Check out the Vegetables That Look Like Cucumbers. Learn about their unique features, and find out how they can be used in various dishes!
Experimenting with these cucumber look-alikes in your kitchen can add variety and excitement to your meals while expanding your gardening stock. Here are some delicious Vegetables That Look Like Cucumbers.
Vegetables That Look Like Cucumbers
1. Sweet Potato Pumpkin
Botanical Name: Cushaw
Also known as crookneck pumpkin, Cushaw is a winter squash variety with a cylindrical shape and light green skin.
2. Bur Gherkin
Botanical Name: Cucumis dipsaceus
This cucumber relative is often found in the wild. It has a small, rounded shape and spiny skin, giving it a unique appearance.
Here is How to Grow Squash on a Trellis
3. Zucchini
Botanical Name: Cucurbita pepo courgette
Zucchini is a popular garden staple and is another vegetable that looks like cucumbers. It has a thick skin and a more robust flavor compared to the mild taste of cucumbers.
For more details, check out our article on growing zucchini in pots here
4. Ivy Gourd
Botanical Name: Coccinia grandis
The ivy gourd has dark green skin and a crunchy texture. They are commonly used in Indian and Southeast Asian cuisines, often in stir-fries or curries.
Here is Everything About Growing Ivy Gourd (Perennial Cucumber Vegetable)
5. Bottle Gourd
Botanical Name: Lagenaria siceraria
Bottle gourd, also known as calabash, is a vining plant belonging to the squash family. The seeds, leaves, flowers, and young stems can all be consumed.
6. Luffa
Botanical Name: Luffa aegyptiaca
The next on the list of vegetables that look like cucumbers is luffa. It has a long, cylindrical shape with green skin and white flesh.
Learn about Growing Luffa in Containers here
7. Armenian Cucumber
Botanical Name: Cucumis melo var. flexuosus
Armenian cucumbers have thin, edible skin and can reach lengths of up to 25-30 inches. Despite their name, they are actually a type of muskmelon.
Learn about Growing Armenian Cucumbers in Containers here
8. Bitter Melon
Botanical Name: Momordica charantia
Bitter melon has vibrant green skin and a distinct bitter taste. It is commonly used in Asian and Indian dishes, known for its health benefits.
Here is How to Grow Bitter Melon
9. Long Green Eggplant
Botanical Name: Solanum melongena L.
With its long and cylindrical shape and thin, tender, and edible pale green skin, it is visually similar to cucumbers.
10. Snake Gourd
Botanical Name: Trichosanthes cucumerina
This vegetable holds cultural significance and culinary value in different regions. It is a vine that thrives in tropical or subtropical regions.