Asked by: Kaleem Gorostizu
food and drink world cuisines

How can you tell the difference between a cucumber and a zucchini plant?

Last Updated: 23rd February, 2020

36
The first clue is the stem end of the fruit -- zucchini has a woody stem at the end while a cucumber has a small, circular scar. Feel the two in your hand and you'll notice cucumbers have a waxy skin, while zucchini skins are dull.

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Just so, how do I identify a cucumber plant?

Cucumbers. The oval seed leaves of emerging cucumber and squash plants look very much alike, but the cucumber's true leaves will be triangular and lobed with a fuzzy surface and serrated (toothy) edges. As the cucumber vine develops, its delicate-looking but tenacious tendrils will grip and climb anything in their path

Subsequently, question is, can I substitute zucchini for cucumber? If you like zucchini as a raw vegetable, another potential substitute is cucumbers. Cucumbers have a similar appearance and texture, though they're juicier and have a very different taste. Try them as a zucchini substitute in baked dishes or casseroles, where their similar appearance and texture will be emphasized.

Also know, how do I identify a zucchini plant?

Zucchini Plant Identification They range in color from dark green to golden yellow. The skin is ridged, dry and rough and may be of solid or striped presentation. While zucchini grows as a large-leaved bushy plant, and the stems may appear vine-like and slightly hairy at times.

How can you tell the difference between a cantaloupe and a cucumber?

Cantaloupe leaves are rough and lobed, similar to cucumber, but not as angular. Cucumber leaves are lobed, triangular, with bristly leaves. If you do an internet search for cantaloupe seedlings and cucumber seedlings images you will definitely see the differences.

Related Question Answers

Roald Jarno

Professional

Can you use Epsom salt on cucumber plants?

You can use Epsom Salts as a way to green them up and give them a boost. One time, mid season for your heavy feeding plants, is all you need in the way of Epsom Salts. This is true for both container and ground planted cucumbers.

Outmane Jukhvidov

Professional

Why are there no cucumbers on my plants?

The female flower cannot produce the pollen needed to cause the fruit to develop and is dependent upon insect (or human) pollinators to transport the pollen from the male flower. The male flowers begin forming before the female flowers form. So, it is possible to have cucumbers blooming, but not producing fruit.

Moumen Mozzis

Professional

Which is healthier cucumber or zucchini?

Zucchini is richer in vitamin B and vitamin C as compared to cucumbers. Both vegetables have relatively equal amounts of calcium but zucchini is richer than cucumbers in potassium and iron. Zucchini also has a higher amount of protein and fiber. The best way to eat it: Cucumbers are ideally eaten raw or pickled.

Xaime Sonderegger

Explainer

Can we cook cucumber?

We eat a lot of cucumbers stateside, most often served raw and crunchy to impart a refreshing quality to a meal. Does “cool as a cucumber” ring a bell? Hardly do we ever cook them ? but we can, and we should. Cooked cucumbers are more common in Asian cuisines, where they work wonders in stir fries and side dishes.

Lanmei Bernreuther

Explainer

Do I need to remove male cucumber flowers?

't need pollinating - in fact, you should remove any male flowers to prevent pollination happening or the fruits will end up bitter. You can buy all-female F1 hybrid varieties, such as cucumber bella, so that this won't be an issue. Outdoor varieties, meanwhile, are called ridge cucumbers.

Aleyda Hargreaves

Explainer

What do cucumber blooms look like?

The plant grows both male and female flowers on the same plant. Look behind each flower for a small immature cucumber growing behind it. Female flowers have this immature bloom, known as an ovary, growing behind it, while male flowers do not. Male flowers grow on a thinner-looking stem.

Arielle Esteo

Pundit

How long does it take for a cucumber to grow after flowering?

After germination the first male flower would be seen within 35 to 55 days roughly, which will be later followed by developing a female flower in one or two weeks (i.e., 42 to 62 days). 3. The fertilized female flower will take 10 to 12 days to produce fruits.

