Native to Africa and long cultivated in the tropics, this bitter-free fruit-vegetable is covered in small, soft spines that only pique curiosity. Its fresh flavor, somewhere between cucumber and a hint of sweetness , makes it a surprising addition to salads, stir-fries, or marinades. The young fruits, about the size of walnuts , can also be pickled in vinegar like gherkins.

In the garden, its tropical vine grows vigorously, its twining stems climbing up to two meters , clinging to trellises with fine tendrils. Its three-lobed, velvety green leaves form a dense canopy that shelters a bright yellow bloom, a promise of a beautiful season.

To thrive, this vegetable needs sun, warmth, and rich, well-drained soil , sheltered from the wind and away from tomatoes and eggplants. Picked young, while still green , it offers a generous, unusual, and flavorful harvest all summer long—perfect for those who want to invite a touch of culinary biodiversity into the heart of the vegetable garden.

Originating in the United States , the National Pickling cucumber is an iconic variety , developed specifically for making homemade pickles . Its short, fleshy, and very crisp fruits , with a slightly warty skin, are perfect for pickling : they absorb flavors well while retaining the firm and juicy texture so sought after by pickle lovers.

In the garden, this variety stands out for its rapid and vigorous growth , its creeping or semi-climbing habit , and its ability to produce continuously throughout the summer. It adapts well to cultivation in rows, in the ground or on small supports, making it ideal for compact and productive vegetable gardens . Highly productive, it allows for frequent harvests , encouraging both fresh eating and artisanal processing .

National Pickling is therefore a reliable and generous companion , perfect for extending the flavors of summer in colorful and tangy jars.

Native to Asia, the Snake Cucumber fascinates with its sinuous and slender silhouette , evoking the discreet gliding of a reptile through the greenery. Botanically, it belongs to the same family as the melon ( Cucumis melo var. flexuosus ), although it is eaten young, like a cucumber. Its mottled skin of light and dark green , its crisp and delicately fragrant flesh , as well as its astonishing length—sometimes more than 60 cm—make it a unique fruit-vegetable.

In the garden, it thrives on trellises or fences , where its long stems climb gracefully, adding verticality and elegance to summer crops. Hardy and vigorous, it offers a generous harvest throughout the summer, particularly in warm, sunny climates .

The Aunt Alice cucumber is an old variety that will appeal to gardeners looking for a generous and easy-to-grow plant. Originally from Europe, it has become a staple in vegetable gardens thanks to its abundant yield and relative resistance to common cucumber diseases.

With its vigorous growth habit, this variety produces elongated, deep green fruit, perfect for summer salads or pickles. Aunt Alice proves to be a valuable companion in the garden, bringing a touch of freshness during the warm season. Its vigor makes it an excellent choice for trellis cultivation, where it forms productive green screens.

In the perennial garden, it encourages biodiversity by providing shelter for the soil and contributes to the rotation of vegetables in the vegetable garden, thus participating in a sustainable ecological cycle.

Le concombre libanais Green Finger est une variété appréciée pour sa finesse, sa douceur et sa grande régularité. Il produit des fruits allongés, minces et bien droits, à la peau vert foncé lisse, presque sans graines lorsqu’ils sont récoltés jeunes. Leur chair est croquante, juteuse et dépourvue d’amertume, ce qui en fait un concombre très agréable à consommer frais.

La plante est vigoureuse et productive, offrant une récolte continue lorsque les fruits sont cueillis régulièrement. Elle peut être conduite au sol ou palissée, ce qui facilite l’aération, la propreté des fruits et la récolte. En culture verticale, Green Finger exprime particulièrement bien son potentiel.

Au jardin, cette variété aime la chaleur, le plein soleil et les sols riches, bien drainés. Une croissance régulière, sans stress hydrique, permet d’obtenir des fruits uniformes et de qualité constante. Sa tolérance et sa productivité en font un excellent choix pour les jardiniers recherchant un concombre fiable et savoureux.

An old variety originating from Northern Europe, the 'Blanc de Hollande' cucumber is mentioned as early as 1835 in a French agricultural work. Having fallen into oblivion for a time, it was preserved by heritage seed producers concerned with biodiversity.

In the garden, it displays a vigorous climbing habit , clinging to supports with its tendrils like any classic climbing cucumber. Ideal for trellises and vertical gardening, it saves ground space while producing generously throughout the warm season .

