Pickled Gherkins - What to grow?

[amandaandherveg]

I love pickled gherkins and we get through loads of them (mature cheddar and ham sandwich with gherkins, mmm!) Fancy giving them a go myself this year as I'll also be growing beetroot for chutney and pickling. What seeds/varieities do I need to buy?

[The Doctor]

Last year I planted a load of these

Never got round to pickling any, because I enjoyed eating them as they grew!!

[stormin97]

Hi AHV
I've just got some Gherkin seeds from 'The Real Seed Catalogue'. The variety is 'Paris Pickling'. All their seeds are heritage seeds (not F1), and the company also give advice on saving your own seeds. Give them a try.

HTTP://realseeds.co.uk

[Newbie]

Is pickled cucumber & pickled gerkin the same thing?

Last year I had an excess of cucumbers & didn't realise & could preserve them - doh! But if they can be pickled i'll give em another go this year as they were scrummy.

[The Doctor]

Yep, that's right, a gherkin is a cucumber.

The only thing special about the gherkin varieties are that they are bred to produce lots of little ones instead of a few big ones, though they will grow bigger if left on the plant.

A bit like the difference between courgettes and marrows.

[crichmond]

Hi Amanda

I have some spare (various types) so I will put some in with the peas and beans that I am sending you, as I will be packaging them up tonight.

Cheers Chris

[Newbie]

Well, you learn something new everyday. I'll go with the Marketmore outdoors ones i grew last year & just slice & pickle them if i get an excess (here's hoping!)

[momol]

For pickling, go for small fruiting cucumber such as lemon cucumber, Parisian pickling and Boston pickling. You can use big cucmber too, just cut them into smaller/thinnner stripes before pickling. Happy pickling .

[kethry]

there's a lovely recipe here for pickling cucumber slices.. this can be done with large cucumbers, if you have a glut, as opposed to gherkin cucumbers.

me, i'm growing both, and round cukes this year!

keth
xx

[amandaandherveg]

Mmm Kethry, I'm liking the look of that recipe. Chris, thanks so much for your kind offer, you're a gent.

[crichmond]

I cant help it Amanda, I like helping people if I can.