First cuke of the year

[duajones]

actually 2, Picklebush from Burpee. Hopefully it will start cranking them out so I can make pickles. Rinsed off the first one and at it right in the garden, had the second one last night in a salad. Its wonderful when your hard work begins to pay off although it seems like it takes forever. Now, come on Tomatoes!!!!!

[PaulF]

Man am I getting antsy; with three weeks until planting time and a windy icy rain coming down all I can do is hope we are not heading into another ice age. Everything but the weather is ready.

[mdvpc]

My poona keera has 2 small fruit already on it-very early for me-looking forward to fresh from the garden cukes.

[duajones]

Poona Kheera was ridiculously early for me last year, 40 some odd days from seed.

[mdvpc]

It is early, dont remember about bush crop or diva, which I am also growing.

[duajones]

Looked at my notes and PK gave me fruit in just 42 days, unbelievable. Diva came in at 59 days and was somewhat of a slow starter but then became a machine. It is easily my favorite for fresh eating

[shelleybean]

Most of you guys are way ahead of me. I plan to sow my seed in the coming week. As always, I'll have several vines of Snow's Fancy Pickling, my favorite. I'm also going to grow a few Suyo Long plants, as well. Our weather finally seems to be settling out a little now and I'm looking forward to starting the summer stuff.

[FlipTX]

I'm very envious. For some reason, my cucumber plants are not doing well at all this year.

[duajones]

Flip, I have 3 varieties growing and overall they dont look as good as they did this same time last year. Not sure why. But after sampling a couple recently, I miss not having Poona Kheera as it did real well for me last year. So I sowed a few seeds in a container yesterday. Id have the whole back yard full of containers if I could

[shelleybean]

Planted mine today. I'm looking forward to pickles and cucumber salads!

[gardengalrn]

I planted a few in flats a few days ago, the rest will be direct sown in the garden. Some years I have a difficult time getting reliable germination but then again I tend to start too early. I can't wait to make sour pickles. I keep a glass cookie-jar type container on the counter filled with sour pickles and add to it as I go. They are so sour that only I will eat them but I look forward to them each year. They will bring out beads of sweat, LOL. This year I hope to try the whole fermentation process so we will see. I need to can some more sweet relish too.

[hunter]

gardengalrn-

I love sour pickles! Care to share your recipe?

[feldon30]

I seeds of Picklebush at Home Depot. What did you think of the taste, Duane?

[duajones]

The taste is good Feldon, but the plant appears to be fizzling out as the previous bush variety I grew did. I was looking to make pickles with the variety. On the other hand I have gotten around 15 cukes off of it and they are good for fresh eating and I am growing them in a container which might be just perfect for some. Boston Pickling is 6 ft tall now and just beginning to produce. We will see how it does

[feldon30]

I guess it's a good early to tide you over until the productive varieties kick in. You could pull it and squeeze in some more bean seeds.