Cucumber and gherkin: sowing, planting, cultivation, pruning

Description and Botany

Cucumber is a plant native to India where its wild ancestor (Cucumis hardwickii) grew in the valleys of the Himalayas. It was domesticated over 3000 years ago, in China, the Near East, and then in ancient Egypt. It arrived in Europe about 2000 years ago.

The cucumber – Cucumis sativus – is an annual fruit-vegetable of the Cucurbitaceae family, which includes squashes and many cultivated plants. The genus Cucumis comprises about thirty known species, including melon (Cucumis melo). Gherkins are cucumbers whose varieties have been selected for their small fruits. Thus, we can classify cucumbers into different types:

• Dutch type (or greenhouse cucumber): long fruits with smooth skin, without bitterness
• Short type (or field cucumber): short and slightly spiny fruits, some varieties are bitter
• Small fruit for pickling: gherkins
• Beit-alpha type: Mini cucumber, smooth and shiny, without bitterness

Cucumber is a plant with a creeping habit that can spread over several metres. Its leaves with long petioles and large laminae are palmate and slightly dentate. They are arranged alternately on the voluble stem, which has a pentagonal section. Tendrils emerge from the base of the petiole and allow the plant to cling to neighbouring supports. Cucumber is a monoecious species, bearing both male and female flowers on the same plant but in different locations. Both types of flowers are pale yellow. The female flower, which bears the fruit, is fertilised by pollen from a male flower of the same variety or another variety; cross-fertilisation is predominant (allogamy). Pollination is also entomophilous, ensured by insects. A fertilised female flower will produce a fruit characteristic of the variety. The fruit is a cylindrical berry that, when ripe, contains pale, flattened seeds about one centimetre long.

Cucumber leaves – Female flower – Formed fruit

Cucumber and gherkin varieties

Cucumber Varieties

Gherkin Varieties

Some Original Varieties

Cucumber Carmen - Cucumis sativus

Carmen cucumber is a Dutch type variety particularly suited for greenhouse cultivation. It is an early climbing type, with good resistance to diseases, producing long fruits that can measure up to 38 cm. Its productivity is incredible as it can yield between 50 and 100 fruits per plant in a greenhouse!

• Flowering time June to August
• Height at maturity 2,50 m

See the product sheet

Cucumber Le Généreux - Vilmorin Seeds

Le Généreux cucumber is an old variety that proves its worth through its hardiness, good productivity, and the flavour of its semi-long, sweet, and non-bitter fruits. When harvested young, the fruits can also be used as gherkins.

• Flowering time June to August
• Height at maturity 2,50 m

See the product sheet

Cucumber Long English - Ferme de Sainte Marthe Seeds

English Long cucumber is an old variety that produces spiny and well-filled fruits, with firm and crunchy flesh, of good taste quality. With good hardiness and yield, this variety is suitable for open field cultivation.

• Flowering time June to August
• Height at maturity 2,50 m

See the product sheet

Cucumber Marketmore - Vilmorin Seeds

Marketmore 76 cucumber is a variety selected by Vilmorin that produces dark green fruits with smooth skin and medium length (20 cm). The fruits are sweet and non-bitter. This very productive variety is also early.

• Flowering time June to August
• Height at maturity 2,50 m

See the product sheet

Cucumber Vert Long Maraîcher

Long Maraîcher cucumber produces long cylindrical fruits measuring 25 to 30 cm. Dark green in colour and with few spines, their white flesh is sweet and crunchy. This market gardener variety yields excellently and can be grown in open fields.

• Height at maturity 2,50 m

See the product sheet

Gherkin Hokus

Hokus gherkin is a highly productive variety that can be harvested over a long period. The dark green fruits are non-bitter and spineless. This variety is resistant to Cladosporium, a fungal disease that can cause particularly severe damage.

• Flowering time June to August
• Height at maturity 2,50 m

See the product sheet

Cucumber Fin de Meaux - Cucumis sativus

Fin de Meaux gherkin is a variety with multiple advantages: hardy, productive, and early, it produces small elongated and smooth gherkins of good taste quality. You won't be disappointed with this old variety!

• Height at maturity 2,50 m

See the product sheet

Gherkin Bourbonne - Ferme de Sainte Marthe Seeds

Bourbonne gherkin is a versatile variety; if you miss the harvest stage for gherkins, let the fruit grow to harvest it as a cucumber. Indeed, this low-bitter variety produces long, thin, and crunchy fruits. An early, productive, and vigorous variety!

• Height at maturity 2,50 m

See the product sheet

Gherkin Parisian - Ferme de Sainte Marthe Seeds

Green Petit de Paris gherkin is a classic and traditional variety with good productivity, producing small, short, cylindrical fruits. With a fine flavour, it is well-suited for preservation in vinegar.

