Cucumber is a very popular vegetable.. It is consumed fresh as an independent dish or as part of salads. Fresh crispy cucumber from the garden is always associated with summer and warmth. This crop is grown by every gardener. Everyone loves a green and juicy cucumber.
We use it not only fresh, but also canned, pickled and sour cucumbers are harvested by hostesses in large quantities and delight the whole family in the cold winter. We all know what to cook their cucumbers. And where did this green vegetable come from? Where and how is cucumber used? What benefits do cucumbers bring to our body? We will try to find answers to all these questions to the maximum.
The history of the origin of cucumber
Cucumber came into our lives so long ago that no one even knows when exactly it began to be eaten. It is believed that the first cucumbers appeared in India, such an assumption is well founded. Even today, India is the only country in the world where the wild cucumber grows. This wild cucumber is fundamentally different from the modern one, it is smaller than an ordinary cucumber and it is simply not possible to eat it, because of its incredibly bitter taste.
It is known that the cucumber was consumed in ancient Rome. The ancient Romans had sacrificial tables for offering sacrifices to the Gods, various vegetables and fruits were depicted on these tables, and among these images there was a cucumber, which confirms that even then the cucumber was in people's lives.
Starting from the 3rd to the 4th century, the cucumber gradually reached Greece and all European countries from Asia. Cucumber spread across Europe rather quickly. Cucumber seeds have become a subject of trade between countries. But it was grown in those days, not as we are used to now. Cucumbers were planted in boxes and wheels were attached to them so that they could easily turn towards the sun. Cucumbers in those days were not adapted to growing in any climate, because varieties were not yet bred at that time, but simply collected and sold one variety in all countries.
On the territory of Rus', the cucumber came much later, around the 10-11th century. It is believed that cucumbers were brought to Rus' from Byzantium, but this is not an exact fact, but only an assumption. During archaeological excavations on the territory of Novgorod, seed shells were found, these shells are presumably from the 10th century.
At that time, the cucumber was not very common, it gained great popularity already in the territories of Russia and Ukraine in the 16-17th century. In the 70s of the 17th century, Peter was the first to issue a decree to create a vegetable growing farm in Izmailovo, where cabbage, melon and cucumber were grown on large areas already in large volumes. Since that time, cucumbers have been grown in very large quantities.
In the same 17th century, a lot of cucumbers were already salted and a hot dish appeared - it was a soup that was prepared on the basis of cucumber pickle, meat and various roots were added there, this soup was called “Black Ear”. And such pickling varieties that we love were not bred here at all, these varieties came to us again from India and Nepal.
The first pollinated varieties appeared in India and Nepal, they became the ancestors of each pollinated variety, and all the rest were bred from these varieties by breeders. But the first varieties of long-fruited cucumbers appeared in China, these varieties became the ancestors of all varieties capable of reproduction without pollination.
Cucumbers are most popular in Russia and Ukraine, the largest number of cucumbers in the world is grown in these two countries. About 130 thousand hectares of land are allotted for planting this crop. Of this, approximately 65-70% of cucumbers are grown in greenhouses.
Composition of cucumber
Cucumber is a very tasty and healthy product.. And what is in this delicious green vegetable.
Everyone knows that a cucumber is at least 80% water, it would seem that what could be useful in it when there is so much water in it, because there are no vitamins and minerals in water, but this is a big delusion. In fact, it has quite a lot of different useful components.
In cucumber, as in any vegetable, there are vitamins, of course, not as much as in some vegetables, but still quite enough. Cucumber contains vitamin A, B1, B2, B5, B6, B9, C, E, H, PP. It also contains beta-carotene and choline.
There are also minerals in the cucumber and there are quite a lot of them and quite enough for the body. It contains such minerals - Potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Sodium, Phosphorus and Iron.
But that's not all there is in the cucumber. It also has iodine, not too much, but still it has iodine.
