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Boston pickling cucumbers growing – If you like pickles, you’ve probably seen the several pickling cucumber types available. Some are enormous and must be cut longitudinally or in rounds, whereas others are small and can be pickled whole.
It is possible to pickle just about any variety of cucumber, but real “pickling” cucumbers are distinct from heirlooms, slicers, or Japanese cukes in their flavor and texture. So, what exactly is a pickled cucumber, and how do you go about growing them?
What is a pickling cucumber, and how do you use one?
Cucumbers for pickling are cucumbers that are used in the process of creating pickles or in the preparation of pickles. This does not rule out the possibility of eating them raw, but their thinner skins, crisp texture, and smaller seeds make them particularly well suited for pickling. This, along with their tiny size, implies that there is minimal preparation required.
Pickling cucumbers are short and have a gradation of green colors, from dark green at the stem to light green at the end of the flowering stem.
Cucumbers for Pickling (The Varieties)
Cucumbers have persistent tendrils that may readily cling onto fences or trellises, allowing them to grow. While certain cucumber types may take over a garden, there are newer cultivars with shorter vine lengths that are better suited for smaller spaces. Among the picklers available are the Calypso, Royal, and H-19 Little Leaf, which grow to be between 4 and 6 feet (1-2 meters) in length.
If this seems to be an excessive amount of room, teach the vine to grow back in on itself to save space. If you have a limited amount of room, you may want to explore growing pickled cucumbers vertically.
Pickalot and National Pickled are two of the most popular pickled cucumbers. Pickled cucumbers are available in a number of other kinds, including:
- Boston Pickling
- Homemade Pickling
- Northern Pickling
- Calypso
- Eureka
- Jackson
- Adam Gherkin
- Wealthy
There are also dwarf kinds, such as Bush Pickle Hybrid, that grow to be only around 18 inches (46 cm) in length, making them ideal for container gardening or small spaces.
Boston Pickling Cucumbers: How to Grow Them
Cucumbers, whether for pickling or eating fresh, are prolific breeders. Boston pickling cucumbers should be ready to harvest between 50 and 65 days after being planted, and they may be harvested over a period of several weeks.
The process of cultivating pickled cucumber plants is similar to that of growing other varieties of cucumber. They like a pH of 5.5, well-drained soil, and enough nitrogen in their growing environment.
You have the option of planting in rows or in hills. Sow the seeds approximately 1 inch (4 cm) deep and gently cover the seeds with dirt to prevent germination. Plant the seeds a few inches (8 cm) apart in rows, and in hills, sow four or five seeds per hill, depending on their size.
When the hill-grown plants get their first genuine set of leaves, thin them down to the two best seedlings remaining. Keep the seeds wet by watering them in and keeping the bed damp.
In order to accommodate cucumbers’ high nitrogen requirements, use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer on them. Once the plants begin to blossom, switch to a balanced fertilizer to keep them healthy. A good side dressing and frequent fertilization will go a long way toward ensuring a bountiful harvest of vegetables.
Make sure to keep the plants well-watered. Every day, press your index finger into the earth. If the soil is dry, provide thorough, long-lasting irrigation to the plants. Regular irrigation is essential for producing crisp, juicy fruit due to the fact that cucumbers are mostly composed of water.