Chandigarh, March 24 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau): Cucumbers and their crops are grown during the summer season. Various chemical pesticides are used to cultivate them. While these pesticides protect the crops, they can be harmful to your health. If you enjoy eating cucumbers as a salad, you need to be cautious. Do not eat cucumbers bought from the market immediately; instead, clean them properly. Experts suggest taking some necessary precautions; otherwise, cucumbers can negatively affect your health.
Dr. Nutan Verma, an expert from the Plant Protection Department at Krishi Vigyan Kendra Niyamatpur, explained that harmful pesticides are used in cucumber farming. Within a few hours of pesticide application, cucumbers are harvested and sent to the market. People purchase these cucumbers and bring them home. These harmful pesticides have a direct impact on their health. If you buy cucumbers from the market, take some precautions before consuming them to minimize the risks of pesticide exposure.
If pests attack cucumber crops during the flowering stage, farmers use thiomethoxam, which remains effective on the crop for 5 to 7 days. Similarly, using imidacloprid affects the crop for 5 days. In such cases, avoid harvesting cucumbers too soon after pesticide application.
Use Neem Seeds in This Way
If fruit borers attack cucumbers at the leaf stage, neem-based products can be used. Dr. Nutan Verma mentioned that NSKE (Neem Seed Kernel Extract) can be used in a 3% or 5% concentration. Additionally, you can mix 3 milliliters of neem oil with 1 liter of water and spray it on the crop.
What to Do Before Eating Cucumbers
Dr. Nutan Verma advised that if you buy cucumbers from the market, you should clean them thoroughly before eating. To clean cucumbers, mix salt in water and soak the cucumbers for 10 minutes. After that, wash them two to three times with clean water before consumption. This process can help reduce the harmful effects of pesticides.
Summary: Consuming cucumber without proper cleaning may pose health risks. Ensure you wash and peel it 10 minutes before eating for safety.