The use of cucumbers
Cucumber entered our life very firmly and found its application in all spheres of life. People use cucumbers wherever they can.
cucumber in nutrition
Cucumber in human diet for more than one century, and during this time people have learned to use cucumbers in various forms. First of all, this is of course the use of fresh cucumbers. In summer, in hot weather, nothing is as refreshing as a cucumber from the refrigerator, a salad with fresh cucumber and other vegetables is always great for any side dish.
Every housewife in the summer tries to prepare as many cucumbers as possible in the winter, they marinate in various ways, sour, pickle, preserve salads with cucumbers. And salted cucumbers in the summer to new potatoes are the favorite food of our people. In general, in our diet, the cucumber takes its place of honor and is far from the last.
Cucumber in cosmetology
The beautiful half of humanity always tries to make the most of everything that surrounds us to maintain beauty and youth. And women did not bypass the cucumber. It has excellent moisturizing properties and is very suitable for fresh cucumber summer masks. From its extract, the famous cucumber lotion known to many generations is made, such an extract is also added to tonics to cleanse the skin.
- Cucumber is also used in the manufacture of moisturizing creams for the face, hands and body.
- Cucumber is also used to relieve swelling of tissues.
- Cucumber juice is moistened with hair to moisturize and restore them.
- Cucumber perfectly fights eye fatigue, just put a circle of cucumber on your eyes and it will remove fatigue instantly, as well as cucumber will remove bags and circles under your eyes.
- Cucumber gruel applied to the scalp and hair will help you reduce the increased oiliness of the hair. The same slurry is used for acne.
- If you rub a piece of cucumber on your face, you can get rid of age spots and freckles.
- If you suffer from oily skin, then cucumber pickle will come to your aid. They should be used as a lotion.
- For hand skin problems, such as chapping and cracks, a cucumber gruel mask will help you, it will soften and moisturize the skin, and help heal cracks.
Cucumber in folk medicine
In folk medicine, cucumber is also used quite widely.. Useful properties of cucumber have long been known to mankind and people use it to the maximum.
- Cucumber is mostly water and has a strong diuretic property, its use will help you get rid of edema if you have a tendency to them.
- Cucumbers are recommended for people who suffer from urolithiasis and kidney disease. Due to its diuretic properties, it perfectly cleanses the kidneys and all urinary tracts. And regular use during the ripening season will save you from such diseases, because cucumber serves as an excellent prevention of diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract.
- Regular consumption of cucumbers helps to cleanse the blood vessels. People who love this vegetable and eat a lot of it are less likely to suffer from vascular disease.
- Due to the magnesium content in its composition, cucumber helps to reduce the risk of heart disease. Sufficient consumption of this vegetable reduces the risk of heart attacks and strokes at times.
- People suffering from thyroid disease need to eat as many cucumbers as possible. Everyone knows that iodine improves the functioning of the thyroid gland, and there is not much iodine in the cucumber, but this iodine has the ability to be easily absorbed by the body and iodine is absorbed completely from the cucumber.
- Cucumber is able to reduce acidity in the stomach. People suffering from gastritis with high acidity are advised to drink cucumber juice in the morning and before meals to reduce acidity in the stomach.
- Cucumber helps not only reduce, but also increase acidity. Not fresh cucumbers are used to increase acidity, because as we already know that they reduce acidity, it is recommended to use cucumber pickle to increase acidity.
- Cucumber also helps to increase metabolism and eliminate bloating by removing excess gases from the body.
- Cucumber juice will relieve irritable bowel syndrome, it is enough to drink half a glass of cucumber juice in the morning.
- If you often suffer from constipation, then a crispy cucumber will help you here. If you drink a glass of cucumber juice in the morning on an empty stomach, the problem will be solved pretty quickly.
- Cucumber will also help you if you can’t cure a boring cough or suffer from bronchitis. Juice will also come to the rescue here, but the truth is that you will have to add honey to it, drink this delicious sweet drink and the cough will certainly recede quite quickly due to the relief of sputum.
