In a Big Pickle
By Marie Anne
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
United States
July 23, 2008 2:19pm CST
Actually, this is too big for a pickle.
I have three bush cucumber plants growing in a very small area by the corner of my house. The package says that they take up about 1/3 the space of a regular cucumber plant, and that you can put three plants in a 12" pot easily.
It also says that the cucumbers will be pretty uniform in size, growing to about 7-8".
I just took this picture today and you can see that it's already 9" and it still has a few 'nubbies' on it so I may let it go for another day or two. We can get two meals of cucumber salad out of this one cucumber, I'm sure. If it keeps going, it's likely to look more like a watermelon than a cucumber.
There are three other cucumbers that are about half this size, several that are gherkin size and still more flowers ready for pollinating. Time to stock up on sour cream - yum!
5 people like this
9 responses
@bluerubymoon53 (3286)
• United States
23 Jul 08
I'm definitely going to start container gardening next year!!
I have a plant that is growing next to my front step that I think might be pumpkin. It has quite a few blooms on it and it about six feet long. The base of the plant is next to the steps and is growing down along the sidewalk.
The blooms are a peachy-orangey color and bloom nice and big in the morning. Then along about when the sun is at its highest, they close up.
I'm curious to see how many pumpkins(?) this plant is going to produce.
2 people like this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
23 Jul 08
I've never grown pumpkin, so I can't help you with that one. I've done squash in the past, but not this year.
The things in my containers are doing well too, but this particular bunch is a set of three that are actually in the ground.
1 person likes this
@bluerubymoon53 (3286)
• United States
23 Jul 08
Cool!! It's nice to see what kind of surprise you get when you have volunteers growing.
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
23 Jul 08
i do believe you have a green thumb. that's great. my aunt use to tell me i had a black thumb because i was so bad w/flowers etc.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
23 Jul 08
Thank you, but I don't really think I do. I'm just playing here, and God is providing the rain and sunshine.
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
23 Jul 08
If you allow a cuke to get too big it loses it's moisture & can get hollowed out the bigger it gets. It tends to dry them out. Once they get about the size the package says I say pick them. I've let some grow to 18 inches and they were nearly hollow ionside from losing their moisture. Pick it now and enjoy it.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
1 person likes this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
23 Jul 08
I just picked it before coming in to check myLot and the darn thing didn't want to come off the vine. I had to twist it and twist it, then pull it and it still would give way.
I don't know, I still don't think this guy was ready to let go. We'll see - I'm gonna slice him open in a bit.
1 person likes this
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
23 Jul 08
I always use a paring knife to cut off my veggies.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB !!~
1 person likes this
@underdogtoo (9579)
• Philippines
24 Jul 08
Congratulations on your cucumbers. I love pickles and I love growing stuff too. Cheers!!
1 person likes this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
24 Jul 08
I made cucumber salad with supper last night and I'm still picking at it today. Yum!
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
24 Jul 08
Well, I can't stand cucumbers but I'm always happy when someone can grow something successfully that they like! I love growing things, too.
1 person likes this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
24 Jul 08
That's how I am with tomatoes, but I love growing them!
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
24 Jul 08
ldyjarhead maybe you will become famous for the rare waterpickle
weighing in at ten pounds lol lol lol seriously that looks ready
for munching on right now. Did you grow these in pots or the ground. I am definitely going to do some container gardening next year.
1 person likes this
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
24 Jul 08
No, these three were in a very small space at the corner of the house. I have another picture on my blog showing how they started and what they look like now.
If you go to my profile and then my blog, look for 'buckets of beans', I think it is.
@royal52gens (5488)
• United States
26 Jul 08
You can pickle the cucumbers and store them for a long time. Eat them in salads and for snacks. Share some with the neighbors. Trade them for things you need.
WOW that is one large cucumber!! From all the discussions you've written, you must have a really nice garden. That cucumber is going to be great to eat. Enjoy!!
Happy MyLotting,
Char
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
24 Jul 08
Not really. I'm renting a small house here and there's no room for a 'real' garden, so I have a few things in containers, and then the three tomato plants and three cukes on the side of the house. The sugar snap peas that I had there are just about done.
I ate the cucumber with supper tonight and it was great. I made cucumber salad out of it.
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
23 Jul 08
My husband planted 3 cucumber plants in the garden by a fence. They have been giving off so many cucumbers there is no way we could eat them all. We have given away lots. I prefer the cucumbers maybe 4-6 inches long. We haven't had much rain in weeks. We got a pretty good soaking last night, but with the temperatures what they have been lately, I'm afraid our cucumber vines are going to be history pretty soon. I didn't go other night to check on them with my husband, but he said there were only little nubbins there. Hopefully, they will give us a few more cucumbers. Usually cucumbers will bear right up to frost, but they need water. And it's just too far to have to take water to them every day.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
23 Jul 08
Can you put a bucket or barrel nearby to catch the rainwater? Then you wouldn't have to haul it.
I like them a bit smaller than this too, but since it still had the 'nubbies' on it, I wasn't sure I should pick it already. I think I'll pick this one in a day or so and use it as a test, and judge how to pick the rest by how this one turns out.
1 person likes this
@Barb42 (4214)
• United States
23 Jul 08
The amount of rain we've had here wouldn't be worth trying to catch. My husband has took a 5 gallon bucket down there a few times. But, by the time he gets home at night, he's too tired to go water them.
It doesn't matter that the little nubbies (bumps) are on the cucumbers. You can pick them at any size. The only way ours gets that big is when we over look some and the next time they are overgrown. They grow so quickly it seems like overnight! I think the smaller ones have a much better taste than they do when they get big.
2 people like this
