Gherkins

[zazen999]

There is a Grape on here who actively encouraged us to grow some gherkins 2 summers ago.

I did and used Di's Pickled Courgette recipe to preserve my funky gherkins.

Anyway - I've just had some - chopped up in a salad and by heck - they are fab! and 18 months old. Only got half the last jar left but they have definitely improved with age.

Gherkins. You know you want to.

[SarzWix]

I do actually; the OH loves pickles. What's a good variety to try? And if I'm growing Sigmadew OP cucumbers, would gherkins need to be in the other greenhouse?

[zazen999]

If you have 2 greenhouses I'd definitely keep varieties apart.

I have no idea which variety I grew last time. I'll have to dig the box out later and see.

[VirginVegGrower]

I grow two types each year, Piccolo Di Parigi and Cornichons de Paris. Both types grow easily outside but I do shelter them. Have tried both in the greenhouse but find I get mildew on them easily. Maybe a polytunnel setting would fare better. Keep picking though as they are rampant and a couple of days you've got a cucumber instead!

[Thelma Sanders]

a couple of days you've got a cucumber instead!

Not when I grow them sniff sniff - no luck with them at all!

Still, chin up - I will keep trying

[VirginVegGrower]

No way?! I'm surprised as I put mine in big terracotta pots and chuck out onto my gravelled knot garden (has all day sun)...that's it! I do feed each week and water a bit everyday, but they don't get cosseted at all.

[petal]

vvg - where do you buy your gherkin seeds from?

[VirginVegGrower]

vvg - where do you buy your gherkin seeds from?

I think one is a Wilko's world veg thing and the Cornichons de Paris came from Rouen, not Paris.

Edited because I just went to look and I have 5 different packets (shame face smiley) and two, Parisian Pickling and Cornichons are Lidl packets. I have one called Hokus from Wilko's world kitchen and then the other two as above.

[Thelma Sanders]

I'll have to try them in pots in the garden cos I've been trying to grow them on the lotty....

[Florence Fennel]

VC kindly sent me two varieties of seed last year. Slugs got the first and second sowings in builder's buckets. Third attempt inside until they were strong plants, put them out in aforesaid buckets and got really strong plants, but only one gherkin and several shrivelled ones

[VirginVegGrower]

Maybe it's because mine go into terracotta? I don't know? I can grow in growbags in GH but leaves get powdery mildew eventually hence I now put in pots outside. If only this ease transferred to my non existent parsnips

[Rhona]

I like gherkins but haven't yet convinced myself that I should grow them. Maybe we'll find a spot on the plot for them this year. If only to give me something else to preserve in a jar.

[northepaul]

Planning on growing them this year coming.....thanks for te advice about which varieties.
My daughter loves to eat them fresh as you would cucumbers...

[stella]

I grew them last year but the problem I had was picking enough to preserve in one go even if I kept them in the fridge. By the end of the week when I had 7/8 they had lost their freshness

[Alison]

I'm growing some from Real Seeds that are a different variety to standard cucumbers which will make it easier to save