Lots of cucumber (Cucumis sativus) types exist, which vary widely depending on origin. Americans are most familiar with slicing cucumbers, which tend to be broad, thick skinned when mature and have tougher, more prominent seeds. In contrast, thin skinned Asian cucumbers are long, straight and small-seeded as are English types.  Pickling cucumbers,which include gherkins, have a pleasing shape when young, dense flesh and are picked immature, when they are most crisp.


Pickling cucumbers can be picked larger but should be small if you plan to can them.

Lemon, or dosakai, cucumbers are almost completely round, yellow-skinned and  originate from India. Middle Eastern types, like the nearly seedless Persian and sweet beit alpha cucumbers, are well-adapted to dry climates and small fruited. Oddly enough, some favorite “cucumbers” are actually in the same species as cantaloupes (Cucumis melo). The best known of these is the curved,thin-skinned Armenian cucumber (Cucumis melo var. flexuosus).


The beautiful cucumber, 'Lemon', is an easy to find dosakai-type that's vigorous, heat-tolerant and moderately drought tolerant.

Origin of cultivation dictates a given plant’s tolerance to heat and drought, for example Persian cucumbers are better adapted to harsh growing conditions than English types, so keep this in mind when choosing a variety for your garden.