West Indian Gherkin Cucumber Seeds - Cucumis Anguria, 20 seeds

Quantity: 20 Seeds / pack

West Indian Gherkin (Cucumis anguria) is a vigorous warm-season annual vine that produces small, spiny, oval fruits with a crisp, cucumber-like bite. The 1–2 in fruits are ideal for pickling or eating fresh, and the crop has a documented history in Thomas Jefferson’s garden at Monticello.

Seed Information

• Type: Vegetable Seeds
• Common Name: West Indian Gherkin, Burr Gherkin
• Botanical Name: Cucumis anguria
• Life Cycle: Annual
• Sunlight: Full sun
• Watering: Moderate; water at the root zone and keep leaves dry
• Growth Habit: Vigorous climbing vine, 5–10 ft long
• Soil Type: Rich, well-draining loam; pH 6.0–6.5
• Planting Time: Direct sow after the last frost, in warm soil
• Days to Maturity: 60–69 days

Growing Instructions

• When to Plant: Sow directly after the last spring frost, when soil is thoroughly warm; or start indoors 3–4 weeks earlier.
• Soil: Moist, rich, well-draining soil.
• Sunlight: Full sun.
• Watering: Keep soil consistently moist but well drained; water at the base and keep the foliage dry.
• Spacing: Sow 1/2 in deep — the seeds need light to germinate, so cover only lightly. Space plants 12 in apart in rows 36 in apart, or sow in hills and thin to 3 plants.
• Germination: 7–10 days at 75–90°F (24–32°C).
• Harvest: Pick fruits at 1–2 in long while green and crisp, for pickling or fresh eating. Harvest often — frequent picking spurs more production, and a single plant can produce 50 or more fruits.
• Tips: Train vines on a strong trellis for straighter fruit and better air circulation. As a different species from the common cucumber, it does not cross with standard cucumber varieties.