- If you have problems with the gallbladder, then a decoction of cucumber will help you out. It will improve the outflow of bile and help wash sand and small stones from the gallbladder.
- If you like to eat ripened cucumbers with already large seeds, then they will help you cleanse your body of excess cholesterol for it. Eat more cucumbers and cholesterol will not be terrible for you.
- Since the cucumber is rich in fluid, it provides a sufficient amount of it to the body, which helps to keep youth longer. Especially our skin needs such a liquid, regular consumption of cucumbers will give the skin a sufficient amount of necessary moisture.
- Cucumber helps improve digestion and normalize your body's metabolic processes, which will help you better absorb all the benefits from all the foods that you eat.
- Cucumber is the most dietary product, with increased body weight and obesity, it is recommended to arrange fasting days, in which only cucumbers and kefir are consumed. Such fasting days will help reduce body weight by burning fat and removing excess fluid from the body.
- Gnawing on a fresh crispy cucumber is not only very tasty, but very good for the health of teeth and gums. Eating cucumbers reduces the risk of caries and periodontal disease.
- Cucumber is an excellent diuretic and it helps lower blood pressure. If you suffer from hypertension, then you simply need to eat cucumbers, they will help you lower blood pressure faster without resorting to drugs.
- At elevated body temperature, it is also recommended to eat cucumbers in any form.
- Cucumber seeds have antitumor activity. To combat various types of tumors, it is recommended to use dried cucumber seeds.
- It is also recommended to use cucumber seeds for people with tuberculosis, its components help to quickly cope with this disease.
- Also, traditional medicine uses flowers and leaves of cucumbers, they are used in the form of a decoction to treat malaria.
- If you overheated in the sun in the summer and got a sunburn, apply a grated cucumber to the burns, it will help moisturize and soothe the skin.
- Few people know, but cucumbers have a component that can replace insulin. Therefore, it is simply necessary to use cucumbers for patients with diabetes.
Contraindications to the use of cucumber
Although the cucumber is tasty and healthy, there are cases when the use of this vegetable must be limited.
- Such a case includes low acidity of the body, because it is able to reduce acidity in the stomach.
- Also, their use should be limited to people with hypotension, because it has a strong diuretic property and lowers blood pressure, so people with low blood pressure should use it with caution.
- Also, cucumbers should not be consumed during an exacerbation of gastritis and peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum.
- Also, people with individual intolerance to the components should not eat cucumbers.
Eat cucumbers for health!
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Homeland of early cucumbers
First letter "t"
Second letter "e"
Third letter "p"
The last beech is the letter "a"
Answer for the clue "Homeland of early cucumbers", 7 letters:
greenhouse
Alternative questions in crossword puzzles for the word greenhouse
Warm place (garden)
Warm growing room
Premise, area with protected ground for growing plants
Covered vegetable garden
placed. for plant breeding
Plant growing room
Beds covered with foil
Word definitions for greenhouse in dictionaries
Explanatory dictionary of the Russian language. D.N. Ushakov
The meaning of the word in the dictionary Explanatory dictionary of the Russian language. D.N. Ushakov
greenhouses, Greenhouse. Tall manor house and a garden with a destroyed greenhouse. Lermontov. So Arabian flowers live behind the glass of the greenhouse. Pushkin.
Wikipedia
The meaning of the word in the Wikipedia dictionary
A greenhouse is a type of garden greenhouse. Greenhouse - a village, belongs to the Artsyzsky district of the Odessa region of Ukraine. "" is a novel by Brian Aldiss (1962). "The Hothouse" is a novel by Charles Strauss (2003).
Examples of the use of the word greenhouse in the literature.
Winter and spring in Northeast China are cold, but in greenhouse Yagisawa's group, thanks to the heat coming from the boiler room, maintained the optimal temperature and humidity for plants around the clock.
One hose, which we lower into the reservoir, has an inlet valve that allows water only to enter the barrel, and the other, which goes into greenhouse with cucumbers, in a word, for watering something, it contains an outlet valve, that is, it only allows water to exit the barrel.
