Ideal for gherkins. The original cucumber that made the Chicago-style hot dog famous. Black-spined fruit can be allowed to reach 7” without sacrificing quality, but are often picked much smaller for gherkins — or left larger, for dill spears and bread-and-butter pickles. The thin skin readily takes up brining solutions. Amazingly prolific and resistant to scab and cucumber mosaic. Photo courtesy of Baker Creek Heirloom Seed.
- Days to germinate: 7-14
- Days to maturity: 55
- Start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost. Sow ½” deep in sterile planting medium.
- Transplant spacing: 36-48” (do not disturb roots when transplanting). If you’re trellising, the transplants can be planted 24” apart.
- Sow outdoors when temperatures reach 70º.
- Seed spacing: Plant seeds in groups of 2-3, then another group 36” away (unless you’re trellising; see note just above).
- Seed depth: 1/2”
- Produce size: 3-7” each
- Mature plant height: 1-4’ vine
- Yield: 3-4 lbs. per plant
- Suitable for container growing: Yes
- Year of discovery: 1888