• Height at maturity 2,50 m

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Gherkin Russe - Ferme de Sainte Marthe Seeds

Less common in gardens, the Russian gherkin is unique for the shape of its fruits, cylindrical and completely smooth, to be harvested when they are the size of an egg. A variety with good yield that does not require pruning.

• Flowering time June to August
• Height at maturity 2,50 m

See the product sheet

Cucumber Lemon

True Lemon cucumber is an old cucumber variety that produces spherical fruits of lemon-yellow colour and white flesh, to be harvested young. Their taste, very sweet and completely digestible, is appreciated by children. Hardy, the plants are vigorous, offer good yield, and resist drought well.

• Flowering time July to September
• Height at maturity 2 m

See the product sheet

Melothria scabra

Cucamelon or Gherkin or Melothria is a solution if you constantly have problems with diseases affecting your cucumbers, as it is very hardy and produces over a long period. This climbing plant produces small fruits measuring 2 to 3 cm, dark green and striped. Their flavour is similar to cucumber but with a bit more bitterness. The fruits can be preserved like gherkins, in vinegar.

• Height at maturity 2,50 m

See the product sheet

Sowing cucumber and gherkin

Where and when to sow cucumbers and gherkins?

Sowing cucumbers and gherkins is preferably done in a hot bucket but can also be done directly in the ground. These vegetables thrive in rich, organic, loose, and deep soils. It is advisable to prepare the bed by adding compost at a rate of 3 to 4 kg per m².

Cucumbers and gherkins are sown:

• from April to mid-May in a warm environment, indoors or in a heated shelter, under glass or on a hot bed.
• from mid-May to the end of June directly in the ground when the risk of frost has passed.

How to sow cucumbers and gherkins?

You can prepare young plants to be planted in the vegetable garden once all risk of frost has passed or sow directly in place.

Preparing young plants:

1. Fill pots or buckets with a special sowing compost,
2. Place two seeds per pot (flat) by pushing them down to a depth of about 1 cm and cover with compost,
3. Water gently using the spout of the watering can,
4. Keep in a warm and light place (on a windowsill), at a temperature of about 20 °C (the germination range for cucumbers is between 16 and 35°C) and maintain the substrate moist but not waterlogged until germination, which usually takes between 7 to 10 days.
5. When the two true first leaves (the cotyledons do not count) are well developed, thin out by keeping the best of the two young plants or separate the two young plants and repot them into individual buckets.

The steps for sowing cucumber and gherkin in buckets[/caption>

Sowing directly in the ground:

1. Draw shallow furrows (3 cm) spacing the ranks by 1 m.
2. Sow in clusters of 2 seeds in each hole.
3. Along the row, the clusters should be spaced 1 m apart if the crop is flat or 40 cm for gherkins and 60 cm for cucumbers if the crop is trellised.
4. Cover with soil and firm down with the back of the rake.
5. Water gently and keep the soil moist until germination.
6. When the young plants have reached 2 to 3 true leaves, thin out to keep only one plant per cluster.

Seedling of cucumber – Cucumbers at the stage of one to two true leaves

Planting cucumbers and gherkins

When to plant cucumbers and gherkins?

Planting of cucumbers and gherkins should be done from May, preferably after the Ice Saints, in the regions most sensitive to cold. In the South, they can be planted as early as mid-April, monitoring the weather and possibly protecting them from the last frosts with a winter cover. It is possible to continue planting until the end of June.

How to plant cucumbers and gherkins?

These two vegetables require a well-manured soil, previously enriched with about 3 kg of compost or well-rotted manure per m².

The planting distances are 1 m between the rows for both vegetables. Within the row, the distances are as follows:

• 1 m if the crop is grown flat
• 40 cm for gherkins if the crop is trained
• 60 cm for cucumbers if the crop is trained

To plant your cucumbers and gherkins:

1. Dig a hole corresponding to the volume of the root ball,
2. Place the root ball and cover it with soil,
3. Firm the soil and water to keep it moist,
4. To aid recovery, water at the base regularly.

Cultivation, maintenance and companion planting

Cucumbers and gherkins need a sunny exposure to thrive. These greedy vegetables require rich soil, enriched with well-rotted compost (3 kg per m²) at the time of planting or preferably in autumn. This soil should be loosened beforehand, and the compost is incorporated superficially using a rake.

During the growing season, it is good to hoe but not to cultivate too close to the plants. Indeed, the cucumber develops part of its roots near the soil surface, and cultivating destroys this dense root network. Prefer a few hoeings followed by a good layer of mulch as soon as the soil is warm enough, in May or June. Cucumbers and gherkins can be trained, and cucumbers can be pruned; we will detail this part below.

In companion planting, cucumbers appreciate the company of lettuces, which thrive vigorously under cucumbers! The proximity of onions, sweet corn, and beans is also beneficial. However, it is best to avoid placing them next to other Cucurbitaceae and potatoes. The association with tomatoes yields controversial results.

→ Read also: Which plants to associate with cucumber?

