2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29
Gherkins are small cultivated cucumbers that are grown in many parts of the world. They are a subspecies of the common cucumber / Cucumis sativus / and belong to the Cucurbitaceae family. In English-speaking countries they are known as Gherkin, and in France they are called cornichon. There are different varieties of gherkins.
In general, gherkins are annual liana-like plants, and their vines can be 3 to 5 meters long. Gherkin stems can easily be broken as they are fragile. They are abundantly covered with hairs and have many branches. The leaves are dyed dark green. They can be slightly dissected. The flowers of the gherkins are colored yellow. The fruits of different varieties differ mostly in size.
They are usually 4 to 8 centimeters long. They are painted in light to dark green. They are oblong with a rough surface. They are covered with warts. It is possible that they also have thorns. The flesh of the fruit is crispy, with a pleasant and fresh taste. Its aroma is also light and pleasant. Gherkins are grown on a skeleton. They are characterized by rich fertility. They are widely used marinated or fresh.
Composition of gherkins
Gherkins contain a large amount of water. They are a source of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C and more.
Growing gherkins
When you decide to grow gherkins, you need to be sure of the reliability of your soil. It is recommended that it be warm, rich in nutrients and drained. Before direct sowing, its temperature should not be lower than twelve degrees.
Seedling development takes about three weeks if the temperature at the time of germination was at least 20 degrees. The obtained seedlings should be planted. It is distributed so that the plants can grow freely. For their cultivation, a supporting structure is needed, on which their vines can wrap.
The advantage of this method is that the fruits do not get dirty. When growing crops of this type, keep in mind that they need frequent fertilization. Drip feeding is recommended. You will learn about the types of fertilizer you will need in the specialty stores where you bought the gherkin seeds. They can be different depending on the variety of cucumber.
The other factor that is of great importance in the proper cultivation of gherkins, is abundant irrigation. Plants need the most watering while producing fruit. Gherkins can sometimes be vulnerable to strong winds. That is why it is good, when planting, to choose a place that is a testament. Or sow other crops around the plants themselves to protect them from the wind.
The other disadvantage of gherkins is that they can be attacked by weeds. Therefore, the area between the individual plants should be cleaned regularly. When performing this operation, be careful not to injure the plants, as their stems are very fragile. Also keep in mind that gherkins have a shallow root system that is also easily injured.
Selection and storage of gherkins
When we do not have the opportunity to grow gherkins at home, we can buy from the market. Fortunately, a wide variety of these vegetables are now available in retail chains. However, before we buy a certain amount of cucumbers, we need to take a good look at them. They should have a fresh green color and a firm texture. Under no circumstances should you buy gherkins that are soft, wrinkled, and emit an unpleasant odor.
No special measures are required for the storage of cucumbers. It is enough to put them in a cool place (basement, storage) or in the refrigerator. If stored this way, they will be able to retain their fresh appearance for the next 3-4 days. However, we recommend that if you buy gherkins from a store, use them within a day or two, as it is not known how long ago they were torn off.
Cooking gherkins
Gherkins possess great culinary qualities. They can be used fresh or marinated. When put alone in the pickle, season with salt, sugar, vinegar. Add black pepper, mustard, dill, allspice, horseradish, bay leaf, garlic and onion. Gherkins can also be included in pickles, where carrots, tomatoes, cauliflower, zucchini, cabbage, peppers and more are present.
In fresh condition gherkins can be used in all kinds of salads. They can easily replace ordinary cucumbers. Combine with various greens, leafy vegetables, mushrooms, olives, fillets, hams, soft and hard cheeses. In general, how you combine them is a matter of personal taste preferences.
Benefits of gherkins
The benefits of these small cucumbers are many. In the first place, they are useful because they supply the body with a large amount of water and prevent dehydration. The inside of the gherkins can also be used for beauty purposes, as they nourish, cool and soothe the skin. They are applied in many homemade face masks. They are believed to help with dark circles around the eyes.
The ground inside of the gherkins can be used for irritated or inflamed skin. Also recommended for sunburn. The other advantage of gherkins is that they are dietary and can be eaten in large quantities without adversely affecting weight. In fact, a menu with gherkins can only help you lose another pound.
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Growing Gherkins
The first step to growing gherkins is choosing the right soil. The best for this purpose are warm, drained and rich in organic matter soils. It is good for the selected soil to be enriched with pH. The temperature of the soil in which the gherkins will be sown should not be below 12 degrees.
