As it gets around to seed catalog time, you inevitably remember the best performers you had last year. The ones you want to be sure you plant again. This last summer it was a mystery plant a friend gave me, Kay Whatley of the non-profit Grow and Share. She gave me a little 2×2 pot with a seedling that had lost its tag. She remembered that it was really in the melon family but it wasn’t a melon. I was intrigued.
Crazy climbing cucumber (Photo by Connie Schultz)
For a few weeks I watched it struggle to get established and grow. Then it took off! It became a plant that was obviously vining with triangular lobed leaves that was setting yellow blossoms. Another week and I could see it set fruit that became long curved fruits one to two feet long.
After taking some pictures and downloading them to my computer, I tried to identify them on the internet. I finally determined that I had an Armenian cucumber (Cucumis melo var. flexuosus). A mild flavored cucumber that didn’t need peeling, did well in heat and humidity (yeah!) and was a prolific producer! It was also technically in the melon family just as Kay had said. Bingo! Its other huge asset was that it didn’t seem to be bothered much by bugs either.
Armenian cucumbers Cucumis melo var. flexuosus (photo by Connie Schultz)
Needless to say, I took cucumbers to church potlucks, I pickled them. We ate them with almost every dinner and in every salad and sandwich. I sautéed them and used them in stir fry. They kept producing until the end of summer when, as they tired, some squash bugs finally found them and drilled into their stems – and that was the end!
I was so glad for the gift of a friend that led to the discovery of a cucumber so well suited our southeast-zone 7/8 garden. One that took so little care and produced so much delicious fruit all summer long. What were your stars of the garden last year? Please share your greatest successes with us here! (Please identify your state/county/zone too - thanks!)
Connie Schultz, Master Gardener/Composter (’95, Cornell Extension) currently volunteering in Johnston County, North Carolina
Tags: vegetable gardening
Very fun Connie. FOr folks who are having trouble finding this seed, I found it in my Asian seed catalogue Kitazawa.
Thanks, Tes! It’s also in the Pinetree seed catalog. I’m looking forward to growing it again. (And so are my neighbors and folks at my church!
I tried them last year. I liked them better small–6 inches or so. Very prolific. My seed was from Renee’s Garden.
My best crop was tomatoes…Roma, Celebrity, Early Girl. I put 5 gallon plastic pails with the bottom cut out around each plant. Normally I put a grocery bag over the top when I plant if it is early, and remove when temps stay warm. Mulched with soybean straw. SD zone 4.
Good to know that Renee’s Garden carries them too! I also like Earl Girl (I like a little tartness with the sweet.) I like your idea of using the plastic pails. In a zone 4 you really have to stretch your seasons to get tomatoes! Have you tried the colored plastic “mulch” for warming the soil?
I used red plastic just once…did not think it had value. The clear or white plastic bags over the 5 gallon pails are the best tip…it is like a mini-greenhouse around the plant.
Thanks for the good tip, Brenda. It’s good to get your feedback about the red plastic. Some people really like it and I haven’t had the opportunity to try it yet. Sounds like you’ll have lots of tomates this year!
My star was an unnamed winter squash that was a cross between Waltham Butternut and something else. I purchased the seeds mail-order, and the company apologized profusely for the contamination… saying they would review their supplier. The ironic thing is that the squash were wonderful. It’s just too bad that I didn’t know what the cross consisted of, and could not replicate the seed!
Master Gardeners of Ontario, Inc.
(I am in Canadian zone 5a)
Sometimes the best discoveries are by accident aren’t they, Lynne? Did you happen to save any of the seed? Perhaps it overwintered in the compost pile
If you find it again, let us know!