If we often see smooth and long gherkins, it is better to opt for solid varieties that will be resistant to temperature changes, attacks of insects, fungi. The best specificity is that of "Vert Petit" pickles from Paris. They are cylindrical in shape, small in size.
Ground:
To plant pickles, you must first have a rich, deep and warm soil.
Seedling :
Sowing is done between April and May. We will have 3 seeds per hole to be able to make a selection later. The cups are kept in a place with a temperature of the order of 20 ° C. The emergence will vary according to the conditions of the plantation, between 2 days if planted in greenhouse and 7 days in open ground.
Planting :
The gherkin requires a large spacing to be planted in the ground, with at least 20 inches in the rows and 40 inches between the different lines. The best time to put the gherkins in the ground is between mid-May and June. Indeed, the gherkin plant does not like the cold. The pockets are enriched with compost. If we plant in the ground, we cover the lines with straw 4 inches high, after abundantly water the plants. If there is a period of freshness, we can cover the young shoots with bells, a wintering veil or a perforated plastic.
Culture :
We do not need to prune the plants. We will select the plant that is the most resistant between the 3 that we put in place for each hole. Water with not too cold water to prevent the development of bitterness. If powdery mildew reaches the foliage (often at the end of the season), then all the contaminated leaves must be cut to stop the spread. It is important to water at the base of the plant without wetting the leaves, which tends to facilitate the spread of this disease. Sowing nasturtiums can attract aphids that will not go in priority on pickles.
Harvest :
The harvest takes place between July and October. We harvest regularly, every other day. New fruits can then appear. They are picked when they reach between 10 and 15 cm in length. We must not let them grow too much.
It is advisable to rotate crops, for example by planting radishes, turnips or leeks.
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