Parthenocarpic - asexual plants that do not need a pollinator. Can be grown in a greenhouse, or ..... under insect screen. Cucumbers are rough to grow once the cucumber beetle / cucumber worm make there way here; which is usually sometime mid-June. We had some luck spraying in the evening with BT, DE and a squeeze of Dr Bronners Magical Castille Soap. Probably because there are not many growing cucumber plants around here so the pheromones weren't out in the air to advertise the presence of our cucumber plant.
Also, tying nylon around each growing fruit will work; but we want small pickles and that is a lot of work it sounds like. So, I'm leaning towards trying either or both Adam Gherkin and Rocky. Adam Gherkin is new this year, and I can't find much growing information on it. Rocky is a compact plant, quite suitable for growing in a container.
My plan is to grow a few in plastic tote containers with insect netting/screen over the entire plant and somehow snugged to the pot. I just might buy some window screening and make my own. Shouldn't be too difficult. Maybe a poly rope draw string at the bottom? That should work. And heh, maybe I can even sell some???? Bag Lady No-More-Bugs Bag. Perhaps do a side by side test; one planted in a clear plastic tote the other planted in a white ripstop plant bag. Fabric plant bags are suppose to keep the roots cooler, which should help with mid/late summer heat.
Oh, and compliments of Baker Seeds Catalog; a sour pickle recipe for storing in the pantry. Don't these sound delicious?
Amish Mustard Pickles
1 gallon (solly beiler) small cucumbers
1/2 gal vinegar
1/2 gal water
1 tbsp alum
1/3 cup mixed pickle spice
1 tbsp sugar
scant cup dry mustard powder
1/2 cup salt
Heat mixture until just scalding hot, do not boil. Ladle into pint jars and process in hot water bath.
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