Every year I like growing a variety of a vegetable I have never grown in the past.  It gives me the opportunity to grow and taste something new.  This year I decided to grow Japanese cucumbers (Cucumis sativus).

According to the Kitazawa Seed Company, Japanese cucumbers differ from most cucumbers because they are easier to digest and sweeter.  Japanese cucumbers contain lower levels of cucurbitacin, a biochemical compound that can cause gas, stomach pain, and diarrhea.  Cucurbitacin also imparts a bitter taste, making Japanese cucumbers sweeter than other cucumbers due to their low cucurbitacin levels.       

If growing Japanese cucumbers from seed, it is recommended you soak the seeds twelve hours before planting to soften the seed case.  Plant the seeds in late Spring since they require a temperature between 68 to 86 degrees Fahrenheit to germinate.  Plant the seeds an inch deep in well-draining soil two to four inches apart.  The seeds should germinate in seven to ten days.  The plants have vines that grow up to six feet long.       

I decided to grow a Palace Pride hybrid Japanese cucumber plant because it is popular for its heat tolerance.  This specific variety requires a minimum temperature of 78 degrees to germinate.