A Friendlier Ethiopian Gherkin

As if the flavor and texture of the Jamacian gherkin wasn’t enough, imagine being able to grow a Cucumis anguria with much less intimidating spikes. Then the Ethiopian gherkin is for you!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I started the Ethiopian gherkin partway through the season in 10 inch hydroponic baskets and harvested the Jamacian gherkin prior to transplanting the 10 inch buckets. By mid- September, I pulled the Jamacian gherkins and planted out the Ethiopian gherkins. It was important that I gave them enough room and time to produce seed. The Ethiopian variety did pretty well and I harvested a few good fruit for seed prior to the season getting too late for harvest. The fruit was harvested in mid-November.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With the Ethiopian gherkin, the taste, texture and minimal spikes were all very good. I just wish that the fruit were slightly darker.

The Jamaican or West Indian Burr Gherkins

The Jamaican or West Indian Burr Gherkin is the classic style of gherkin that growers are familiar with. This Cucumis anguria was apparently a favorite of Thomas Jefferson for the purpose of pickling. It tends to be resistant to most Curcubit diseases, it lasts longer into the cold part of the season than melons or regular cucumbers and the vines tend to set a large crop of fruit near the end of the season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With its spiky appearance, the fruit of the West Indian Burr Gherkin appears to tell many who come by it to leave the fruit alone. However, the fruit not only doesn’t puncture the skin, but is the flesh completely safe to eat – spikes and all. The spikes appear longest about half-way through the season. The spikes don’t grow smaller over time, but can appear smaller as the fruit fattens up around the spiky ball of a fruit.

 

 

 

While I initially didn’t care to even try growing any Cucumis anguria, I really developed a liking for them. Though they don’t look as fun as the baby watermelons called “Sanditas” or Cucamelons, they are, in my opinion, much better. The flavor, texture and general quality of the fruit is, in my opinion, much more desirable. The crisp fruit seems to be ideal for pickling. Hence the species of Cucumis anguria are often referred to as “gherkin”.

Well, that wasn’t the English Telegraph!

While the times in which we live are full of all manner of technological advances, with advancements come unintended consequences. A newer discount seed company has purchased several reputable seed companies. While I used to buy the English Telegraph from a local reputable seed company, I mistakenly decided to try purchasing the same seed from the company after it had been acquired. Unfortunately, instead of being an extremely long variety with a tapered top and slightly wrinkled skin, it looked more like a very common American variety crossed with a middle eastern cucumber.

 

 

The unintended consequence of seed company consolidation is that, though the specific variety continues to be sold under the new owners, it is only sold under the auspices of the existing seed variety name. In reality, the new company replaces the seed of the newly acquired variety with cheap bulk seed, then sells it to the existing and new customers – hoping that it is close enough to the previous variety to go unnoticed. In all aspects, the new seed company is committing fraud and lying to the consumer. This is the ongoing “quiet death” of many heirloom seed varieties.

 

 

 

In contrast, seed companies that really care do the work to select the most desirable traits in order to bring heirloom vegetable varieties back to their former glory. They go through years of work prior to releasing something that is both highly desirable and helpful for the grower.

The Paesana di Soleto, Part 2

Those who have been growing a specific variety or type of crop for a number of years can sometimes be surprised when something different happens. For me, it had to do with disease and pest issues. I was anticipating that something would go wrong – that the plants would get diseased or have some other issue. Though I did utilize some preventative methods (i.e. – spraying with Sonata biofungicide) the majority of the benefits that came to the plants originated from the fava plants that I used as a cover crop between seasons.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Overall, I loved looking at the incredible fruit and flowers. I could not get enough of the abundance and beauty that the Paesana provided. Often, when actors, artists or athletes get to the top of their career, they become the recipient of public accolades. For the gardener, the farmer or any grower, the process and the result are the reward. The privileged blessing of seeing soil and seed bring forth a bounteous harvest, experiencing the miracle of life and its stages, realizing the potential that a crop can achieve. This is all that anyone who plants a seed could desire.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With all that being said, some seasons cannot be long enough. While I deeply enjoyed the time with my Paesana di Soleto crop, it felt like only a moment before they were harvested and gone. Like a good meal, the parting with a relative or a good friend – parting with an especially good crop can be hard, even when the harvest is bountiful. Would I grow the Minunceddha Paesana di Soleto again? Yes I would!