Cornichons when to pick/eat?

[smallblueplanet]

I bought a packet of 'vert de paris' cornichons from Lidl and have got two plants growing. When/what size should they be picked at? I picked one this evening about 3 inches by 1 1/2 inches - seems very prickly, and too big to be pickled? oh and quite bitter!

Anyone tried them before? And how do you pickle them?

[bramble]

Sorry SBP, have never tried them but hope someone may be able to offer advice.

[smallblueplanet]

Well the seeds were only 29p (do they have Lidl in Eire?), so no great loss if I get it wrong!!!

[Lesley Jay]

I have read that you can get prickly ones and smooth cornichons. Pick when they are 2 inches in length and dill vinegar and taragon vinegar keep coming up. I shall continue reading. Unless someone knows the answer!

[smallblueplanet]

Why thanks LJ - this is gonna sound iffy (don't let Nick read it!) - but it seemed fatter than I expected!!!.....but I didn't see them grow from small.

I'd appreciate any interesting recipe links you might come across.

[nick the grief]

ooh errrr SBP

[smallblueplanet]

Behave Nick! Tell me what you know about cornichons - how important is size?!

oh! it was petit!....vert petit de paris - oops.

[smallblueplanet]

Oh oh, I've just found this googling in french - www.google.fr

"Culture : durée douze semaines. On peut espérer 500 fruits par pied. Veiller à bien arroser."

Is that really saying 500 fruits on a plant?

[nick the grief]

Aren't they Irish Elves?
And as my Father always said " if you're gonna have one, have a bigun"

Not sure what he meant by that

[nick the grief]

"Le cornichon, originaire de l'Himalaya, de la famille des concombres...

Les fruits sont récoltés encore verts. Mis en conserve dans du vinaigre et dont on se sert comme condiment"

Apparently

[smallblueplanet]

I think we need help Nick!

[bramble]

Hi SBP, yes, Lidl and ALDI in Ireland but did'nt see any cornichons yet. There again, have'nt been this week. Will investigate tomorrow and let you know.

[smallblueplanet]

Bramble think Lidl only sell seeds 'in season', got mine way back in spring....but worth keeping an eye out for. They have lots of flowers and veggie seeds at really cheap prices.

[bramble]

Thanks for hat spb. Will keep an eye out for them and anything else going cheap.
Gabrielle.

[Lesley Jay]

SBP I have found a couple of recipes to keep you going. www.deliaonline.com has a recipe for Sour Dill Pickles and there is also one for Spiced Pickled Runner Beans. Off the subject I know but looks good. www.lesleycooks.com has a recipe for Dill Pickle but go into the canning section in the recipe catagory.