The word "gherkin", long known to Russians, came to us from France. Gherkins are small cucumbers, the length of which does not exceed 9 cm. Most often they are canned and pickled, because in this form they are the most delicious and crispy.
Which cucumbers can be called gherkins?
Earlier, according to GOST in the Soviet Union, there were 2 groups of gherkins:
- 5-7 cm,
- 7-9 cm.
All cucumber fruits that were smaller in size are called pickles. Today, gherkins are called cucumbers from 5 to 9 cm, which break shortly after the start of flowering. You need to collect such cucumbers only from narrow-fruited varieties, preventing them from outgrowing. True, experts do not call such a crop gherkins, noting that this is a special subspecies of cucumber. Plants of any variety are not suitable for this.
Gherkin Varieties
Gherkin cucumbers are presented in various varieties, it is simply impossible to mention all of them. Experienced gardeners can easily select for themselves their favorites, which are used much more often than others. If you are just going to grow gherkins, the varieties that are considered the most popular are great.suit you. By planting several options, you can easily decide which one you like best.
The most popular varieties are:
- Paris gherkin. This variety of mid-ripening cucumbers, according to experienced gardeners, is great for open ground. Recommended for use in greenhouses (film). It is a 5-10 cm large-tuberous fruit of a rich dark green color. Ideal for use in conservation.
- Merry company. Self-pollinating variety of small cucumbers is suitable for growing both outdoors and in greenhouses. Green fruits reach 7-9 cm in length. This variety is good in that it easily resists many diseases and root rot.
- Diva. The popularity of cucumber is largely due to the speed of ripening and high productivity. At the peak of fruiting, fruits grow, the length of which is 9.5-11 cm. The excellent taste of the presented variety is also appreciated.
- Moravian Gherkin F1. A bee-pollinated variety that is suitable for planting exclusively in open beds. The fruits are crisp and short, versatile in use.
Gherkins, photos of various varieties of which are familiar to many gardeners, are tirelessly bred by breeders. The above are only a small fraction of the whole picture, full of variety.
Cultivation of gherkins
If you have been growing simple cucumbers, then there will be nothing complicated in the agricultural technology of gherkins for you. to plantsmall cucumbers can be in various conditions. Both greenhouses and open beds are suitable for this.
When growing gherkins, the photos of which are presented in the article, it is very important to regularly collect fruits. It is recommended to do this every day. The most delicious cucumbers are those whose length does not exceed 8 cm. By the way, frequent picking of fruits stimulates the formation of new inflorescences. For inexperienced summer residents, who only occasionally visit the garden, this will be impossible. In their case, to get gherkins, you will have to sow mini-varieties, as well as put up with a low yield.
Gherkins are fruits that can be planted on soil with an acidity level in the range of 6.0-7.5. It is worth making sure that the soil is light and loose. It is recommended to fertilize the land with organic matter beforehand to ensure maximum yield.
Sowing gherkins for seedlings
Seeds of gherkins can also be sown for seedlings. Thanks to this method, it will be possible to speed up the harvest time by about 2-3 weeks. It is important to monitor the temperature of the soil, which should not be below 12 degrees, since gherkins are very cold-sensitive plants. If such a simple condition is not met, it is worth preparing for the fact that in the end they will be weak and prone to various diseases. By the way, you can also warm up the open soil by covering it with a film.
Seedlings can only be planted in warm soil. As for the density of planting, it is worth following the recommendations that are written on the bag.with seeds. Seedlings in open ground can be planted from May 20 to June 1. True, you need to take into account the weather conditions, to which gherkins are very sensitive.
How to pick gherkins correctly
Gherkins are the same cucumbers, only small ones, so the conditions for their planting and picking are not much different from large fruits.
The crop is harvested continuously. Because of this, you need to be careful about feeding and watering plants. Getting moisture from the soil is a guarantee that the plants will produce crops constantly. It is recommended to water the gherkins with heated water, in fact, like simple cucumbers. Picked fruits should be immediately sent to a cold place so that they remain crisp.
Pickled Gherkins Recipe
The most delicious are pickled and canned cucumbers. There are many good recipes, it is only important to choose according to your taste.
Marinated small cucumbers are the most delicious, which your whole family will certainly appreciate. The first step is to prepare the marinade, for which you will need (the amount is based on a liter jar):
- 2 tsp s alt;
- 20 tsp sugar;
- 70 g 9% vinegar;
- 10 peas of allspice and black pepper;
- 3 carnation buds;
- 2 bay leaves.
The required number of cucumbers must be soaked in water for 6 hours. The only exceptions are freshly cut gherkins, which do not need to be soaked. Then you need to put the fruits in two jars of 0.5 liters. The next step is to pour 2 times with boiling water and the last time with boiling marinade. We roll up the jar and cover it with a towel. Bon appetit!
