The Ultimate Guide to the Best Pickling Cucumbers for Your Garden

ByVictoria Arias
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Are you ready to dive into the world of pickling cucumbers? Instead of pondering how many pecks Peter Piper could pick, let’s focus on something more enjoyable – choosing the perfect variety to grow in your garden. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a newbie, this comprehensive guide will help you pick the best pickling cucumber plant for your needs.

Understanding Pickling Cucumbers

Before we delve into the top varieties, let’s take a quick look at what makes a cucumber suitable for pickling. Pickling cucumbers are different from slicers, English, or other types of cucumbers. They are specifically bred or passed down as heirlooms because their fruits are ideal for pickling.

These cucumbers mature at one and a half to six inches long, making them perfect for gherkin pickles or sandwich slices. They have a blockier shape compared to slicing cucumbers, allowing them to fit easily into jars with less wasted space. Additionally, their bumpy skin stays crisp even after canning or freezing.

Pickling cucumber plants come in various forms, including vining, bush, or dwarf varieties. They can be grown in containers, along the ground, or on trellises. Now, let’s move on to the top varieties you can grow in your garden.

Top 21 Pickling Cucumbers for Your Garden

Let’s explore some of the best pickling cucumber varieties that you should consider growing in your garden:

  • Boston Pickling
  • Fast-maturing with sweet, tender fruits
  • Ideal for gherkin pickles

  • Available from True Leaf Market

  • Boothby’s Blond

  • Creamy, off-white skin with black spines
  • Compact plants suitable for containers

  • Available from Palm Beach Medicinal Herbs

  • Burpee Pickler

  • Disease-resistant hybrid with uniform fruits
  • Best grown on a trellis or fence

  • Available from Burpee

  • Bushy

  • Compact Russian variety for small gardens
  • Cold-tolerant with a bumper crop

  • Available from True Leaf Market

  • Calypso

  • Hybrid with exceptional disease resistance
  • Requires trellising for prolific harvest

  • Available from David’s Garden Seeds

  • Double Yield

  • Vining heirloom with relentless fruiting
  • Ideal for canning and freezer pickles

  • Available in various sizes on Amazon

  • Fresh Pickles

  • Exclusive hybrid for container gardening
  • High yield with resistance to mildew

  • Available from Burpee

  • Hokus

  • Itty-bitty spiny gherkins ideal for pickling
  • Prolific harvest after 60 days

  • Available from Botanical Interests

  • Homemade Pickles

  • High-yield variety with disease resistance
  • Perfect for gherkin pickles

  • Available from Botanical Interests

  • Honey Plus

  • Distinctive light gold skin with high yield
  • Early maturity in just 40 days

  • Available from Burpee

  • Lemon

  • Spherical fruits with sweet, mild flavor
  • Ideal for fresh eating and pickling

  • Available from Burpee

  • Little Leaf H-19

  • Compact plants with smaller leaves
  • Abundant harvest after 57 days

  • Available from David’s Garden Seeds

  • Miniature White

  • Compact variety for easy harvesting
  • Creamy skin and crispy texture

  • Available from Eden Brothers

  • National Pickling

  • Prolific hybrid with medium green fruits
  • Disease-resistant and uniform fruits

  • Available from True Leaf Market

  • Northern Pickling

  • Early variety with sweet, crunchy fruits
  • Compact plants ideal for small gardens

  • Available from David’s Garden Seeds

  • Parisian

  • French heirloom with slender fruits
  • Bushy growth habit and medium green flesh

  • Available from Burpee

  • Pick a Bushel

  • Abundant hybrid with sweet taste
  • Compact variety for containers

  • Available from Burpee

  • Picklebush

  • Compact plants ideal for small spaces
  • Disease-resistant and bushy growth

  • Available from Burpee

  • Rhinish Pickle

  • Early-season German heirloom with crunchy fruits
  • Ideal for making sour pickles

  • Available from True Leaf Market

  • Supremo

  • Dark green fruits with mild flavor
  • Compact, bushy plants with high yield

  • Available from Burpee

  • Wisconsin SMR 58

  • Massive yields of medium green fruits
  • Resistant to diseases and high productivity
  • Available from True Leaf Market

Choosing the Right Pickling Cucumber for Your Garden

With so many varieties to choose from, selecting the right pickling cucumber for your garden can be a fun and rewarding experience. Consider factors such as space, disease resistance, and maturity time to find the perfect match for your gardening needs. Whether you’re a novice gardener or a seasoned pro, growing pickling cucumbers can add a delightful touch to your garden and culinary creations.

So, forget the peppers for now, and start planning your pickling cucumber garden today! Share your favorite varieties and experiences in the comments below. Happy gardening!

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