Pickling Cucumber / Gherkin 'Parisienne Cornichon de Bourbonne'

This traditional French heirloom is the gold standard for producing cornichons—tiny, crunchy pickled cucumbers. 'Parisienne Cornichon de Bourbonne' is a vigorous, trailing or climbing plant that produces an abundance of small, dark green, prickly fruits. For the best quality, the cucumbers should be harvested when they are approximately 5cm long; at this stage, they are incredibly crisp and have a perfect texture for pickling in vinegar with dill and mustard seeds. In the UK, this variety can be grown outdoors in a sheltered, sunny spot, but it often performs more reliably under glass or in a polytunnel. If grown on the ground, the fruits should be kept off the soil to maintain their shape. The plants have good resistance to common cucumber diseases and will continue to produce fruit as long as they are harvested regularly. Its prolific nature ensures that just a few plants will provide enough for many jars of home-made preserves.

Sun: Full sun.

Soil: Rich, well-drained, moisture-retentive soil.

Hardiness: H2 — down to 1°C.

Flowering: Jul, Aug, Sep.