Pickling Cucumbers
Sowing
Cucumbers do not take well to transplanting, so either start Boston Pickling cucumber seeds early in peat pots or plant them directly. Start them indoors about 2 weeks before frost, placing 3-4 seeds 1/2″ deep in the pot. Keep the air temperature at least 80 degrees F. When two or three leaves appear on each plant, cut off all but the strongest plant with a scissors. Before planting them, “harden” the seedlings by setting them outside during the day. They should be planted no sooner than a week after the last spring frost, when the air temperatures consistently average 65-75 degrees F; cucumbers like full sun and very rich soil. For planting them in a hill, place three seedlings or 7-8 seeds in each hill; space hills 4-5′ apart. If rows are preferrable, plant seedlings 1′ apart or place 5 seeds within 1′ and later thin them. Cucumbers love heat and cannot endure even a light frost; if cold temperatures threaten, cover the seedlings. Since cucumbers love to climb, providing a trellis will save space in your garden and produce straighter cucumbers that are easier to pick; however, the vines will simply spread out over the ground if no trellis is provided. Some gardeners plant their Boston Pickling cucumber seeds with corn, since the two plants benefit each other and the cucumbers will climb the corn. Planting several radishes with pickling cucumbers seems to repel damaging cucumber beetles; however, cucumbers do not like being planted near potatoes or aromatic herbs.
Growing
Moisture is the key to growing excellent cucumbers; keep the soil consistently moist. When the vines have developed, apply mulch or straw to conserve moisture and control weeds. Watch out for cucumber beetles, and remove them immediately to prevent damage.
Harvesting
This black spined variety of cucumber works very well for pickling, though excellent as well for fresh eating at a bigger size. If picked consistently all season, the yield will be very high. When the blossom end of the cucumber begins to turn yellow, this indicates that the cucumber has passed its prime. Cucumbers store very well in the refrigerator.
Seed Saving
Cucumbers usually produce both male and female flowers in the same plant, and will cross with other varieties of cucumber; be sure to separate the varieties to prevent cross pollination. Allow the cucumbers to mature past the eating stage – the cucumber will be very soft and the skin will turn either white, brown, yellow, green, or orange, depending on the variety. This may take up to five weeks. Remove the cucumbers from the vine and allow them to cure in a dry, cool place for another two weeks. Cut open the cucumbers and scoop out the seeds into a bowl; add an equal amount of water, and keep in a 90 degree location away from sunlight for 24-36 hours. The mixture will be fermenting, and mold may form; stir it twice a day. At the end of the fermentation process, add more water while stirring – the hollow seeds and debris will float to the top, and the good seeds will sink. Remove the water and debris, and spread out the good seeds on a flat surface to dry for about two weeks. Store Boston Pickling cucumber seeds a cool, dry place for up to 8 years.
Common Pests
Cutworms: They are among the most inefficient eaters in the insect world. A few bites and they are done, which means a single cutworm can kill a dozen plants in a few days time. Fortunately this damage is easily preventable, when you transplant the seedlings, encircle them with a protective collar made from a paper cup with the bottom punched out. Another method is to stick a toothpick or twig down the side of the plant stem. When the cutworm attempts to encircle the stem to girdle it, the tough wood gets in the way.
Cucumber Beetles: Several species of cucumber beetles wreak havoc in gardens. The most common ones are small yellow and black striped cucumber beetles, often seen ranging about the garden until find squash or cucumber plants. With cucumber plants you can limit beetle problems by planting varieties described as nonbitter. An equally good strategy is to cover suspectible plants with floating row covers until the plants start to flower.
