Gherking Hybrid Cucumber

[slw]

In my continuing quest to find an acceptable pickling cucumber for the Aerogarden, I stumbled upon the "Gherking Hybrid" on Seeds-N-Such and decided to try them.  They are recommended for containers and parthenocarpic, so let's give 'em a try! 

Here they are at 3 days, just about to clear the labels.  I'm trying 2 plants in a Bounty Elite since I have been able to grow 2 Iznik or AG pods in a Bounty.  I will place the pods farther apart and on each end of the grow deck once they are established plants.

I'm happy to report 100% germination since I started with a single seed in each pod!  

[lynnee]

Do you think you will get enough cukes at one time to make pickling worthwhile? My cukes usually produce just one or two fruits at a time.

Do you make standard pickles or refrigerator pickles?

[slw]

I have no idea how prolific these will be; I haven't grown them before.  When I grow Iznik I have plenty of cukes for a couple of jars of refrigerator pickles.   Also, the AG cucumbers (Quick Snack) produce very well.   I make refrigerator pickles because they stay crispy when the "canned" ones often do not.  I have tried fermenting dill pickles but I don't like how they turn out, either. 

[slw]

Here are the Gherkings after 17 days.  They are starting out similar to the Aerogarden cukes.

[slw]

Day 33.  Lots of little cukes and blooms.  Vine seems faster growing than the AG Quick Snack or Izniks.  Baby cukes seem a lot more "prickly" than other varieties at this point. 

[lynnee]

Vicious-looking little buggers!

[slw]

This cucumber is kind of weird compared to the other varieties that I have grown.  The vine is much faster growing but the cucumbers are very s-l-o-w.  Seems like they barely grow at all.  I have harvested tons of AG cukes (Quick Snack) that were started about the same time as these Gherkings.  So far I have only picked one Gherking and it wasn't actually mature.  Still prickly looking little things!! 

Vine is using 2 levels of Bounty trellises...

[lynnee]

Lovely photos, slw!

[slw]

OK!   The "Gherking" is anything but a "gerkin."   I decided to harvest the 3 biggest cucumbers today (day 59)... check this out. 

And compared to the AG "quick snack" that were also harvested today. 

[scarfguy]

Wow, if those AG cukes are "quick snacks", those gherkings are 7 course meals!

[slw]

Apr 17, 2024 13:59:04 GMT -5 scarfguy said:

Wow, if those AG cukes are "quick snacks", those gherkings are 7 course meals!

Tomorrow they will be bread-and-butter refrigerator pickles!! 

[LoveSalads]

Apr 17, 2024 17:31:49 GMT -5 slw said:

Apr 17, 2024 13:59:04 GMT -5 scarfguy said:

Wow, if those AG cukes are "quick snacks", those gherkings are 7 course meals!

Tomorrow they will be bread-and-butter refrigerator pickles!! 

Bread and butter is my favorite.  Care to share how you make them ¿

                                                 




                                                                   

[swimmom500]

Yes! Can you post the recipe please!

[slw]

Here's the recipe I use; this makes about 4 cups of pickles.  (About 2 pint jars.)

Refrigerator Bread and Butter Pickles
Ingredients

5½ cups pickling cucumbers, sliced ¼-inch thick about 1½ pounds
1½ tablespoons kosher salt
1 cup thinly sliced sweet onion
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup white vinegar
½ cup apple cider vinegar
¼ cup light brown sugar
1½ teaspoons mustard seeds
½ teaspoon celery seeds
1/8 teaspoon ground turmeric

Instructions

Sterilize jars and lids (either 2 pints or 1 quart Mason jar)

Combine prepared cucumbers and salt in a large, shallow bowl; cover and chill 1½ hours.

Move cucumbers into a colander and rinse thoroughly under cold water. Drain well, and return cucumbers to bowl. Add onion to the bowl and toss with the cucumbers.

Combine the granulated sugar, white vinegar, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, mustard seeds, celery seeds and ground turmeric in a medium saucepan; bring to a simmer over medium heat, stirring until the sugar dissolves.

Pack the cucumbers/onions into the jars.  Pour the hot vinegar mixture over cucumber mixture; put lids on and let stand at room temperature 1 hour. Store in  in refrigerator.

Note:  Wait at least 24 hours before sampling!!

[lisatnp]

those look amazing. I am trying the iznik ones right now, i started them on feb 12

and i only have about 8 real tiny cukes on them( like about an inch long)

i am going to have to try the aerogarden ones, as well as these kind.

[swimmom500]

Thanks! Can’t wait to try these. I have way too many cucumber plants in my outdoor raised beds so I will be making these soon!

[slw]

Apr 18, 2024 19:37:06 GMT -5 swimmom500 said:

Thanks! Can’t wait to try these. I have way too many cucumber plants in my outdoor raised beds so I will be making these soon!

I also have too many outside cucumber plants and they are just now ready to start picking.  I grow the pickling cucumbers so they are not very big. 

I want to stress that the recipe I posted is for refrigerator pickles, so they are not shelf stable and can't be stored in the pantry or at room temp.  They will last a couple of months in the fridge, though. 

[LoveSalads]

I picked a bunch of small cucumbers a few days back and made slw recipe and wow. I made 2 semi big size glass jars worth so I adjusted quantity in the recipe  that's it. They taste great and probably will not last long at all. Thx for the recipe slw ...........20240915_113330  Yummy

I am sure I will be making this again before the cucumber patch stop producing for the year.

[Clovis Sangrail]

LoveSalads, that picture is quite literally making me salivate like one of Pavlov's dogs.

Nom, nom, nom.

[LoveSalads]

Sept 15, 2024 12:12:59 GMT -5 Clovis Sangrail said:

LoveSalads , that picture is quite literally making me salivate like one of Pavlov's dogs.

Nom, nom, nom.

Very good. The desired effect has been achieved. Same way I felt when I took the top off after 30 hours of marinating on its own. Very tasty indeed.  Of course I cheated half way through and tried a few.