Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus) Powder

Description ShareTweetPinLinkedInPrintEmail Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus) Powder HERB COMMON NAME :  Cucumber HERB SCIENTIFIC NAME :  Cucumis Sativus OTHER NAMES :  Cowcumber, Agurk, Haswey, Kheyar, Lekiti, Gurka FAMILY :  Cucurbitaceae ASSOCIATIONS & CORRESPONDENCES : Element: Water Planet: Moon Direction:  West Zodiac Sign: Cancer Chakra:  5th Throat Chakra (Vishuddha) Energy: Yin Gender: Feminine Sabbat or Holiday: Beltane / Walpurgis (Apr 30 – May 01) Deity or God / Goddess Association: Ocnus, Vishnu   Parts Used:  Fruit Description:  Cucumbers are low in calories, but contain many important vitamins and minerals (like B1, B5, B7, potassium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K), as well as have a high water content. Health benefits of cucumber include weight loss, balanced hydration, digestive regularity, and lower blood sugar levels. Now considered a superfood, cucumbers are known for boosting fertility and raising conception rates in women. Cucumbers are also anti-aging. The vitamin A helps produce collagen, diminish wrinkles and lines, fight acne, and improve overall skin health. Cucumbers are rich in nutrients and antioxidants that provide enough nourishment to your scalp for encouraging hair growth, hydrating skin, and preventing hair from falling out. Cucumbers are a natural diuretic. Fresh slices added to water make a refreshing and detoxifying drink. When eaten daily (one whole cucumber), they are believed to actually reverse some liver damage. Cucumbers are rich in a flavonoid called fisetin, which research has shown to protect nerve cells, improve memory and decrease the risk of Alzheimer’s. Cucumbers are used in spas for their natural hydrating properties. Cucumber juice is used in face washes, and cooling fresh or frozen slices are placed over the eyes to reduce puffiness, dark circles, and the appearance of tiredness. Historical Uses:  weight loss, hydration, digestion, high blood sugar, anti-aging, wrinkles, acne, dry skin, hair loss, alopecia, detox, liver damage, neuroprotective, memory loss, Alzheimer’s disease Mystical Attributes:  The cucumber is a symbol of resurrection and redemption. The fruit of the cucumber, when eaten, hinders lust. The peel bound onto the forehead relieves headache pain, while the seeds are eaten to promote fertility. Plant cucumbers while wearing your pajamas, on Beltane (the first day of May), before sunrise, and no bugs will eat them. Mystical Intentions:  repel attraction, chastity, fertility, resurrection, redemption Taste & Smell:  mild, crisp, cooling, slightly sweet and watery Botany, Cultivation & Harvesting:  Cucumbers grow quickly as long as they receive consistent watering and warmth. There are two types of cucumber plants, vining and bush. Vining cucumbers grow on vigorous vines shaded by large leaves. Their growth is fast, and the crop yield is abundant if you care for them properly. Vining varieties grow up a trellis or fence. Bush cucumbers are nicely suited to containers and small gardens. Select a site that gets full sun (at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight per day). Cucumbers require fertile soil. Prior to planting, add about 2 inches of aged manure and/or compost to the bed and work it in to a depth of 6 to 8 inches. Soil should be moist but well-draining (not soggy) and have a pH of around 6.5 to 7.0. Improve clay soil by adding organic matter. Improve dense, heavy soil by adding peat, compost, or rotted manure. Light, sandy soils are preferred for northern gardens, as they warm quickly in the spring. For an early crop, sow cucumber seeds indoors about 3 weeks before you plan to transplant them outside into the ground. Provide bottom heat of about 70°F (21°C) with a heating pad or place the seed flats on top of a refrigerator or water heater. Outdoors, cucumbers should be sown or transplanted into the ground no earlier than 2 weeks after the last frost date. Cucumbers are extremely susceptible to frost and cold damage; the soil should be at least 70°F (21°C) for germination. Seedlings set best at that temperature as well. In cooler climates, warm the soil by covering it with black plastic prior to planting. Make successive plantings every 2 weeks for continued harvests through the season. In warm soil, cucumbers will grow quickly and ripen in about 6 weeks. Sow seeds 1 inch deep and about 3 to 5 feet apart in a row, depending on variety. For