Cucumber Gherkin 'Foothill Grape'

Organic Gherkin Cucumber 'Foothills Grape' Seed

‘Foothills Grape’ cucumbers are a monoecious variety, meaning that each plant produces both male and female flowers. Male flowers will typically develop first and female flowers will follow afterwards when there is already a plentiful supply of pollen available for fertilisation.

Growing schedule: Sow indoors in April and transplant to final position in May or early June. 

Sowing depth: 2 cm

Germination: Cucumbers germinate between 12-30°C, with 23-26 °C the optimal temperature range.

Planting distance: 50 x 100 cm

Growing conditions: Gherkins grow best in warm conditions and prefer fertile, moist, well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter. To avoid waterlogged conditions around the roots, cucumbers can be planted into small mounds or raised ridges.

Ongoing care: 

• Provide support for plants to grow upward.
• Keep soil moist as plants will suffer when allowed to dry out completely. Mulch well and dampen the soil and paths nearby on very hot days.
• 'Foothills Grape' is a mixed flowering variety. Pick off male flowers to prevent bitterness in gherkins.
• Use Horsetail Liquid to spray the plants and ground to prevent mildew and fungi.
• Water with high potash feed such as Vinasse every two weeks to support growth and fruiting.

Harvest: Pick all ripe fruits off the vine as they mature. Leaving mature fruits on the vine will cause the plant to stop producing. Harvest from July onwards until first frost.

Number of seeds: Each packet contains approximately 32 organic seeds, enough for 25 plants.