Cucumber grown in a greenhouse near tomato, lettuce, and chive plants.

Supporting and pruning cucumbers and gherkins

Staking Cucumbers and Gherkins

Cucumbers and gherkins can be grown flat on the soil, but to optimise the crops, save space, and facilitate future harvests, do not hesitate to stake or trellis them. There are several options for each crop.

For Cucumbers:

• Using a single stake with one plant per stake.
• On a frame covered with mesh and inclined at 45° to provide shade for heat-sensitive crops like lettuce.
• In a tepee, with 3 to 4 stakes tied together at the top, one plant at the base of each stake.

For Gherkins:

• On a large mesh netting, inclined at 45° or perpendicular to the soil.

Staked gherkins on a large mesh netting and perpendicular to the soil

Pruning Cucumbers

• When plants are individually staked, the crop is conducted on a single stem which will be pinched at a maximum height of 2 m. Side shoots should be removed.
• For flat cultivation, the first pruning is done above the second leaf to obtain two stems, which will themselves be pinched above the 4^th leaf.
• When plants are trellised on a lattice, side shoots are trained and retained. We recommend pinching the stems after the formation of 2 or 3 fruits on each side shoot.

Note: Pruning helps concentrate the sap on a few fruits. In the case of gherkins, the aim is to have as many small fruits as possible, so pruning the plant is unnecessary.

Flat cucumber cultivation – Pinch to encourage side shoots – Illustrations: Virginie Douce

Cultivation and pruning of cucumber on trellis – Illustration: Virginie Douce[/caption>

Common Diseases of Cucumber and Gherkin

Powdery Mildew of Cucurbits

Cucumbers and gherkins can be susceptible to powdery mildew, a fungal disease that manifests as a white fluff on the foliage. The leaves dry out, production decreases, and in the case of a severe attack, powdery mildew can lead to the death of the plants.

• Discover our advice sheet on preventing and treating powdery mildew

Red Blight or Anthracnose of Cucurbits

Anthracnose or red blight is a fungal disease caused by Colletotrichum orbiculare, which affects Cucurbits in general, particularly cucumbers, gherkins, and melons. The damage can be significant, halting the growth of the plants and potentially causing their death. The symptoms are very characteristic; on the leaves, brown circular spots surrounded by a lighter, yellowish halo can be observed. Anthracnose is favoured by temperatures between 19 and 24°C during highly humid periods.

• Regular attention is necessary, as the spread of the disease can be rapid. If you spot an initial outbreak, cut off the affected leaves and burn them.
• Preventive treatments against powdery mildew (bicarbonate, milk, horsetail) will also help prevent the onset of this disease.

→ Learn more about diseases and pests of cucumbers and gherkins in our advice sheet!

Harvesting and Storing

The harvest of cucumbers, essential for any vegetable garden, is carried out as needed. It is best to pick them when they reach their ideal size or even a little earlier if you prefer to enjoy them without pips. Be careful, a cucumber that starts to yellow becomes bitter, a sign that it has stayed on the plant too long. Regularly picking your cucumbers encourages the plant to produce more fruits. Typically, the harvest begins 3 months after sowing, and a plant can bear fruit for 2 months, providing a generous quantity of cucumbers.

For gherkins, the harvest also starts 3 months after sowing. It is crucial to pick them before they reach their final size, ideally every two days during the peak production period, to prevent them from becoming too large. Just like with cucumbers, frequent picking promotes the growth of new fruits, ensuring a bountiful harvest throughout the season.

As for storage, cucumbers can last up to 8 days in the refrigerator. For prolonged storage, especially in the case of a bountiful harvest, consider lacto-fermentation or vinegar preservation, techniques that are also applicable to gherkins. Once harvested, gherkins can stay fresh for a few days before being pickled in vinegar, allowing you to enjoy the characteristic crunchy and tangy taste of gherkins throughout the year.

Cucumbers at the right stage for harvest – Harvesting gherkins to preserve them pickled in vinegar

Uses and nutritional benefits

Cucumber is mainly consumed raw in summer salads, pairing very well with sauces made from yoghurt or cream, lemon, and fresh herbs from the garden such as chives and dill. Cooked preparations are less common but possible; a few minutes in the pan is sufficient. Juices made with a centrifugal juicer are also common, ideal as part of a dietary regime. Gherkins are in the vast majority of cases pickled in vinegar, and it is clearly in this way that they are at their best!

Cucumber and gherkin are low-calorie vegetables that consist mainly of water (95%) and are very rich in minerals (calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium). Water is more present in cucumber as gherkin is drained before being pickled. Cucumber is therefore a remineralising and refreshing vegetable for the body. They also contain antioxidants, including citrulline, an amino acid that aids in muscle protein synthesis (though watermelon naturally contains the most of this amino acid). Their skin is perfectly edible once well washed, as it is rich in pepsin which aids digestion; it would be a shame to miss out on it!