Its creamy-white fruits, devoid of bitterness, were traditionally used for pickling (preserved in vinegar) or eaten fresh in salads, adding a touch of originality to summer dishes. This rare and hardy variety is now attracting the attention of gardeners seeking forgotten flavors and botanical curiosities.

Originating in the United States, the Marketmore 76 cucumber is an heirloom variety renowned for its hardiness and ability to withstand cool temperatures. Prized for its vigorous growth habit and consistent fruiting, it has become a staple in the organic vegetable garden.

This cucumber is distinguished by its elongated, dark green, slightly ridged fruits, which are easy to harvest and retain their crispness. In the garden, it plays a valuable role by providing an abundant harvest even in temperate climates, bringing freshness and deliciousness to summer tables.

Its hardiness makes it an ideal choice for gardeners who want a reliable and generous crop while respecting the principles of biodiversity and the natural cycle of the garden.

Native to the warm regions of Mexico, the Mexican cucumber ( Melothria scabra ) has earned a prominent place in organic gardens for its resilience, productivity, and unexpected charm. Its light green mottled skin , small size , and oval shape are reminiscent of tiny watermelons, and offer a bright, fresh, and subtly lemony flavor .

In the garden, it displays a climbing, twining habit , ideal for trellises and elevated corners. Its dense foliage forms a light, green screen that shelters the soil and attracts pollinating insects , while its discreet yellow flowers punctuate the summer with successive blooms. This plant grows vigorously in warm temperate climates and often continues to fruit late into the season.

At once nourishing, decorative and generous , the Mexican cucumber is an ideal companion for summer crops , offering an abundant harvest of small, crunchy fruits to nibble on, pickle or surprise guests around a colorful plate.

Originally from Asia, the lemon cucumber is striking for its round shape and sunny yellow hue , reminiscent of a vibrant fruit fallen from the sky. Less common than its elongated green cousins, it is prized for its sweet and refreshing flavor , without the bitterness found in many classic cucumbers.

In the garden, it truly shines when grown vertically: its vigorous climbing habit benefits from being trained on a trellis, which showcases its round, bright, and easy-to-pick fruit. A generous, playful, and nutritious variety, it finds its place in diverse vegetable gardens, attracting attention and sparking curiosity both on the plate and on the vine .

Designed for small spaces , the Spacemaster cucumber is an ideal choice for urban gardeners , sunny balconies, and small vegetable gardens. Developed using modern breeding methods focused on compactness and productivity , it combines a bushy habit , easy cultivation, and bountiful harvests.

Whether in the garden or in containers, its short, branching plants adapt perfectly to pot culture without sacrificing the harvest. It offers an abundance of crisp, refreshing fruit , perfect for eating raw or slicing into summer salads. Undemanding and quick to produce, it's a practical, easy-to-grow, and truly accessible variety that allows you to cultivate freshness even where space is limited .

Originating in Russia , the Early Russian pickling cucumber is a traditional and hardy variety , prized for its small, firm, crisp, and non-bitter fruits , which can be enjoyed from the first weeks of summer . Renowned for its early maturity , it is among the first cucumbers to be harvested from the garden , offering abundant yields even at the beginning of the season.

When young, it can be eaten fresh, in salads or simply eaten raw , revealing a tender, juicy flesh with no bitterness whatsoever. It is also perfect for pickling , thanks to its compact size and slightly pungent skin which retains aromas well during fermentation or pickling.

In the garden, it stands out for its vigorous growth , dense foliage, and resilience to the variable conditions of a temperate climate. Compact in size, it integrates easily into an organic vegetable garden , contributing both to summer abundance and the preservation of culinary traditions.

Originating in Southeast Asia, the Suyo Long cucumber is a traditional Chinese variety long cultivated for its long, slender, light green, speckled fruits. In the garden, it embodies freshness and summer elegance with its climbing habit and rapid growth.

With its slender, crisp, and very sweet fruits, this cucumber charms as much with its delicate flavor as with its exotic appearance. It proves a generous choice for gardeners exploring less common varieties, bringing diversity and originality to the vegetable garden.

This vigorous variety thrives on supports or trellises, thus optimizing growing space. It also adds an aesthetic and flavorful touch, ideal for bringing freshness to the kitchen during hot summer days.