Cucumber Colors

Uniform Dark Green and Green

• In the U.S. market, cucumbers are expected to be at least 75 percent medium to dark green on their surface, and at least light green up to the blossom portion, according to Purdue University. The relative presence of nitrogen can affect the green appearance of the cucumber. Common green "slicing" cucumbers (as opposed to pickling ones) include the Marketmore 76 and Slicemaster. Examples of green pickling varieties are the uniform dark green Calypso, and the medium dark green Carolina.

Mottled or Stippled Color

• Mottling on a cucumber may be an aesthetic issue or an indication of disease. Pickling cucumbers are generally stippled and a lighter green than the slicing varieties. A mottled effect can also be caused by viral attacks by mosaic viruses. Discoloration can also result when the cucumber lies on the ground, in which case it develops yellow spots, or bellies.

Light Green and White

• Age or overmaturity can cause the cucumber to lighten in color or turn yellow. Cucumbers may develop black or white spines and either turn yellow or orange, or just fade in color. However, some varieties are naturally pale in color, such as the Miniature White, which is a pale yellowish green.

Yellow, Brown

• Beyond the green end of the spectrum are cucumbers that overturn the idea that cucumbers must be green --- as the name suggests, the lemon cucumber resembles small yellow spheres. The Armenian cucumber turns yellow when it is ripe and its curved shape gives it the moniker of the banana melon when too ripe. An unusual Indian variety of cucumber, the Poona Kheera, is brown and looks outwardly like a potato, but tastes as a cucumber does.