French Organic Pickling cucumber " Cornichon Vert Petit de Paris ' NonGmo, Heirloom
Cornichons are very small fruits, averaging 2 to 7 centimeters in length, and have a cylindrical, narrow, and straight to slightly curved shape with rounded ends. The skin is firm, bumpy, and dark green, sometimes covered in small, soft spines. Underneath the surface, the flesh is crisp, aqueous, pale green, and is either seedless or may contain a few small seeds.
Cornichon is French for tiny, crisp pickles made from gherkin Cucumbers. Fresh baguettes, pâté and tart cornichons will transport your picnic to the French countryside!
Pickling recipe:
Here's how to make your own Cornichons: lightly rinse the little Cucumbers. Rub skins with a kitchen towel. Pack into a sterilized glass jar with one tablespoon kosher salt, 15 to 20 tiny, peeled silverskin Onions, one very hot Pepper, a few peppercorns and fresh Tarragon. Fill jar with white wine vinegar. They'll be ready in a week and keep for months in the fridge.
Details:
Plant life cycle: annual
Site: full sun
Days to germinate: 5-10 days
Germination temperature: 60-70F
Days to maturity: 50-60 days
Sow: 1/2-1" deep
Plant spacing: 18"
Row spacing :6' feet apart
Approx seeds per packet : 25
How to grow:
Warmth-loving Cucumbers may be grown as transplants, sown indoors 2 weeks before the last spring frost date, or direct-sown well after all threat of frost has passed and when the soil has warmed up to 50°F.
Harvest with a sharp blade regularly to promote abundant production before seed cavities swell, when the Cucumbers are small and thin-skinned. Cucumber vines creep stealthily, so take care to avoid garden traffic jams. They are successfully trellised vertically thanks to prolific spiraling tendrils. Some varieties are parthenocarpic and seedless, meaning pollination is unnecessary, while most have seeds and require pollination for flower and fruit development.
About 90% water, Cucumbers are rich in Vitamin C, beta-carotene and manganese, and yield antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits. We love Renny Darling's Cucumber and Chive Soup with Lemon and Dilland our Asian-inspired Refreshing Cucumber Salad. It's fun to slice off the ends and hollow them out as little cups for cold Cucumber soup. Deer resistant.
How to harvest:
Harvest fully developed, no more than 2" long and the width of a child's finger.
Pickling cucumber " Cornichon Vert Petit de Paris '
Ingredients
- 3 medium Cucumbers
- 1/3 cup chopped Chives
- 1 cup plain non-fat yogurt
- 1 cup buttermilk
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon dried Dill weed
- Pinch of salt
- Garnish: 1 tablespoon each, chopped Chives and minced Parsley
Instructions
Cucumber and Chive Soup with Lemon and Dill
Peel and halve lengthwise the Cucumbers. Scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Cut the Cucumbers into 1" chunks. Finely chop Cucumbers in food processor and drain. In a large bowl, stir together Cucumbers with the next six ingredients until blended. Refrigerate until serving time. Serve in glass bowls with a dollop of yogurt and a sprinkle of chopped Chives and Parsley. Serves 4 to 6.
Pickling recipe:
Here's how to make your own Cornichons: lightly rinse the little Cucumbers. Rub skins with a kitchen towel. Pack into a sterilized glass jar with one tablespoon kosher salt, 15 to 20 tiny, peeled silverskin Onions, one very hot Pepper, a few peppercorns and fresh Tarragon. Fill jar with white wine vinegar. They'll be ready in a week and keep for months in the fridge.