How are your gherkins?

[Jenny Green]

Who's growing Tigger's gift to the Malvern Mob? My gherks are still just little hairy babies (the plants - no offspring yet). I've planted them about 2' apart in a slightly shady bed but basically I've NO IDEA what I'm doing!

[Johnboy]

Hi Jenny,
I sowed twelve and have 9 plants going and they are full of flower but there isn't a female in sight.
There are about 100 flowers all male. But the plants are going great guns. I meant to tell Tigger on Sunday. Where were you? I fully expected to see you in Leicester!

[Wellie]

Hi Jenny !
Hi JB!

I was knee deep in everything else I was sowing and growing that I decided to wait till next year to try Tigger's seeds, so I'm afraid I'm no use to you at all.....
If you'd be kind enough to pass on any tips from your experience of growing them THIS year I'd be hugely grateful.
I tried growing them two years ago and ended up with just the one fruit, which naturally, I didn't feel was worth going to all the trouble of pickling, eh?!
I wish you both lots of luck with them.
Wellie

[Chantal]

My gherkins plants have LOTS of little hairy babies! I have them growing outside on the plot beside the tomatoes and they're going nuts. I'll be picking and pickling in a week or two.

[Zena]

Uugghh! I don't like gherkins. or beetroot. probably the only 2 veg I wouldn't consider growing.
mind you, my son likes them, so it might encourage him to get out in the garden. are they easy to grow? (gherkins, not beetroot!)

[Chantal]

Yes to the gherkins and double yes to the beetroot. Zena, try roasting beetroot with some olive oil and rosemary before you condemn it. I don't eat it pickled but love it roasted. It does however make you pee pink (or worse) for a day or two.

[Zena]

I've never forgotten the smell of boiling beetroot from when I was little. it put me off it for life. i might be tempted to try the roasted version though, thanks for the suggestion

[jopsy]

You know I thought this thread might be rude
I love beetroot
I'm not keen on gerkins

[Zena]

shame on you,Jopsy.

when are this lot ever rude??

sweet and innocent, the lot of them...

[oldherbaceous]

Especially me.

Kind regards Old Herbaceous.

Theres no fool like an old fool.

[lizzie]

In that case Herby, I'm Claudia Shiffer

Oh, hate gherkins, love beetroot. Especially sliced thinly, coated in olive oil. a little sea salt and pepper and rosted with parsnips, potatoes and carrots. Yummy

[Wellie]

Forgotten the Paradiso Beetroot Soup with the slug of Vodka in the center already so soon?
BAD Girl !
Oh sorry. That had nothing to do with Gherks.
Eat one afterwards perhaps...?

[lizzie]

Still remember that soup Wellie and bloody gorgeous it was too. Very tasty.

I suppose you could always dunk in a gherkin instead of bread/croutons or is that too common?

[Chantal]

I've just picked my first three gherkins!