Cucumber trivia quiz. A collection of fun facts about cucumbers.

Remove the stem, cut it in half, and soak it in water.

A wilted cucumber can absorb water and regain its crisp texture by cutting off the stem end, halving it, and soaking it in water overnight! Even if it’s wilted, as long as there’s no slime or mold, you can enjoy it using this method—give it a try.

Miyazaki Prefecture

Miyazaki Prefecture takes advantage of its warm climate to actively cultivate cucumbers. It also utilizes differences in elevation among growing areas to operate a “production relay,” enabling year-round production.

The Tokugawa clan’s triple hollyhock crest

In the Edo period, the cross section of a cucumber was said to resemble the Tokugawa family crest, the triple hollyhock. Out of respect for the Tokugawa shogunate, people are said to have avoided eating cucumbers. There was also a custom of avoiding them because the cross section was thought to resemble the crests of Akechi Mitsuhide and of Yasaka Shrine.

Protect oneself from herbivory

The small spines on the surface of cucumbers developed as a defensive feature to protect the plant from animals and insects. The spines gradually disappear, leaving only the bumps at their base. These spines are called trichomes, and in recent years, cucumber varieties without trichomes have also been cultivated.

Something with firm, pointed warts

When choosing fresh cucumbers, it’s best to pick ones that are firm, not wilted, deep green, and evenly thick. Also, the feature that answers this question—having firm, sharp bumps—is considered important for judging freshness. However, since varieties without bumps are now being cultivated, in those cases please rely on the other points when making your selection.

Grow it in a star-shaped mold

To grow cucumbers in a star shape, place young cucumbers into a star-shaped mold while they’re still developing. They’ll grow to match the mold’s shape. These molds are available on the market, so try it out in your home garden!

Cut off the stem end and rub the cut surfaces together.

One method for removing a cucumber’s harshness is to cut off the stem end and then gently rub the cut surfaces together in a circular motion. This is done to draw out the vascular sap, which causes astringency and bitterness. By the way, you only need to cut off the end where the vine was attached. Some of you may have seen videos of this procedure on social media, but many might not know that it actually helps remove the bitterness.