Lemon cucumber BIO - Cucumis sativus

A cucumber that looks like a lemon. Lemon is a very old cucumber variety with round, yellow fruits resembling large lemons. It is relatively early and productive. The vines grow to 150–200 cm, so it is best to grow the plant on supports—in a greenhouse, polytunnel or a warm spot in the garden.

At a glance

• Growth habit: climbing, vines 150–200 cm long
• Fruit: round, yellow, lemon-shaped
• Sowing in pots: late April – May, at 22–25°C
• Direct sowing / transplanting: after the last frost, from late May
• Harvest: June (under cover) – September, every 3–4 days
• Position: full sun, warm, fertile and well-drained soil
• Difficulty: easy
• Seeds per packet: 15

What makes this variety special

Lemon stands out above all for its appearance—its spherical, yellow fruits look nothing like a classic cucumber and always attract attention in the garden and on the table. This variety has a long cultivation history and is prized by collectors and gardeners looking for something unusual.

The flavor is best when the skin is a light lemon-yellow shade—the flesh is then juicy and delicate. Fruits left on the plant for too long turn a darker, orange-tinged color and become firm. The plant bears fruit over an extended period if harvested regularly.

Growing step by step

Sowing in pots (late April – May): Sow 1–2 seeds per pot, about 1–2 cm deep. Cucumbers need a high temperature of 22–25°C to germinate—seeds germinate poorly in cold soil. Seedlings emerge after 5–10 days.

Direct sowing: Once the risk of frost has passed, from late May, seeds can be sown directly in their permanent position, in warm soil heated by the sun.

Transplanting (mid- to late May): Transplant seedlings about 15 cm tall into a greenhouse or polytunnel from mid-May, and outdoors after the last frost. Space plants about 100 × 60 cm apart. It is a good idea to add a handful of compost to each planting hole.

Care: Water regularly and generously throughout the summer, without wetting the leaves. Mulching keeps the soil moist and cooler. Train the vines up netting or string—this saves space, improves airflow and keeps the fruits from touching damp soil. Good airflow and crop rotation help reduce the risk of powdery mildew.

Uses

Harvest the fruits every 3–4 days when they are light yellow and about the size of a small lemon. Lemon cucumber tastes best raw—sliced as a snack or in salads. It can also be fermented or pickled whole, and is a vegetable that encourages children to try new things in the garden.

Gardener’s tip

About the producer

The seeds come from Semailles—a small-scale Belgian producer of organic seeds based in the province of Namur in Wallonia. Semailles offers only non-hybrid varieties (no F1), including many heirloom and collector’s varieties. Some seeds are propagated in its own fields, while others are produced in partnership with organic growers in Belgium and France. All batches are certified organic (inspection BE-BIO-01).

Specifications