Munchers

[digitS']

What keeps you as cool as a cucumber? I like these little guys:

They are only about 6" long and just now showing up in my garden. They really are "Munchers" and a Beit Alpha type cucumber. My understanding is that they came out in the 1970's. Of course, I missed that . Thirty-odd years later, I discovered them.

Maybe they are just a little "retro" right now. Just a few years ago, Johnny's Seed came out with their Beit Alpha type, Diva. Soon, there were quite a few of these Middle Eastern hybrid slicers available. I tried Diva and it just didn't like the climate here - I guess :/. I had 1 fruit off of 3 plants . . .

Anyway, I discovered open-pollinated Munchers last year. They are just a little earlier than my other cucumbers and, much appreciated.

Steve

 

[skeeter9]

Oh, yummy! Those look great, Steve. Can't wait to grow cukes next year.

 

[digitS']

They might work well for you, Skeeter.

Beit Alpha commune in Israel isn't at a very high altitude but they've got the arid conditions.

I think my problem with Diva was that she needed too much pampering. Probably that East Coast influence, ya know.

Steve

 

[NwMtGardener]

My understanding is that they came out in the 1970's. Of course, I missed that . Thirty-odd years later, I discovered them.

Steve

I did just accuse you of being behind the times last week! Haha. Guess what, i am too. Planted my first cukes this year, just grabbed the packet to see what kind, and they're .....DRUM ROLL PLEASE ...... Munchers! and they are yummy! I'd post a pic, but as soon as they're ripe...i've eaten them! Spotted another little one that should be ready in a dayor two, cant wait!

 

[vfem]

I may have to look into some, or similar ones. I didn't grow slicers this year and wasn't too thrilled with the picklers I had. Maybe I'll cut my cuke growing in 1/2?

 

[digitS']

Perhaps because I don't make pickles, growing pickling cukes for others doesn't appeal much to me. I've got some Boston Pickling this year - now, I'll have to be out there constantly to get them while they are still small.

I guess that there are some pickling cukes that are as tasty fresh as the slicers but I haven't experienced them. I'd like to grow more Asian (English ) cukes but they aren't real trustworthy. If they have a bad start to the season, they are likely to not recover very well.

American slicers are another choice and I'm all for 'em ! I probably eat more cucumbers than any other veggie during the late summer. It may look a little odd, but they are my commuting snack . Since, I am a commuting gardener - I'm often driving out of the garden gate with a cucumber in 1 hand and the steering wheel in the other .

(Try that with a big, juicy beefsteak tomato .)

Steve

 

[Collector]

Those munchers do look great, we are growing straight 8, and none will be ready for another week or two. Those go on the list for next year.

 

[momofdrew]

They might work well for you, Skeeter.

Beit Alpha commune in Israel isn't at a very high altitude but they've got the arid conditions.

I think my problem with Diva was that she needed too much pampering. Probably that East Coast influence, ya know.

Steve

well I guess we EastCoast Diva's like to be pampered

I am growing marketmore, boston pickling, telegraph and boothby's blond this year all are doing great...I do have a problem with the pickling the grow very fast and sneek up on me if I dont check them every night I will have giant picklers...

what seed company has Munchers??? I might want to try them they are good looking...

 

[digitS']

Park Seed

Victory Seed

Hume Seed

Peaceful Valley

Steve

 

[Smiles Jr.]

Since this is a very unusual "down" year for my garden, almost all of my cuke plants have completely died out. Bummer! We only got about two or three weeks of moderate harvest of our cukes before the super-hot super-dry weather hit. In years past I would work in the garden with a cuke or tomato in one hand, munching away and getting tomato juice all down the front of me. I had a hard time getting anything done because I was gobbling up all the produce.

By the way, my tomatoes are VERY SLOWLY coming in. But the chickens have discovered them and are having a banquet every day. I gotta get that fencing fixed! So much to do - so little time.