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West Indian Burr Gherkin
  • West Indian Burr Gherkin
  • West Indian Burr Gherkin
  • West Indian Burr Gherkin
  • West Indian Burr Gherkin
  • West Indian Burr Gherkin
  • West Indian Burr Gherkin
  • West Indian Burr Gherkin
  • West Indian Burr Gherkin
  • West Indian Burr Gherkin
  • West Indian Burr Gherkin
  • West Indian Burr Gherkin
  • West Indian Burr Gherkin
West Indian Burr Gherkin

Cucumis anguria
$4.50
Description

This is a really unique plant, and one that will give you cucumbers when regular cucumbers are done for the season. This vigorous, vining, crawling plant will challenge small garden spaces with it's tenacity. Vines bear loads of seedy and spiny fruits, but the spines don't hurt. It's like when you pet a hedgehog in the right direction, it's soft. Seed-filled fruits are yummy, and the seeds are totally edible. 

We tried to suggest to the plants that they climb a fence, but they preferred to sprawl all over the ground.

We were given seeds many years ago as part of a collaborative grow out for the Seeds of Preservation Initiative (SOPI), and then shared our new surplus of seed with a local grower, Cherie who grew them and saved some really great seeds for us!

Thomas Jefferson recommended it to his brother, Randolph, in 1813 saying "the season being over for planting everything but the Gherkin. It is that by which we distinguish the very small pickling cucumber". This was likely the West Indian Gherkin (Cucumis anguria), a native of Africa brought to the Caribbean through the slave trade, then possibly introduced from Jamaica in 1792 by seed merchant Minton Collins.

If you're looking for an easy to grow cucumber with some pizzaz, that thrives in really warm weather when regular cucumbers are long gone, try this gherkin! 
Product details
  • About 35 seeds
  • 55-65 days to harvest
  • Seeds grown in Working Food gardens at GROW HUB and by Cherie Fuller in Gainesville, Florida
How to grow

Direct sowing is best for cucumbers. Sow seeds about ½ inch deep and 6–12 inches apart. Plant as soon as the threat of frost has passed. Gherkins like it warm, and are cold sensitive so no rush getting them in when there's still potential for cold weather.

Although we'd love for the gherkins to climb a trellis, they prefer to sprawl wildly over the ground.

Cucurbits are generally heavy feeders and grow best in fertile, healthy soil. Add compost or other organic fertilizers as needed, cover the soil with a thick layer of leafy mulch, and water regularly during extended dry periods.

When possible, use drip irrigation or water at the base of the plants rather than overhead watering. Keeping foliage dry helps reduce the conditions that encourage disease.
How to save seeds

A cucumber that is ready to eat is not yet mature enough for seed saving. To save seed, you need to leave the cucumber on the plant until it becomes much larger and turns yellowish-brown. At this stage, the seeds inside will have fully matured.

Scoop out the seeds and pulp and place them in a container of water to ferment lightly for a few hours. This helps break down the surrounding pulp and can help reduce some seed-borne diseases. The fermentation will also make it easier to separate the good seeds from the debris and immature seeds. Do not leave for more than a few hours, as extended soaking can damage the seed.

Rinse the fermented seeds several times, gently pouring off the floating debris and seeds between rinses. Good, mature seeds will generally sink to the bottom (but not always, some good seeds float). Strain the seeds and spread them out to dry completely on a cloth napkin or dish towel before storing. Make sure they are thoroughly dry before putting them into storage. 

Gherkins are a different species than regular garden cucumbers and are unlikely to cross if you are growing both.

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