Worth knowing:
Gherkin is a sturdy and high-yielding pickling cucumber variety that produces small, aromatic fruits. Smaller fruits are perfectly suited for pickling as cocktail gherkins and bigger ones are best for pickling with mustard seed. Cucumbers are basically a kind of solid mineral water since they’re composed to 97 % of water and also contain valuable ingredients, like potassium, calcium, magnesium and vitamin C.
Natural Location:
The origin of the Gherkin is still a matter of dispute among experts, but it is presumed somewhere between Africa and India.
Cultivation:
Pre-propagation should only be started from the middle of April to ensure that the plants don’t grow too tall before planting out. Plant the seeds about 2 cm deep into a pot that is filled only half with moist coconut substrate or organic vegetable substrate. Cover the seed container with clear film that you provide with a few small holes. That way the substrate doesn’t dry out, but also gets some air. Every second or third day, you might want to take the clear film completely off for about 2 hours to avoid mold formation on your potting compost. Place the seed container somewhere bright and warm with a temperature between 20° and 25° Celsius and keep the substrate moist, but not wet. The germination usually takes place after three to five weeks. As soon as the first leaves of the strongest seedling outgrow the rim of the pot, you should prick out the weaker sprouts and fill the pot with additional substrate. That way the seedling will develop so-called adventitious roots that colonize the soil more quickly. After the Ice Saints and with a padding provided, the plants can either be moved to a bigger pot or tub, or they can be planted out in the patch while leaving a space of about 60 cm between them.
Place:
Cucumbers prefer a warm and sunny place for cultivation that is preferably sheltered from the wind as well.
Care:
Cucumbers become quickly bitter with dryness. Therefore, you should water the plant regularly, but avoid water logging. Cucumbers usually grow on the ground, but in order to preserve space it is advisable to provide the plant with a strong trellis. Watch out for snails as they often go for the young cucumber sprouts! About two weeks after blooming, the first cucumbers will be ready for harvesting. The Marketmore is most tasteful when it hasn’t yet reached the size of a typical supermarket cucumber. Overripe yellow fruits should absolutely be taken off, as not to weaken whole the plant.
During the winter:
Cucumbers are perennial plants that can be sowed again next year.
Picture credits:
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- © Frank Laue - © Saflax - http://www.saflax.de/copyright
- © Frank Laue - © Saflax - http://www.saflax.de/copyright
- © About © : Contact SAFLAX - - http://www.saflax.de/copyright
- © About © : Contact SAFLAX - - http://www.saflax.de/copyright
- © About © : Contact SAFLAX - - http://www.saflax.de/copyright
- © About © : Contact SAFLAX - - http://www.saflax.de/copyright
- © About © : Contact SAFLAX - - http://www.saflax.de/copyright
- © About © : Contact SAFLAX - - http://www.saflax.de/copyright
