My two cucumber plants are growing well but I've not really left them enough space - I'm used to growing in pots rather than the growbags I got to use this year to save shifting heavy pots later and to save money on compost. I can just about get the watering can nozzle between all the leaves and into the compost for watering and even though I nipped off some growing tips the plants are still heading across the floor and will soon be out the door!
There were definitely two cucumbers hiding among the leaves but turned out there were 5. [These are the two plants that I bought at a boot sale and are they shorter rather than longer variety].
Plenty enough to make some of the Sweet and Sour Cucumber pickle that I enjoyed so much last winter. The recipe is on the separate recipe page but I decided not to use onions in it this year as I like the chunks of cucumber and celery but the small bits of onion are a pain to fish out of the jar ( I need a Victorian pickle spoon - those Victorians had something for every eventuality!). I also don't use the cloves.
It made just 3 and a bit 12oz jars, which won't last me long through the winter so I'm hoping for another good flush of cucumbers to make more.
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The pickle looks very delicious.
ReplyDeleteI think the best thing for a home is to have handmade things!!
I don't do as many chutneys etc now I'm on my own, I used to make all sorts
DeleteI've enjoyed my first homegrown cucumbers this year. I love my Victorian sugar tongs, which also get used for fishing small onions out of jars. My 1950s cherry stoner gets a lot of use with cherries, olives and small plums too
ReplyDeleteI remember I had a cherry stoner - it used to make cherry juice splashes everywhere!
DeleteI didn't realise you had a recipe page, just clicked over and will definitely be trying some of them out. I make ' bread and butter' cucumber pickles, no idea why it's called that. We like them but they don't keep for a long time so I will try your recipe out when our cucumbers are ready.
ReplyDeletePenny
I think Bread and Butter pickle was cucumber sandwiches for winter!
DeleteI wasn't a pickle fan but this recipe isn't so vinegary due to the sugar
Both my cucumbers died, and a couple of my tomato plants are struggling, I think it's down to the tomato compost I using, because the 2 other plants one in the ground and the other in my own compost are both doing well.
ReplyDeleteCompost nowadays leaves a lot to be desired, I think, and it becomes expensive when you lose your precious plants.
DeleteAngie
My sister-in-law has had terrible trouble with Levington's and will not buy it again, after years of using it.
DeleteUseless compost was why I ended up buying so many plants from boot sales this year
DeleteMine not brilliant either (sorry, but peat compost WAS the best). I am now feeding them every 4 or 5 days as they had stopped flowering and looked a bit peaky.
DeleteI'd forgotten about making bread and butter pickle with cucumber. Thanks, Sue, I'll make some with my next one 😉
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big pickle fan, but these sweet and sour are good
DeleteMany people seem to be having success with cucumbers, this year! Your pickle recipe sounds delicious! 😁
ReplyDeleteMy plants are huge, creeping across the greenhouse floor
DeleteTempting-looking pickles.
ReplyDeleteI've got a pickle fork somewhere, and sugar tongs and sugar sifter.
I think a pickle spoon had slots in to drain the vinegar and the pickle fork for stabbing onions
DeleteBoth my cucumber plants failed this year, I think mostly due to the new compost I bought for them, sadly I forgot to put some more seeds in while I still had the chance. The courgettes in the homemade compost and some of last years, are romping away.
ReplyDeleteIt was annoying to have to buy so many plants this year - thank goodness for boot sale bargains. Blaming compost too
DeleteThe pickle will be delicious with cold cuts in this hot weather, I’m sure. Catriona
ReplyDeleteI used it as an extra vegetable in winter - with anything!
DeleteYour homemade pickles look very tasty. I also like the sweetness in Bread and Butter pickles. My grandmother made them, and I have very fond memories of her cucumber growing and pickle making.
ReplyDeleteWatching tennis when someone losing, suddenly wins the game is just thrilling.
Cucumbers here never make it to pickle stage - I love them, and so does Tam and Rosie has been weaned on them too!! You will be bereft when Wimbledon ends.
ReplyDeleteI always underestimate the amount of room cucumber plants eventually take up. The pickles look great.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
What a lovely pickle recipe which I shall be using. Fingers crossed Norrie can beat Alcaraz, but thought it was a shame that Sinner went through because of the other player's injury. The trouble is Wimbledon is clashing with Le Tour. Xx
ReplyDeleteNever given cucumbers a try but like the recipe so thats something for next year.
ReplyDeleteWe have pickled some cucumber, they are doing well this year. Your recipe sounds good, thank you for that. I was only saying over the weekend that the first tennis players I watched were mostly Australians, John Newcombe, Tony Roache, Ken Rosewall and Rod Laver also Margaret Court and Yvonne Goolagong. Everything seemed gentler then:)
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