FREE: CHINESE CUCUMBER (5 SEEDS)

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Chinese cucumber is a vegetable that is in the gourd genus Trichosanthes. Also known as the Mongolian snake gourd, it grows on a vine along the ground or may climb up trellises or chicken wire. The plants are native to open forest and grassy areas of China. These types of cucumbers are edible and are sometimes pickled or eaten raw in salads. All parts of this ornamental plant are used for medicinal purposes.

This versatile tender perennial can be grown in light, loamy soil, as well as in heavy clay. The soil must be moist and have good drainage. When growing Chinese cucumber, it is important to provide plenty of sunlight, as it will not grow in shady areas. The plant produces shaggy white flowers from mid-summer until fall, which then go to seed and produce fruit. Mature fruits are about 4 inches (10.2 cm) long.

Though the Chinese cucumber plant tends to trail along the ground, it may also be trained to climb. This makes it great for small spaces, and may even be grown as a container plant if placed in a large pot with a small trellis. If grown in the garden, it should be given plenty of space to spread out. It is similar in growing habit to the more common English cucumbers or pole beans.