 to 2 weeks.
After the last frosts and careful hardening off, the young plants can be planted outdoors, in the greenhouse or in large containers from mid-May. The position should be sunny, warm, sheltered from wind and preferably protected from excessive rain, with loose, humus-rich, nutrient-rich and evenly moist soil. Regular watering directly around the root area has a positive effect on growth and fruit quality. Waterlogging should be avoided. The plants can be trained up a climbing support or grown trailing along the ground.
Other names
| Botanical name: |
Cucumis sativus, C. esculentus |
| German names: |
Apfelgurke, Kugelgurke, |
| French names: |
concombre pomme, concombre rond, |
| English names: |
apple cucumber, round cucumber, |
| Spanish names: |
pepino manzana, pepino redondo, |
| Italian names: |
cetriolo mela, cetriolo rotondo, |
| Dutch names: |
appelkomkommer, citroenkomkommer, ronde komkommer, |
