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i am looking to grow cucumbers which will be delicious fresh, and which i can also use to pickle into what germans call 'senfgurken' (mustard pickled sweet-and-sour cucumbers).
so far as i know, you don't use 'normal' cucumbers for this, neither pickling ones, but a variety which is also used for cooking (schmorgurke). the cucumbers should be mostly flesh and not a lot of seed. they are pickled by peeling them, cutting them into chunks removing the seed bits, and pickling with mustard seed, vinegar and water.

the only receipe i could find refers to those cucumbers as 'azia or snake cucumbers'..

can anybody help to point me in the right direction as to what varieties might be suitable??

many thanks
svea

PS: senfgurken, when pickled, look like this

ok, after a bit more research, it appears i can use 'burpless tasty green' and 'tanja' varieties as well, which i know i can get from seed suppliers here. Other varieties include 'obi' and 'roly' (which i think is a yellow cucumber).

happy days :)
svea

The snake cucumbers referred to are probably Armenian metki. I'm growing the white this year. It's botanically a melon. If you want a few seeds I'm happy to send you some. It's capable of growing to a couple of feet but it's suggested they are picked smaller for pickling.

They are called snake or serpent because if allowed to grow on the ground to full length they develop into a coil.

If `Burpless tasty green` will suit then don`t bother with it.

if you have shelter then a variety called `Petita` will be much better. Half sized fruit with a good yield,flavour and texture.

Stephan

Quote from: cleo on February 03, 2005, 14:11:48
If `Burpless tasty green` will suit then don`t bother with it.

Sorry, i don't understand. don't bother with burpless green, or with the snake cucumbers???

svea

PS: does petita qualify for 'mostly flesh not much seed' and  ' not bitter'? if so, i will look into it. :)

Ok-Burpless tasty is a generally reliable outdoor type,but for me the flavour is nothing special-if that type is suitable for your recipe then Petita is a better bet.

It is an F1 hybrid,and is sweet.

Stephan

I was just sat here munching on a gerkin (almost the same word as you!) wondering what variety of cucumber it is!

Svea

I dont know if its any help but a lot of the Turkish
People here in Holland Pickle very small Cucumbers

Then they have very little seeds in at that time I should imagine...........Would that make a difference......is that what you after Hope this might help a little.

Greetings Take Care Tulip-23  Mike

I'm also growing West Indian Gherkins and Boston Pickling Cucumbers. I think I've got some National Pickling Cuke seeds too.

hey mike,

thanks but for the receipe i am doing, i need fully grown cucumbers. you are talking about pickled gherkins ;)