In this article, we give you an overview of the different cucumber varieties. Depending on the processing and location, you need to find the right cucumber for you. You can choose between numerous salad and pickling cucumbers. There are also white, yellow and prickly cucumber varieties that add variety to the kitchen. You can find a list of organic, seed-resistant varieties here.
Cucumbers belong to the gourd family (Cucurbitaceae) and form a separate species. There are numerous varieties of garden cucumbers. Probably the best known and most important varieties in our latitudes are the snake cucumbers (also known as salad cucumbers) and the pickling or gherkin cucumbers. The different cucumber varieties offer an impressive variety for gardeners and connoisseurs alike.
You should choose a suitable variety depending on processing, location, available space and weather conditions. If you want to enjoy fresh cucumbers, choose salad cucumbers. If your aim is to pickle cucumbers, grow pickling cucumbers. As a self-sufficient grower, it is best to grow both types of cucumber so that you can also enjoy your harvest in winter. We explain below which varieties are suitable for growing in a greenhouse or outdoors.
These long, slender cucumbers are the most commonly grown and eaten cucumbers in our part of the world. You may also know them as salad cucumbers, which indicates that they are popular fresh in salads or on sandwiches. These cucumbers have a smooth or slightly ribbed, dark green skin and produce particularly large fruits. Salad cucumbers are usually between 20 and 30 centimetres long and are therefore the longest cucumbers. These cucumber varieties are usually grown under protection in foil tunnels or greenhouses.
Land cucumbers are an exception here. These cucumber varieties are also snake cucumbers, but usually have a thicker skin with small spines. These varieties are more robust and can also be cultivated outdoors. They only grow between 10 and 20 cm long and are therefore significantly smaller. Country cucumbers are also known as braised cucumbers and are often used as a vegetable in hot dishes.
Strong-growing cucumber varieties with large fruits benefit from cultivation in a greenhouse and therefore produce higher yields. Here you have the option of letting the cucumber plants tendril, higher temperatures and a protected location. This is why snake cucumbers are usually cultivated in greenhouses. However, there are also varieties that grow well outdoors. These cucumbers are then marketed as land cucumbers. You can therefore plant most cucumber varieties in a greenhouse.
Gherkins produce smaller, firm fruits that are perfect for pickling, fermenting and preserving. These cucumber varieties are mainly grown outdoors. In general, pickling cucumbers are significantly smaller than cucumbers grown in greenhouses and are only between 5 and 15 cm long. There are varieties with smooth or spiky skin and different sizes. The hilly skin, firm texture and irregular shape give them a good texture when pickling.
Most organically produced varieties are quite robust and can be cultivated both in the greenhouse and outdoors. In addition to land cucumbers, you can usually also cultivate gherkins outdoors. In addition to the varieties already mentioned, there are other cucumber varieties that you can grow outdoors.
Cucumbers can be grown well in pots, which makes them a perfect crop for the balcony. Choose a large pot with a capacity of around 20 to 40 liters and a depth of 40 cm. It is better to choose a larger pot, as this way you will benefit from greater water retention when watering. This means the plant won't dry out as quickly. To prevent waterlogging, the pot should have drainage holes.
For space-saving cultivation in a pot, it is best to choose small varieties with compact growth. Snack and mini cucumbers are a good choice for this, as the fruits do not grow too large. In addition to the aforementioned varieties'La Diva' and'Lemon', there are other varieties that you can grow in pots.
Powdery mildew is a disease that many gardeners have to contend with. Therefore, varieties that are resistant to mildew are important to ensure a good yield. If you sow and plant mildew-resistant varieties directly, you may save yourself a lot of trouble.
Apart from the choice of variety, good air circulation in the bed is also important to prevent mildew. It is therefore essential to maintain the planting distances and, if possible, water from below. If you are growing in a greenhouse, you should ventilate it regularly. There are also some companion plants that prevent mildew, such as basil.
As the name suggests, box cucumbers are special varieties that can be grown in cold frames. The 'Tanja' variety was originally cultivated as a box cucumber, but today it is often grown on the windowsill. An old, proven variety is the 'Bautzener Kastengurke'. It is high-yielding and forms yellow stripes along the fruit.