And Izana would have repaired Grandma's house, handed it over to summer residents, rented her plot, on which they would build greenhouses under forcing onions and cucumbers.
Two jardinières show painful luxury to the eyes greenhouses, pale and marvelous flowers, pearls of the plant world.
Oncoming and passing trains, maneuvering and standing on sidings, began to flicker - passenger and freight cars of all colors and all types, marked by the railways of all European countries, tanks, buckets of slag carriers, gondolas with coal, crushed stone, ore, platforms with covered and uncovered tanks , anti-aircraft guns, painted like spotted lizards by assault guns, And further, as far as you could see, countless chimneys were smoking in different colors, blast furnaces were piled up, lattice towers of cooling towers shrouded in clouds of steam, gas holders, batteries of cowpers and coke ovens, glass roofs of workshops dimly gleamed, similar to gigantic greenhouses, wheels of mine lifts flashed with spokes, kilometers and kilometers of pipelines, high-voltage lines, portal cranes, cable cars with running rows of trolleys stretched.
Cucumber is native to tropical and subtropical regions of India and China. In these states, the plant still grows in natural conditions.
Homeland cucumber: history
The history of the cucumber is connected with the reign of the Turkish Sultan Mahomet II, who was a very cruel and greedy man. Once during his time in power, he issued a decree according to which his guards were to rip open the stomachs of the courtiers to find out who dared to try the original gift sent to the Sultan in the form of a cucumber.
This vegetable appeared in culture about 6 thousand years ago, it is an annual plant from the genus of cucumbers. The fruits of the vegetable are considered a false berry or "pumpkin". Western India is considered the historical homeland of the cucumber. However, it is known that this vegetable was brought from Persia to China as early as 200 BC.
In countries such as China and Japan, the fertility of this vegetable allows you to collect ripe fruits three times a year. In European countries, a variety of Chinese cucumbers is preferred in order to grow it in greenhouse conditions.
On the territory of Russia, an annual plant immediately "had to the yard." In the 18th century, in the farming manual, which was popular at that time, it was indicated that this vegetable took root in our country much better than in European countries. There are also suggestions that the cucumber was known in Russia even before the 9th century. During the reign of Peter I, the homeland of the cucumber was transferred to greenhouses - a kind of special farms that were created for growing vegetables.
Greenhouse green vegetables
Growing a plant in a greenhouse is a rather painstaking action that requires a lot of labor and effort. However, all of them are more than offset by good harvests.
Types of cucumbers are divided into groups, among which there are the most suitable for growing in greenhouses. It can be both ordinary cucumbers - the usual varieties, and hybrids. Some of the resulting vegetables can be consumed immediately after harvest, while others are great for pickling and pickling. Cucumbers also differ in the way they are pollinated.
In order to harvest an excellent crop of greenhouse cucumbers, you must follow the basic steps and follow the rules for care.
- Water the plant regularly.
- Maintain the required soil temperature.
- Carefully monitor and maintain the air temperature inside the greenhouse.
The optimal temperature during the growth and development of a vegetable is considered to be a temperature of 20 ° C and above during the daytime, as well as 18 ° C at night. During the active fruiting of a vegetable, it is necessary to monitor the air temperature and keep it at 18 ° C at night, and not rise above 28 ° C during the day.
The soil must also be constantly monitored. Its temperature should be kept between 22 and 24°C. For a successful harvest, the level of humidity is of great importance. Until the development of the fetus, it should be 80%, and the rest of the time it should vary at around 90%. You should also make sure that there are no sudden changes in air temperature and humidity levels, as this adversely affects the general condition of the plant. In the worst case, diseases can occur that affect the appearance and taste of the grown vegetables.
