Cetriolino Piccolo Verde di Parigi is the classic French gherkin for making your own pickles at home. Small, crisp fruits that are ready to harvest at 5 to 8cm long. The more you pick, the more it produces.
If you have ever paid supermarket prices for a jar of cornichons, growing your own will seem absurd. One plant gives you enough gherkins for several jars. Brine them, vinegar them, or eat them fresh with cheese and cold meats.
🌱 Sowing: April indoors, late May to June outdoors
☀️ Light: Full sun, warm sheltered position
🌡️ Germination: 7 to 14 days
📏 Growth: Vigorous vines with dense foliage
🪴 Spacing: 40 to 50 cm between plants, 120 to 150 cm between rows
⏳ Harvest: From 50 to 70 days, pick fruits at 6 to 10 cm
🌿 Growing tips for Ireland Gherkins need warmth, so start indoors in April. Sow one or two seeds per small pot, about 1 cm deep, and keep warm on a windowsill or in a propagator. Do not transplant outdoors until after the last frost, late May at the earliest in most of Ireland.
Choose the warmest, most sheltered spot you have. A south facing wall, a polytunnel, or a large container on a sunny patio all work well. Water consistently at the base to prevent bitterness, and avoid wetting the leaves as this encourages mildew. The single most important tip: pick the gherkins frequently, every two to three days when they are producing. The more you pick, the more they grow. Leave them on the vine too long and they swell into seedy, bitter cucumbers instead of crisp little cornichons.
Mulch around the base to retain moisture and keep fruits clean. If growing in the open, train the vines slightly off the ground on a short support or netting to improve airflow and reduce disease.
