Grow little gherkins in patio pots with this award-winning beauty. Parisian gherkin (don't you love the name) is one of the very few organic varieties ever to win an All-America Selections. But when the judges saw this compact, semi-vining plant setting masses of scrumptious little black-spined cukes, they had no choice.
Best picked at just 2 to 4 inches long (about 1 to 2 ounces), these cukes are not mushy little fall-aparts. They have texture, grip, and bite. Very crisp and flavorful, they are a delectable treat raw or sliced, but have been labeled gherkins because they hold up so well to pickling, and make the perfect little pickles for gourmet occasions as well as everyday noshing.
The plant reaches just 10 or 12 inches high, but is generously branched and sets about two dozen fruits. Of course, it can be grown in the veggie patch as well as in containers, and shows great vigor in any setting. The disease resistance package of Parisian gherkin is pretty formidable: cucumber mosaic virus, scab, and powdery mildew are no problem for this powerhouse.
10 Seeds per Packet
Parisian Gherkin Cucumber Seeds
Direct sow the seeds in a sunny spot in the garden or in containers after all danger of frost is past. Cover seed lightly with soil, 3 – 4 seeds together in groups. Space groupings 4 ft apart. For earlier cucumbers start indoors 2 to 3 weeks in advance of intended date for moving the plants to the garden. Sow 2 seeds per pot and do not thin. Germinates best at 72 F in 7 to 10 days.
Cucumbers can be allowed to grow on the ground or over the sides of containers, but for longer, straighter fruit with better support, grow the plant in a cage or on a trellis, allowing 1 foot between plants in the garden, or one plant per container. Keep plants well-watered, and pick the fruits promptly; they can become tough if left too long on the plant.