Well picked cucumbersshould be firm, tasty and resistant to longer storage. Despite following proven recipes for pickling cucumbers, it is not always possible to achieve the desired effect. A lot depends on the choice of the appropriatepickling cucumber variety , as well as the method of harvesting and treating the cucumbers before pickling. In this article you will learnhow to pick good pickles for pickling
Which cucumbers are best suited for pickling
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The best varieties of cucumbers for pickling
In order for the pickled cucumbers to be tasty and crunchyit is important to make a decision in advance about choosing the right variety for cultivation. The fermentation process is not good for salad cucumbers, which have too large a seed chamber and lose their firmness after pickling. It is also not the best idea to pickle small-papered cucumbers with numerous empty seed chambers. Similarly to salad cucumbers, small-nipple cucumbers soften in the fermentation process and store poorly.
The most popular pickles for pickling are varieties of thick-bellied cucumberswith a straight, cylindrical shape of fruit, dark green color of the skin and a small seed chamber. Many people also say that the cultivars of cucumbers that are grown in the open air produce tastier and more aromatic fruits, which are better suited for the fermentation process.
Polish seed producers are outdoing each other in creating newvarieties of cucumbers perfect for pickling . Cucumbers intended for pickling should have the following features:
- very fertile
- they have a small seed chamber
- do not turn yellow during maturation and post-harvest storage
- have the same length and thickness of the fruit
- are resistant to diseases of cucumbers, such as: cucumber scab, cucurbits 'powdery mildew, cucurbits' downy mildew, angular blotch.
Pickled cucumbers
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For amateur cultivation intended for pickling, cucumber varieties are recommended :
- for field cultivation : Hermes F1, Polan F1, Izyd F1, Cezar F1, LiderF1, Octopus F1,
- for cultivation under cover : Amber F1, Lazuryt F1, Rubin Medalist F1, Brawo F1, Gniewko F1, Śremski F1, Śremianin F1.
How to choose cucumbers suitable for pickling
If you want to pickle cucumbers from your own garden cultivation, remember about the right harvest date. The earliest cucumbers are best spent on the current consumption or on the so-called "Low-s alt".The best for pickling and long-term storage are cucumber fruits from the middle harvestThose harvested at later dates contain the most pectins and sugars, which determine the low shelf life of vegetables after pickling.
Pick the cucumber fruits early in the morning, when they are firmest. Choose he althy, firm, evenly grown cucumbers, with a maximum length of 15 cm. They should have a dark green, uniform skin color without damage or discoloration. Following these rules, we will choosethe best pickles for pickling
Cucumbers intended for pickling
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Immediately after harvestinglet's prepare cucumbers for picklingIt is very important, because the sugar content in the fruit decreases with time.In the fermentation process, sugars are converted primarily into lactic acid, which is responsible for the preservation of cucumbers. So stale cucumbers that have already lost some of their sugars will not stick well.
We absolutely do not leave the picked cucumbers in the sun. Even short-term exposure to sun rays causescucumbers lose their firmness after ensilingIf we cannot take care of the fruit right away, store them as short as possible in a dark room with a temperature of approx. 12 ° C.
Pickled cucumbers can be storedin a cool place for many months. All this time they must remain in the pickle in which they hid.
MSc Eng. Anna Błaszczak