The use of cucumbers
In the modern world, this vegetable is in great demand both in traditional medicine, and in cosmetology, and cooking. Cucumber is a kind of storehouse of useful properties and a huge amount of healing substances. An annual plant is used to treat a variety of pathologies. In addition, this fruit is one of the main vegetable crops. It is customary to consume both ripe and unripe fruits of the plant for food. There are also a lot of culinary recipes in which the cucumber is used in processed form.
Masks and cucumber lotions improve and heal the skin, promote its rejuvenation, cleansing, toning and brightening. They actively fight against age spots, inflammatory processes, as well as wrinkles and freckles.
The positive effect of the vegetable is manifested on the dermis of any type. So cucumber is absolutely versatile and equally useful for both oily and dry skin.
It is better to prepare cucumber lotion at home from a vegetable grown on your own plot, because this way you can avoid harm from chemicals and other fertilizers that are stuffed with purchased fruits.
lotion recipe
To prepare a skin remedy based on the vegetable in question, grate 3 medium-sized cucumbers on a coarse grater along with the peel. After that, put them in a glass container for a while.
Then pour 300 ml of diluted alcohol or vodka into the prepared gruel. Alcohol should be diluted in half with water. Next, you need to close the resulting solution with a lid and leave to infuse for 2 weeks in sunlight. After this time, the lotion must be filtered and put in the refrigerator. Wipe face as needed. You can store the resulting product for up to six months.
Composition and useful properties of cucumber
The usefulness of a plant for the human body appears due to its composition, which is given to it by nature. The emerald juicy vegetable has a low calorie content, since it is almost 95% water. Cucumber contains a small amount of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, but is rich in a diverse and valuable chemical composition:
- vitamins: B 1, B 2, B 9, C, PP, H, as well as a small amount of A, E;
- minerals: potassium, calcium, phosphorus, iodine, magnesium;
- chlorophyll;
- alimentary fiber;
- starch and sugar;
- organic acids.
For preparations made on the basis of this vegetable, laxative, diuretic, tonic, immunostimulating, choleretic, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, anti-sclerotic, hypotensive, sedative and antispasmodic effects are characteristic.
Unusual Records
The Guinness Book of Records, which contains world records and achievements that reveal information about unique natural phenomena, as well as outstanding successes and victories of famous personalities, also contains information about cucumber records. So, in Hungary, a vegetable was grown, the length of which was 1.83 meters. And the fruit of a cucumber by weight was equal to 6 kg.
All the data on the history of the origin of the tomato is rather contradictory and there is no exact opinion on this matter. It is assumed that the homeland of the tomato can be considered the Galapagos Islands, Mexico, Peru, Chile. Wild and semi-wild types of tomatoes can be found in these places in our time. By the way, and come from the same places.
Locals, in the homeland of tomatoes in America, called them "tomatl". From this name, the familiar “tomato” came about. But, much more often, tomatoes in our country, and throughout Europe, are called tomatoes.
In Europe, tomatoes were brought by Columbus. And then, they began to spread across the European continent. The fact is that the French and Italians were the first in Europe to grow tomatoes. And, Italians call tomatoes<<помодоро>>, translated into Russian, it sounds like a "golden apple". And they are very emotional people. The red color of the fruit denotes love. And so, the French renamed these vegetables "love apples". Which in French sounds like "tomato", while in Italians "pomodoro" - a golden apple). Hence - our "tomato".
Later, the tomato appeared in other countries, but as an ornamental plant. This went on for two centuries. And only in the XI X century they began to be cultivated as a vegetable crop. In one of the first catalogs of the firm Vilmorin in 1769, tomatoes are mentioned as ornamental plants. But already in 1778, tomatoes were included in the catalog of vegetable crops.
Tomatoes in England
Tomatoes came to England from Spain and Italy. But, for a long time, the use of fruits for food was treated suspiciously. They wrote about them: "... in warm countries they are eaten, seasoned with pepper, salt and oil, as well as in the form of sauces, but they are not very nutritious and harmful."
Tomatoes in Russia
In Russia, the tomato has been cultivated since the 15th-11th century. By order of Empress Catherine II, a whole basket of tomatoes was brought from Europe. They were brought by the ambassador of one of the European countries. And he appeared before the Senate with a report "On outlandish fruits and extraordinary growths in European fields and gardens, hitherto unseen in Russia."
But then the Russian nobility did not like the fruits. And, the wonderful Russian agronomist A. T. Bolotov stood up for tomatoes. At that time, he was a connoisseur of this fruit and was engaged in its research as a vegetable crop in 1784. He, the first in Russia, began to cultivate tomatoes.
Tomato production began in the Astrakhan province in the middle of the 19th century. From there, tomatoes began to spread to the middle and northern regions of Russia. Note that, in the XI X century, tomatoes in the Crimea and Stavropol, they were already considered as a cultivated plant.
E. Grachev at one time began to cultivate tomatoes in the middle lane, and achieved good success in this matter. He developed many different varieties.
In the 20th century, the tomato culture became the main vegetable on the tables of Russians. And this is all thanks to the efforts of Russian scientists, who already in 1920 created the first Gribov vegetable breeding experimental station.
The greenhouse production of tomatoes began to develop normally only in 1960, then in the USSR they began to build large greenhouse complexes, which reached 3,000 hectares in area. Currently, the volume of industrial greenhouse production has declined, but farms are doing it perfectly.
Useful properties of tomatoes
Tomatoes contain: water (93.4 - 95.3), carbohydrates (3 - 3.8), proteins (1 - 1.2), fiber (0.6 - 0.8), fats (0.3 - 2), lycopene (2.1 - 2.5), organic acids (oxalic, succinic, tartaric, citric, malic) within 0.6 grams. By the way, according to the state of wateriness, tomatoes are in 2nd place after cucumbers (95.3 grams). And yet, read more about the beneficial properties of tomatoes in.
Does the birthplace of cucumber affect care? Undoubtedly. But over a long period of time, the fruit has acquired a multi-species richness. This means that suitable varieties have appeared in each locality.
The history of the appearance of cucumbers
The Turkish sultan named Mahomet II was cruel and greedy. Once he issued an order to open the stomachs of the courtiers. He wanted to know who dared to eat the unusual gift sent to him - a cucumber.
Cucumbers have become famous as a vegetable plant for a long time - more than six thousand years have passed since then. Its historical homeland is western India. And its fruit is a berry. What else is known about the cucumber?
This article has helped many gardeners stop overworking on their plot and at the same time get a generous harvest.
I would never have thought that in order to get the best harvest on my personal plot in my entire “dacha career”, I just need to stop overworking myself in the beds and trust nature. For as long as I can remember, every summer I spent in the country. First on the parent, and then my husband and I bought our own. From early spring to late autumn, all free time was spent on planting, weeding, tying, pruning, watering, harvesting and, finally, conservation and trying to save the crop until next year. And so in a circle...
- In India, a wild representative wraps around the tree trunks of the forest;
- They braided the squares of fences in the villages there;
- His image was found on frescoes during excavations in ancient Egypt, and also in Greek temples;
- In China, as well as in Japan, the fruitfulness of the cucumber makes it possible to harvest the berry three times a year. First, cucumbers are grown using boxes and roofs, after which they are planted on fertilized soil already in the garden. Huge fruits hang from the tapestries in ripe form - their length is up to 1.5 m. In Europe, a variety of Chinese cucumbers was chosen for growing in greenhouse conditions;
- Cucumber records are also in the Guinness book. 1.83 meters long cucumber grown in Hungary. A cucumber fruit weighing more than 6 kg was obtained indoors.
History of cucumbers in Russia
In Russia, this vegetable quickly fell in love. In the farming manual distributed for the period of the 18th century, it is indicated that in Russia it took root better than in Europe. It is believed that the vegetable was known in the country until the 9th century. Under Peter the Great, the homeland of the cucumber was transferred to greenhouses - a special farm created for their cultivation.