New to me this year in the grocery stores is a small cucumber that I would like to grow. They come packed 4 or 5 to a package. They are only about 3 or 4 inches long. THeir skin is so thin you don't need to peel them. They are narrow in diameter.
If anyone knows the name of these and a source for seed please let me know. They're so pricey in the grocery store I can't afford to keep buying them.
Brenda
Help with name of cucumber variety
Cucino is one variety I think. Google brings up several sources but none familiar to me. I got a few seeds from a friend that owns a commercial greenhouse but haven't planted them yet.
Thanks Grammy for responding. I looked at Cucino in the plant file section at Daves and the picture there doesn't really look like the cukes I buy at the grocery store. The Cucino looks much fatter. The ones I buy are really slim...........maybe an inch in diameter. They package them 4 or 5 to a package. They do have the really smooth thin skin like Cucino though. Perhaps there are more dwarf varieties like this. I had never seen them in the stores before this past summmer so I'm assuming it's a new variety? I hope I can locate some seeds for it. I would really love to grow some.
from your description they sound like they might be pickling cucumbers. in the grocery stores here that is how the small ones sold 4-5 to a pack are labeled. try googling pickling cucumbers and see what you come up with
Loon, If you can give us the packageing information. Like the company that packaged them, country of origen etc. We may be able to narrow down the list a bit. Odds are they are greenhouse cukes. Possibly the Dutch mini-cukes. http://www.enzazaden.nl/welcome.htm
it sounds like pickling cukes to me too. I prefer them over regular cukes for the very reasons you mention. They have more flavor but they're not bitter. Usually quite crunchy. If they have pointy ends and are kind of curly, they are probably gherkins. If they are straight and blunt, they are just regular pickling type (although that type can get a pointy end when the water situation wavers). I grow Pioneer pickling type. Very tasty and crunchy. Especially just going out to the garden and eating them right there for breakfast.
Brenda, Renee's Garden is offering baby Persian cucumbers called "green fingers" this year. (or maybe last year and I never noticed) I want to try them because they would be great to stick in a lunch or snack. Cyndie
I think it may be those green fingers. I found a pic that looks the closest to what I've bought. I've bought and eating regular pickling cucumbers from the farmer's market. They are short and fat and have spines with little bumpy spines on them. The ones I bought at the grocery store were about the size of your fingers. The skin was very thin and it was as smooth as glass. You could open the package and just eat them like they are without peeling at all. They're perfect for dipping into veggie dip or packing in lunches etc.
I didn't realize there were so many mini or baby cucumber varieties out there. I'll have to buy them again and save the packaging information. I'll try to post a pic of the one I found online so you can see. They really are thin and little like little babies.
I came across an interesting looking cucumber that might be fun to grow. It is bright red. Have any of you ever grown this and does it taste as good a it looks? I think it would look wonderful in a salad don't you?
It's called Hmong Red Cucumber
Loon, Where did you find it? Do they offer seed or additional info? Thanks!
Red cucumber found here (ten seeds)
http://www.amazon.com/Hmong-Red-Cucumber-Seeds-ADDITIONAL/dp/B000MX4RXQ/ref=pd_sim_ol_title_1
green fingers cucumber
http://www.twenga.co.uk/offer/97436224.html
Well, I got back to the grocery store today and bought some of my favorite cucumbers. Here is what the label on the package said.
Baby Seedless Cucumbers
TOP LINE
Product of Canada
Distributed by Westmoreland Sales, Inc.
Leamington, Ontario, NBH 3x4
www.westmorelandsales.com
As suspected that is a Canadian grown greenhouse cucumber. Most of the cultivars were developed by Dutch companies. According to several Canadian publications, popular cultivars are Corona, Jessica, Bronco, Ventura, Dugan, Aramon, and Flamingo.
http://www4.agr.gc.ca/AAFC-AAC/display-afficher.do?id=1181659237301
http://hort-devel-nwrec.hort.oregonstate.edu/greenhouse.html
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/food/inspection/fruitveg/manuals/greenhouse_cucumber.htm http://www.ontariogreenhouse.com/folders/show/164
Most of these cultivars will only be available through vendors who cater to greenhouse growers.
Forever? Or, somewhere down the line will there be seed sold to the public?
They are available to the public. But green house cultivar seeds are marketed to greenhouse growers. They are also very expensive (tomato, cucumbers, and other specialty green house veggies). New England Seed for example sells in small lots (100 seeds). They sell several green house cultivars, but the cuke Corona as an example cost about 60 bucks for that 100 seeds. That plus the cost of production is what makes these so expensive at the produce counter. http://www.neseed.com/Cucumber_i_Corona_Hybrid_i_p/31070.htm
I have not looked, but I would expect Stokes to carry some of them.
Thanks Farmerdill. Keep on the lookout for me will ya? I'll look around too. This kind of reminds me of how I hunted for those Santa little tomato seeds years ago. :) I hate it when I want something and can't get it.
Brenda
Loon, here is a new one from Stokes, an outdoor cultivar that is supposed to compete with those greenhouse cukes.
Top Green
Quoting:
Latin Name: Cucumis sativus
55 days. F1 hybrid Beit Alpha type. A novelty mini bite size type. Small, uniform, dark green, cylindrical fruit average 6 in/15 cm in length with firm crispy flesh. Short vine plant with intermediate tolerances to CMV and PM. Monoecious hybrid for outdoor crops, competes with greenhouse grown, small fruited Beit Alpha types.