Growing Armenian Cucumbers in the Phoenix Arizona Desert

Living in Arizona means gardening all year long. The trick to growing veggies here is knowing the best times to plant for each season. Growing vegetables in the summer heat is possible if you plant heat-loving veggies. The Armenian Cucumber is one heat-loving vine that does not disappoint. Follow along and learn how all about growing Armenian cucumbers aka Cucumis melo var. flexuosus.

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Jump To 35 Healthy Summer Cucumber Recipes

Plant Heat-Loving Veggies

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In order to grow veggies here, you need to know the best times to plant for each season. You can find a variety of herbs and vegetables that just love the HOT HOT HOT summer heat. Knowing which ones they are is the most challenging part of starting a new garden.

Other Easy to Grow Heat Loving Herbs & Vegetables:
Luffa, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Eggplant, Tomatillo, Basil, Rosemary, Longevity Spinach, Malabar Spinach

Although they are commonly known as Armenian Cucumber, these fast-growing vining plants are actually a type of muskmelon. The Armenian Cucumber looks and tastes similar to a cucumber. The flesh inside the fruit isn’t quite as juicy but contains seeds down the middle like the cucumbers you are used to seeing. Growing Armenian Cucumbers in the summer heat is so easy to do that they practically grow all on their own.

The Armenian Cucumber Has Many Names

This muskmelon is commonly known as Armenian cucumber, yard-long cucumber, snake cucumber, or snake melon. These cucumbers are not bitter and the thin light green, ribbed skin does not need to be peeled before eating.

It always amazes me, how big the Armenian cucumbers can get. Some grow as long as 36 inches. I prefer to pick them younger when they are about 12-15 inches long and 2 1/2 inches wide.

Common Names:
Armenian Cucumber, Yard Long Cucumber, Snake Cucumber, & Snake Melon

Guide for Gardeners - Armenian Cucumbers

How to Grow Armenian Cucumbers:

Tips & Tricks to Growing Armenian Cucumbers

It is best to plant them near a trellis or where they can climb. Vines left on the ground will have curled fruit, by trellising, the fruit hangs down and will grow straighter.
Make sure they have lots of room! They love to roam 🙂
Plant when your soil temperatures reach 75-85 degrees
These can be planted in Phoenix from about April through July.
Do not plant where you have previously planted cucumbers, melons or squash. (Rotate your crops to decrease pests, diseases & increase nutrients)
The more often you pick your Armenian Cucumbers, the more it will produce for you.
These vines produce both a male and female flower. The flowers are small, yellow, and almost star-shaped.

Planting Guide

Amend the soil with organic compost
Plant 2-3 Armenian Cucumber seeds approximately 1 inch deep & about 1-2 feet apart
Thin seeds to 1 every foot once they reach 3-5 inches tall
Help the vines find the trellis as they grow. They do tend to grip by themselves and rarely need tying up.
Your Armenian Cucumbers will benefit from consistent watering.

Armenian Cucumbers Are A Versatile Vegetable With Many Uses

The Armenian cucumbers can be used in everything from salads, sandwiches, and burgers to a grilled side dish. An 11 oz cucumber only has 45 calories and is loaded with antioxidants as well as vitamin A, C, K & Potassium. Did I mention that they are also a good source of fiber? They contain little to no sugar and are excellent vegetables to add to your diet for weight management.

Since these grow throughout the summer, you will be able to harvest them over the course of a few weeks. But what to do with so many cucumbers?

35 Delicious Summer Cucumber Recipe Ideas

Here are some wonderfully tasty recipe ideas that you can easily substitute Armenian Cucumbers for in the ingredient list. Most of the recipes below use your garden variety cucumber. How about we change these a little and try them with Armenian Cucumbers. Let me know which ones become your favorite Armenian Cucumber recipe: