F1 Partner

Description
A quick growing mainly female variety producing a mass of small slightly prickly gherkins about 3-8cm long. This variety has firm flesh with a great flavour which is perfect for pickling.

Harvest
June to November (once the fruits are 3-10cm long, roughly 8-10 weeks from planting)

Growing Instructions
Plant 45cm apart in well prepared soil in a sunny (above 16°C) but sheltered position, once all frosts have finished! They can be grown indoors and/or they can be moved out later. Keep them well watered until established and in dry weather. They can be left to grow wild along the floor but its best to train along a trellis, fence, stake, wire or string. This will not only save you space but it helps the plant to keep disease free and with gravity on your side will help the gherkins to stay straight. Carefully train them to grow clockwise up a string picking the side shoots and flowers off up to 30cm high. Then only pick the side shoots off and let the plant carry on growing up to about 6 feet tall. Once it has reached the top of the string/support let the plant grow wild coming back down towards the floor. Pick off any yellow dead leaves along the way. Only begin to feed once you see the first two cucumbers growing. NOT before!

Tip
Pick your gherkins regularly to promote long and continuous harvesting. DO NOT use farm yard manure on your cucumbers, as farmers sometimes use a hormone weed killer on barley/wheat/straw that is then used as bedding. This will dramatically harm your crop!