Permapotes

Gherkin

Gherkin: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar

A gherkin is a cucumber intended especially for vinegar pickles or fermented preparations. Its appeal lies in compact fruits and firm flesh, valued in crunchy condiments. You can also think of it as a fresh vegetable: its natural flavour is that of a cucumber. The sourness of a jarred gherkin comes from the preparation rather than being an inherent flavour of the fresh fruit.

It belongs to the species Cucumis sativus, in the Cucurbitaceae family. Gherkins and salad cucumbers are therefore not different species. Pickling varieties are selected for fruit characteristics, especially shape and texture. A large-fruited cucumber used while young does not necessarily have the same qualities as a variety selected for pickling. The intended kitchen use matters as well as the size of the fruit.

The plant is annual and sensitive to frost. It has flexible stems, broad leaves that are often angular, and tendrils that coil around objects they encounter. Depending on its development, it can trail or climb. This leafy growth can occupy a substantial area, even though the fruits used in the kitchen are small. The plant’s growth habit and the size of its fruits are consequently separate characteristics.

The fruits are usually green, elongated and relatively short. Their surface may have bumps and small spines, with clear differences between varieties. The flesh contains plenty of water and a central area where seeds develop. Young fruits have seeds that are still little developed; texture changes as the fruits enlarge and progress towards maturity. There is no single length that describes all gherkins, nor does every variety have exactly the same skin.

The yellow flowers and the way fruits develop also vary between varieties. Some plants bear male and female flowers; others can develop fruit without fertilisation, a characteristic called parthenocarpy. Varieties include Vert Petit de Paris, Brawo and Excelsior. These names do not describe identical fruits, and their suitability for outdoor or greenhouse growing depends on the stated characteristics of each variety.

In the kitchen, gherkins accompany pâtés, sandwiches and mixed salads. Depending on the preparation, they contribute acidity, salt or aromatic notes from spices and herbs. Fresh fruits can also feature in a salad. The distinction between fresh fruit and prepared condiment helps you compare varieties according to the texture you want and their intended use.

Gherkin
Gherkin
Characteristics
  • Lifecycle : Annual
  • Exposure : Full Sun
  • Frost Hardiness : Frost Sensitive
  • Cultivation Difficulty : Easy
  • Mature height : 50 cm
Sowing & Planting
  • Greenhouse Growing : Not Required
  • Sowing Depth : 2 cm
  • Plant Spacing : 60 cm
  • Row Spacing : 120 cm
Maintenance
  • Maintenance : Moderate
  • Water Requirements : High
Other characteristics
  • Soil Type : Humus-rich
  • Soil pH Preference : Neutral
  • Pest Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Disease Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Weed Sensitivity : Moderate
  • Pollination : Insect-pollinated
  • Propagation : Sowing