Cucumbers are members of the Cucurbitaceae family, also known as the cucurbits or gourd family (see Figure 1). The group includes crops such as winter and summer squash, watermelon, cantaloupe, pumpkins and gourds. It is believed that cucumbers originated in India over 3,000 years ago and then spread to China, Greece, Italy and North Africa (see Figure 2). By the 9th century, cucumbers were gro…