Gherkins

Guernsey Donkey2

Just 3 Gherkin seeds germinated for my first attempt.  Do I treat them in the same way as cucumbers - are they happy to grow side-by-side?  They are all being grown in a cold greenhouse.  How big tall/wide do the Gherkin plants grow?

Guernsey Donkey2

I don't mind that too much Philippa.  The plants are just an inch or two tall at the mo - so getting them to produce anything will be an achievement!  We don't like the taste of them ourselves but our daughters do, so as long as we get two that will be something!

BobTheGardener

You are doing the right thing by growing several plants, GD.  That way you should have enough available at one time.  Best to train them up strings or other supports to about 2m high them let them naturally tumble down.  Like cucs and toms, don't feed them until the first fruit have set or you'll get masses of growth and few fruit.

Guernsey Donkey2

Thanks for that tip Bob, I will try to remember when I am gaily watering everything in the greenhouse.  How many gherkins can I put in each pot - at present I only put one cucumber or one tomato per pot - about 12 inches wide and the same in height.

BobTheGardener

They take up a *lot* of water GD (due to the large leaf area) so I would only plant one in a pot of that size.

Guernsey Donkey2

Right, will do.  We will have to squash everything in, but will make room somehow.

Skandi

Last year I planted 14 plants (parka) and over the season these produced 6 kg of fruits, all of which I picked when less than 3cm in diam.

They were planted outside with no support and just left to crawl along the ground. the plants were not especialy big, most only got 1-2ft long. much much smaller than the greenhouse telegraph cucumbers.

I did only get enough for 2-3 jars at a time, but over the whole summer, well I have a cupbord full still!

I'm up in Northern Denmark we had a cold and wet summer last year so if you're short of room inside, just put them outside.

Guernsey Donkey2

Now that's something I hadn't thought of doing Skandi so thanks for your input.  If you can grow them outside, then surely we should be able to also.  However I know that usually your summers are shorter but warmer than ours. One of my brothers lives in Finland and they relish their short, hot summer when everything grows much more quickly and in more abundance than our crops do.

It seems to me that you have enough gherkins to eat them with every meal Skandi!!  I must remember to try your parka type next year. 

I will let you know how they progress.

r.tregear

Thanks guys. My grandaughter has started gherkins and cues using the little packs given out as a deal from Lidl. Now she wants Grampy to put them in his greenhouse. So here goes and thanks for the advice.