Ibou Galben

Pundit

What does zucchini taste like?

Zucchini is quite a bland vegetable. Its texture is soft but not mushy (at least if cooked right) — its peel is crunchy and the inside is spongy — and its taste is a bit of a squash, with some floral notes and some sweetness to it — but nothing overpowering!

Iñaky Maldabera

Pundit

Are zucchini plants prickly?

Zucchini plants are typically bushy and non-vining, though some varieties have a creeping habit. The leaves are large and palmately lobed, and both the stems and the leaves have small prickly trichomes (plant hairs).

Ali Mahecha

Pundit

How can you tell what kind of squash plant you have?

Visual Guide To Identifying Squash.
  1. Maxima: Leaves smooth and plain. Flowers smallish and rounded.
  2. Moschata: Smooth leaves. Often mottled.
  3. Pepo, Oaxacan: Deeply lobed leaves. Sometimes with light mottling.
  4. Pepo, Atlantic: Fruits are shades of white, green, and yellow.
  5. Mixta: Jagged leaf margin -- sometimes deeply lobed.

Charmain Magnan

Teacher

What do seedlings look like?

They include bulbs and palms. Their seedlings all look much the same, with a single leaf that's either narrow or wide. I haven't included Grasses. They also have a single seed leaf, but produce more at points up the stem, whereas most other monocots produce new leaves from the bulb or base.

Diagne Averbukh

Teacher

How do you tell the difference between a pumpkin and a squash plant?

Leaf Differences
Yellow squash leaves are heart-shaped and usually have smooth edges with a rough surface texture, although some leaves may develop slight indentations that make them appear three-lobed. Pumpkin leaves are also heart-shaped, but with five distinct lobes.

Belmira Jermy

Teacher

How do I grow zucchini?

Zucchini Growing Guide
  1. Cucurbits (Squash family) ?
  2. Well-drained soil enriched with plenty of compost.
  3. Full sun.
  4. Cannot tolerate frost.
  5. Drench plants with a liquid fertilizer when they begin to blossom and set fruits.
  6. Sow seeds 1 inch deep in spring, either in rows or hills.

Gligor Jurkin

Teacher

What does the inside of a zucchini look like?

Identifying Good Zucchini
The vegetable should feel firm yet tender with shiny or glossy skin. When you cut into a good zucchini, it should have an almost buttery-like texture and the flesh should appear slightly yellow, greenish or white.

Joselina Teichgrabe

Reviewer

Are pumpkins green when they start growing?

The Last Few Weeks of the Growing Season
The last few weeks of the pumpkin growth stage, the green fruits reach their final size and begin to turn their trademark orange color. Be sure to turn the pumpkins occasionally so the sun can reach all sides; otherwise, you will end up with green streaks on the pumpkin!

Cletus Yenapa

Reviewer

What does a carrot seedling look like?

Carrot sprouts (seed leaves) appear to come from the same spot. They are usually silky with a delicate texture. They appear to be similar to grass, but the main difference with grass is that the second grass leaf sprouts from the first leaf. Carrot sprouts have the scent of real carrots.

Najima Kaierleber

Reviewer

What's a good substitute for zucchini?

Another best substitute for zucchini is its fellow summer squash. You can substitute zucchini with yellow squash when you just can't seem to find zucchini in your local grocery store. Yellow squashes have a crookneck and could be easily used as substitutes for your recipe.

Trijntje Wagenfuhrer

Reviewer

What is an alternative to zucchini?

If your in need of zucchini “noodles” which is simply long peels of zucchini, then you can use sweet potato or yellow squash as a substitute. Another squash variety is always a substitute so patty pan squash or yellow squash can be used. Yellow squash can also be a good substitute.

Meriam Gorossarri

Supporter

Can you substitute carrots for zucchini?

Carrot Zucchini Bread. You can also make this an all-carrot bread by substituting the grated zucchini for an additional 1.5 cups grated carrot.

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EveryThingWhat Staff Editor

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23rd February, 2020

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