vines trained on a trellis, space seeds or plants 1 foot apart. Cucumbers can also be planted in mounds (or “hills”) that are spaced 1 to 2 feet apart, with 2 to 3 seeds planted in each mound. Once plants reach 4 inches in height, thin them to one plant per mound. If you live in a cooler climate, you can help warm the soil prior to planting by covering the hill or row with black plastic. After planting, mulch around the area with straw, chopped leaves, or another organic mulch to keep pests at bay, and also keep bush types off the ground to avoid disease. A trellis is a good idea if you want the vine to climb, or if you have limited space. Trellising also protects the fruit from damage from lying on the moist ground. Cover freshly planted cucumber seeds with row covers, netting, or a berry basket if you have pests; this will keep them from digging out the seeds. When seedlings emerge, begin to water frequently. The main care requirement for cucumbers is consistent watering. They need at least one inch of water per week (or more if temperatures are high). Inconsistent watering leads to bitter-tasting fruit. Water slowly in the morning or early afternoon, and avoid getting the leaves wet, as that may encourage leaf diseases that can ruin the plant. If possible, water your cucumbers with a soaker hose or drip irrigation to keep the foliage dry. Mulch around plants to retain soil moisture. Cover young plants with row covers or berry baskets if pests appear. When seedlings reach 4 inches tall, thin plants so that they are about 18 inches apart. Fertilize the plants with a liquid 5-10-10 fertilizer. Apply 1 week after the plant starts blooming and every 3 weeks thereafter, directly to the soil around the plants. Or, you can work a granular fertilizer into the soil. Do not over-fertilize or the fruits will get stunted. At peak harvesting time, they will grow quickly and you should pick cucumbers every couple of days. Don’t let cucumbers get too large before harvesting or they will taste bitter. Harvest regular slicing cucumbers when they are about 6 to 8 inches long, dills at 4 to 6 inches long, and pickling at 2 inches long. The large burpless cucumbers can be up to 10 inches long and some types are even larger. Do not let them get yellow. A cucumber is highest quality when it is uniformly green, firm, and crisp. Use a knife or clippers to cut the fruit off the plant. Pulling it may damage the vine. After picking, wrap in plastic wrap to retain moisture and store in the refrigerator where they can keep for 7 to 10 days if stored properly.     Sources: https://spiritartsandherbs.com/sources **IMPORTANT INFORMATON: Products are sold as curio items for entertainment purposes only and based upon historical and magical uses.  We do not imply or guarantee that any items provide specific abilities, powers, outcomes, remedies, or treatments. Any information provided on listings or through private conversation is intended for educational purposes only and are based on historical folklore and traditions, and should not replace the advice of a physician. Use our products at your own risk. By purchasing this item, you understand and release Spirit Arts & Herbs Inc from any liability. No items we sell are for internal use and should never be ingested for any reason. Some may also not be safe for topical application, or even be safe to touch while unprotected. Always use proper safety precautions when using our products. We will not be held responsible for illness, injury, or death from the use of any product. PRODUCT IS NOT A TREATMENT. This product has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. CAUTION : Do not use ANY product if pregnant or nursing. Do not use if allergic to any ingredients. Prior to use, consult with your professional health-care provider to ensure safe use and understand effects that ingredients may cause relative to safety, personal conditions, and medication interactions which may be harmful. FOR ADULT USE ONLY. By purchasing, you confirm that you are over 18 years of age. Keep out of reach of children and pets. Do not use more than recommended by your healthcare professional.  Purchase of this product indicates that you have read, understand, and agree to Spirit Arts & Herbs Terms and Conditions. Many of our products are hand made to order. Once orders are in processing, products are non-cancellable, non-refundable, and not returnable. Shipping times may be up to 3-4 weeks. ShareTweetPinLinkedInPrintEmail Related