Cucumbers (Cucumis sativus) were first grown in Northern India 3000 years ago. The Romans Emporor Tiberius insisted on eating cucumber every day of the year. His gardeners had elaborate schemes for moving the vines around to catch the sun in the day time in the summer, and keeping them in the very first greenhouse during winter.
“A cucumber should be well sliced, and dressed with pepper and vinegar; and then thrown out, as good for nothing.” Dr Samuel Johnson
Cucumbers only came to Britain in the 1600s, and people here were not to sure about them. Uncooked vegetables were considered to be dangerous, even fatal in excess.