Suitable as a salad cucumber | Suitable as a gherkin | suitable for outdoor cultivation | Suitable for greenhouses | Suitable for growing in pots | mildew-resistant variety | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arola | x | x | x | x | ||
Bono | x | x | ||||
Delikateß | x | x | x | x | ||
Dekan | x | x | x | x | x | |
Gundel | x | x | ||||
Kiwano | x | x | x | |||
La Diva | x | x | x | x | x | |
Lemon | x | x | x | x | x | |
Liefje | x | x | x | |||
Marketmore | x | x | x | x | ||
Melithoria | x | x | x | x | ||
Persika | x | x | x | |||
Qualitas | x | x | x | |||
Russkaja | x | x | x | x | ||
Schlangenhaargurke | x | x | ||||
Sikkimgurke aus Siebenbürgen | x | x | x | x | ||
Tanja | x | x | x | |||
Vert Petit de Paris | x | x | x | x | ||
Vorgebirgstrauben | x | x | x | |||
White Wonder | x | x | x | x | x |
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Cover picture by Daniel Dan outsideclick on Pixabay.
Marie is an agronomist. She is particularly interested in the sustainable and organic cultivation of vegetables and other plants. In her own garden, she gained experience and likes to try things out to learn from nature. She is particularly interested in the values and principles of permaculture, in order to contribute not only to the well-being of nature, but also to the well-being of people and future generations.
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Gherkins recipe Ingredients: 4.2 liters white wine vinegar 0.2 liter white wine 4.2 liters of water 70 g sugar 35 g fine salt 3 kg cucumbers 3 tablespoons coarse salt For flavoring (to taste): Bay leaves garlic cloves Pink peppercorns Chili (optional) Preparation: Sterilize the jars: Preheat the oven to 120 °C. Sterilize empty preserving jars in the oven for 15-20 minutes. In the meantime, boil the lids in a pan of water for 15-20 minutes. Leave the jars and lids to cool before use. Preparing the cucumbers: Wash the cucumbers thoroughly, dry and cut into slices about 5-6 mm thick. Drain the water: Place the cucumber slices in a sieve, sprinkle with the 3 tablespoons of coarse salt and leave to rest for about an hour, stirring occasionally. This helps to remove excess water and makes them firm to the bite. Then rinse the cucumbers well under running water to remove the excess salt and spread them out on a clean kitchen towel to dry. Preparation of the liquid: In a large saucepan, combine the vinegar, white wine, water, sugar and fine salt and bring to the boil. Blanch the cucumbers: As soon as the liquid boils, blanch the cucumber slices for 1-2 minutes. Do not cook for too long, they should remain crunchy. Pour into jars: Drain the cucumbers and layer them neatly in the sterilized jars. Add bay leaves, garlic cloves, pink peppercorns and chili peppers to taste. Fill and seal: Fill the jars completely with the hot liquid so that the cucumbers are covered. Close the jars tightly and immediately turn upside down to create a vacuum. Leave to cool completely in this position. Even if the sweet and sour cucumbers are ready to eat immediately, it is best to wait at least a few weeks before opening them. The resting time allows the flavors to develop and combine perfectly.this recipe is from Lidia La.era.nuova
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Which varieties are suitable for pickling cucumbers?
There is a wide variety of different pickling cucumbers. However, tried and tested varieties include 'Delikateß' and 'Vorgebirgstrauben'. An old rarity among pickling cucumbers is the 'Lemon' cucumber with yellow fruits.
Which varieties are mildew-resistant?
If you are struggling with mildew in your garden, it is best to sow or plant mildew-resistant varieties such as Marketmore, La Diva, Dekan or Arola. This may save you a lot of trouble.
Can you plant cucumbers in a pot?
Cucumbers can easily be grown in pots with a climbing support. Small-growing varieties such as 'La Diva' and 'Lemon' are particularly suitable for this. Choose a pot with a capacity of 20-40 liters.