Fothergill's Cucumber Gherkin Gherking Seeds

Details:

• Botanical Name: Cucumis sativus 'Gherking', an elite, heavy-cropping modern hybrid selection within the Cucumber genus.
• Plant Class: Half Hardy Annual, establishing with superior speed and stamina to deliver an early, prolonged, and highly abundant harvest.
• The Ultimate Pickling Gherkin: Yields uniform, cylindrical, dark green fruits that stay crisp, firm, and completely bitter-free even if left on the vine a little too long. Specifically engineered to retain a premium crunch when pickled whole.
• Vigorous Vertical Climber: Naturally develops a robust, athletic vining framework that loves to scale supports. It can be trained effortlessly up trellis panels, obelisks, wires, or a netting frame to keep the fruits pristine and clean.
• Nutritional Rewards: Homegrown gherkins are a fantastic, fresh natural source of essential vitamins, particularly Vitamin A and Vitamin C, promoting excellent overall health.
• Outstanding Growing Versatility: While it thrives under the protection of a greenhouse or polytunnel, its exceptional vigor ensures it performs beautifully outdoors when positioned on a warm, sheltered patio or sunny vegetable allotment.
• Optimal Position: Thrives best in warm, sheltered growing conditions in Full Sun (please note that while the plant description lists full shade, cucumbers fundamentally require a bright, sun-drenched location to photosynthesize, produce sweet fruit, and avoid fungal issues).

Care Instructions:

• Sowing Position: Start seeds early indoors from April to May by sowing individual seeds on their edges 1.5cm deep in small pots of moist compost to protect the delicate root system. Alternatively, sow directly outdoors from late May to June into rich, warm soil once all danger of frost has fully passed.
• Training & Support: Plant out near a sturdy vertical support frame. As the vine climbs, loosely secure the main stem with soft garden twine to guide it upward, which dramatically saves ground space and simplifies harvesting.
• Moisture & Nutrition: Cucumbers are exceptionally hungry and thirsty plants. Set them out into soil heavily enriched with organic matter or well-rotted manure, and water deeply and regularly around the base line. Feed with a high-potash tomato fertilizer every two weeks once the first tiny fruits begin to set.
• Harvesting Tip: Use a sharp knife or snips to harvest the gherkins frequently when they are small and firm (typically 7–12cm long). Consistent picking is vital, as it prevents the plant from shutting down and forces it to continuously pump out fresh yellow flowers and new fruits until autumn.