Description and characteristics of the Parisian Gherkin cucumber variety: planting and care

Cucumbers

Small, neatly shaped cucumbers called gherkins. Rarely exceeding 11 centimeters in length, they are ideal for pickling, appetizers, and salads. Among similar varieties, the Parisian gherkin stands out: it's tastier than its counterparts and produces a larger harvest.

Characteristics of the variety

The Parisian Gherkin is included in the Russian State Register. This mid-early, bee-pollinated variety is recommended for cultivation in the central part of the country, but with proper care, it can withstand harsher climates. It is suitable for both open ground and greenhouse cultivation. A distinctive feature of the variety is its resistance to diseases such as cladosporiosis and mosaic virus.

The fruits ripen quickly: 40-45 days after the seeds are planted. The harvest is abundant, reaching up to 4 kg per square meter. The flavor is also excellent: the fruits are juicy and crisp, without bitterness. Each cucumber weighs 65-90 grams and reaches 8-11 centimeters in length. The shape is very neat, resembling an oval cylinder. The bushy plant is heat-resistant, so it can be grown even in the height of summer. The harvest tolerates transportation well, maintaining its original appearance.

The advantages of this variety include:

relatively fast ripening of the crop;
resistance to some cucumber diseases;
good taste characteristics;
convenient shape, which is suitable for both salads and canning;
long harvest period, in a greenhouse they can bear fruit until October;
undemanding to the environment: it can be grown in a greenhouse, in open ground, and even at home;
abundant harvest, up to 400 centners per hectare.

Important!

If you grow cucumbers in a greenhouse, use artificial pollination, otherwise the harvest will not be as abundant.

One downside is that cucumbers can grow beyond their normal size if harvested late. So, this variety may not be suitable for those who only visit their dacha once a week. For a good harvest, regular watering and special support for the plants are essential to ensure they grow comfortably.

Caring for cucumbers

To prevent pests, it's essential to carefully tend your crops. Loosen the soil, water regularly, remove weeds promptly, pinch shoots, apply fertilizer promptly, and monitor the condition of the leaves. There are several rules that will help you achieve the highest quality fruit.

The Parisian gherkin should be watered after lunch. When the foliage is just forming, water moderately. Reduce the amount of water after flowering, and increase it again once the fruit appears.
Warm water should be used for watering, otherwise the plants' immunity can be weakened and the risk of disease can increase.
Add fertilizer as a supplemental feed. Apply once every ten days or twice before fruiting begins. Superphosphate fertilizers can be used as a supplemental feed.
Tie cucumber vines to a trellis; this will prevent them from touching the ground and allow them to receive more light and air.

Important!

Planting cucumbers too closely can increase the risk of diseases, such as powdery mildew. One way this fungus spreads is by migrating from the leaves of one plant to another.

The Parisian gherkin is a spreading, bushy plant with well-developed green foliage, especially the side shoots. Try to plant the cucumbers sparingly to avoid contact and overlapping. The optimal planting frequency is four plants per square meter outdoors and three per square meter in a greenhouse. The shoots can also be tied to maximize space. Overall, this variety is quite easy-to-grow and easily tolerates climate change and temperature fluctuations.

Growing methods

This variety can be grown in a greenhouse, outdoors, or even indoors on a balcony. The first two options are best for productive plantings. You can sow the seeds directly into the garden or prepare seedlings in advance. The second method is best for an early harvest.

Direct planting in the ground

Good results can be achieved with this approach if you follow the basic rules of sowing technology. All seeds should be disinfected before planting. This will eliminate diseases and pests that can linger in the seedlings. Additionally, you can treat the seeds with stimulants that will accelerate growth and harden the seedlings. Future bushes should be planted at a depth of about three centimeters, no more than 3-4 centimeters per square meter.

Planting times:

polycarbonate greenhouses – first week of May;
under film – third week of May;
in open ground without additional cover – last week of May.

The exact timing will depend on the region and climate. Remember that cucumbers are harmed by sudden temperature fluctuations. Although the Parisian gherkin is a fairly resilient variety, climate change can weaken its immune system, leading to disease. Even within the same region, sowing dates can vary due to weather conditions. Avoid planting cucumbers if a rainy or dry season is approaching.

Planting seedlings

Much more often, cucumbers of this variety are planted with pre-prepared seedlings. This allows for a much earlier harvest, protecting the crops from temperature fluctuations and unpredictable weather conditions. Here, too, there are several rules to follow to ensure a high-quality and abundant harvest.

Use high-quality raw materials: large seeds are best for seedlings.
Disinfect, harden and treat the seeds before planting them in individual containers for germination.
Select containers: these should be dishes or pots measuring 8 or 10 centimeters, necessarily with holes for drainage.
Don't fill the containers completely; just fill them 3/4 full with nutrient-rich soil. The soil should be loose, rich, and light enough.
Moisten the soil before planting.
Plant the seeds at a shallow depth of 2-3 centimeters.

The seeds should be germinated in a humid environment with a temperature of around 27°C. The location should be well-lit. Growing cucumber seedlings should be placed in a sunny spot. As soon as the seeds sprout and the first few leaves appear on the seedlings, the cucumbers can be transplanted outdoors or into a greenhouse.

Reviews

Anna, 48

I grow these cucumbers every summer. I especially enjoy pickling them: the crisp fruits are perfect for canning. When pests appear, I treat them with chemicals, but once the plant has already begun to bear fruit, I prefer folk remedies. Ammonia works well.

Ivan, 56

The key to this variety is proper and timely staking! Otherwise, the bushy vines will take over the entire garden and prevent neighboring cucumbers from growing. I usually secure them to poles driven into the ground next to the plants. I prefer to grow them directly in the ground: Parisian gherkin ripens early enough anyway, so I don't see the point in planting seedlings.

Alexey, 46

I start growing these cucumbers early, using seedlings. This allows me to harvest my first crop much earlier than the others. I grow Parisian gherkins for sale: they produce an excellent harvest, and these little cucumbers taste very good. I especially like the lack of bitterness in the fruit.

This cucumber variety is quite easy to grow. After properly preparing the seeds and cultivating the soil, all that's left to do is water regularly, remove weeds, and tie up the emerging vines. A pleasant bonus: the variety is resistant to some diseases and heat. The Parisian gherkin produces a good harvest, up to four kilograms per square meter, and bears fruit for a long time. The key is to maintain crop rotation and monitor the plants' health so that timely feeding or treatment is required.