Parisian Cucumbers

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History of the Parisian Cucumber

Parisian Cucumbers were established in America by J.H. Gregory, a seedsman of Marblehead, Massachusetts. This variety goes back to the 1890s, specifically in 1892. It has been very famous since then.

Parisian Cucumbers were first introduced under the name ‘Parisienne Cornichon de Bourbonne,’ and later on as ‘Improved Bourbonne.’ This type was widely used in France for pickling purposes.

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Characteristics of the Parisian Cucumber

Parisian Cucumbers are incredibly crisp, sweet, and flavorful, whether eaten raw or sliced. Not only do they appeal to gourmet tastes, but they are also great to snack on daily.

This type has green skin and black spines. They can make ideal pickles, whether they’re small sweet pickles, slices, or fancy dill pickles. The plant stands at only 2′ tall, making it perfect for raised beds or patios and small gardens.

For ideal growth and yields, this cucumber needs minimal staking, unlike other slicing or pickling cucumber varieties that require larger trellises. You can harvest them at as little as one inch long but they taste better when allowed to reach 2-4 inches long.

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Easy and Fast Recipes for your Parisian Cucumbers

Ready for some recipes with Parisian cucumbers? We got you covered! These two recipes below are easy, fast, nutritious, and serve a good amount of people.

Fresh Greek Salad (serves 4)

You cannot go wrong with a delicious, fresh Greek salad that you can enjoy any season!

Ingredients:

• 6 Parisian cucumbers
• 4 big tomatoes
• 1 block of Feta cheese
• 1 onion
• 1 green pepper
• 1 tablespoon caper (optional)
• 1 pinch of Oregano
• 1/4 of a cup of oil
• 1 teaspoon vinegar
• 1 pinch of black pepper
• 1 teaspoon of salt
  
  Dressing Tip: put the vinegar and the oil together in a small container/shaker, and shake well.

Directions:

1. Wash all the vegetables except the onion.
2. Cut the tomatoes, onion, and green pepper.
3. Peel the cucumbers, and slice them in rounds.
4. Add everything in a big bowl.
5. Add the dressing, salt, pepper, oregano, and capers. Stir.
6. Lastly, add your feta cheese on top. You can cut your feta cheese into smaller pieces or leave it on the top as a block and cut it while serving.

Cucumber Sandwiches (serves 4)

Craving a snack? This easy recipe for cucumber sandwiches will blow your mind!

Ingredients:

• 8 slices of white bread without the bread crust
• 1 packet of cream cheese
• 6 Parisian Cucumbers
• Half of a bunch of a dill
• Half of lemon
• 1 pinch of salt
• 1 pinch of black pepper

Directions:

1. Wash and peel the cucumbers. Slice them into very thin rounds and place them aside in a bowl.
2. Chop the dill and sprinkle it on top of the cucumber rounds, add a squeeze of half of the lemon and add salt, and pepper, and set aside. Mix it with a spoon.
3. Take two slices of bread. Place one piece of bread on a plate and spread cream cheese and add the cucumbers to cover the whole bread. Take the other piece, spread cream cheese, and place it on the top to make it a sandwich.
4. Cut it into four.

Tip: To make your sandwiches spicier, you can add flavored cream cheese, with different flavors or spices.

Enjoy!

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Nutritional Benefits

Parisian Cucumbers are considered a cleansing and diuretic food.

Nutritional benefits of the cucumber also include

• Vitamin K: helps maintain normal blood clotting
• Vitamin B: plays an important role in promoting proper nerve-impulse transmission and supporting the healthy functioning of cells.

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Grow your own Parisian Cucumbers

Time to grow your own Parisian Cucumbers at home! With easy instructions, you can have crispy cucumbers in as fast as seven weeks.

When, Where, and How to Grow Them

Sowing times for the Parisian Cucumber seed depend on the region where the seed will be planted. For cooler areas, October to December is the best time, whereas, for warmer climates, September to November are ideal months.

For hot climates, Parisian Cucumbers should be planted from January to February or July to December. For subtropical weather, the ideal months are January to March, and August to December, and for tropical climates, are April to September.

Planting

Direct seeding is the most effective method for planting Parisian Cucumbers. These cucumbers do not perform well when transplanted. They need to be planted directly, either manually or with a walk-behind seeder.

Plant one seed per foot every 6-8″ in order to get the desired stand of plants.

Harvesting and Caring for Cucumbers

Parisian Gherkin Cucumbers are ideal when they reach between 1 to 2 ounces in size (around 2-4″ long), though they can still be harvested as small as 1″ long. This plant can grow up to 10-12 inches with many stems and approximately two dozen fruits. Growing takes seven weeks.

Mulching is also important. It helps keep moisture in the soil, maintains a steady temperature, and prevents weed growth.

Cucumbers need a lot of water to grow. Watering rather than sprinkling is recommended. Sun is also important. Do not forget to keep the fruits picked promptly.

Trellising

Trellising is best for cucumbers, as they are climbing plants and will achieve the greatest growth this way. Make sure to put in deeply driven stakes and use a sturdy trellis for support. Lastly, elevating plants away from the ground can help prevent plant diseases such as mildew and other illnesses caused by too much moisture around the plant.

Trellising cucumbers will keep them cleaner and help to speed up the harvest and process time. Additionally, this process will also help stop fruits from turning yellow when left on the soil.

Wrapping up the Parisian Cucumber

Refreshing, tasty, and crispy are the words to describe this type of cucumber. You can try these recipes and grow your own Parisian cucumbers at home as easily as one-two-three!

Ready to continue discovering these funky fresh vegetables? Then learn more about cucumbers by checking out my planting guides, recipe tips, brand suggestions, and more!