Femspot are so tasty: superb quality with long, lovely fruits that are slightly ribbed.  They really do best grown in a greenhouse or polytunnel. We have had cucumbers from July on to the first frost. A truly outstanding all female variety. Price for 4 seeds.

SOW & GROW: inside in April/early May in individual pots, keep warm and moist (not waterlogged).    Femspot really does need the additional shelter and warmth of a greenhouse (or conservatory) to do its best.  The fruits are produced on the main stem and it is possible to tie in the plants as cordons up a single string or wire – leaving space in your greenhouse for other crops.  Don’t grow an all-female cucumber with other types as it will be affected by cross pollination.  Male flowers can appear under stress conditions, these should be removed immediately

EAT: We have enjoyed Femspot fruits from July to the first frost in autumn.

Grow your own gorgeous gherkins.  Hokus is vigorous, early to fruit and will give you lots of slender fruits for picking by the time they reach 10cm long (or sooner if you prefer).  You can grow this variety outdoors in a sunny sheltered position.   Price for 4 seeds.

SOW: inside in March or April in individual pots, keep moist (not soggy) & warm. 

GROW: to plant outside, harden off once they have 2/3 leaves; they need a sunny and sheltered site and you may need to protect them from wind while they settle in.  Mulch if possible, they respond to a mid-season liquid feed too!  Your Hokus plants (& fruiting) will be more vigorous growing in a greenhouse.  You can let them scramble along the ground although it is easier to spot the gherkins if they are trained on canes or a trellis (they hide under the leaves). Pick by 10cm long

EAT: pickle with vinegar, touch of sugar (or stevia based sweetener), garlic & coriander.  Traditional gherkin pickle often contains dill.

This is a very popular cucumber, deservedly so, for slicing for salad use. It grows to about 20cm in length, disease resistant and well flavoured. Price for 4 seeds

SOW: inside in April/early May in individual pots, keep moist (not waterlogged) and warm, ready to start to harden off once the plants have 2/3 leaves

GROW:  harden off over a couple of weeks before planting out.  Happy outdoors although they do prefer a sunny and sheltered site; you may need to protect them from wind while they settle in.  Marketmore is happy to climb a low sturdy trellis, wires or canes (up to 1m in height by 1.5m spread).  Keep plants weeded and well-watered.  Mulch if possible, they respond to a mid-season liquid feed too.

EAT: harvest and enjoy from mid-summer to early autumn. 

Every time we grow Mini Munch we are kept supplied with cucumber throughout August and September and it still produces more fruits until early in November when undercover.  We have even grown this outdoors where it is less productive but still tasty and crops well into September,  so this variety remains our top choice… Yes it’s expensive but so very productive, tasty and easy.  It’s an all-female variety, pick at 8-15cm long and enjoy.  An AGM winner. Price for 4 seeds.

SOW & GROW: inside in April/early May in individual pots, keep warm and moist (not waterlogged).  Mini Munch does best in the shelter and warmth of a greenhouse (or conservatory).  You should see flowers (then fruit) at almost every leaf node.  Tie in stems to a trellis or canes to keep them off the ground.   Water regularly using a bottle or pot sunk by the plant to keep the stem dry.  Wait until at least 2 fruits have formed before you think about feeding

EAT: you can pick them as small as 8cm just 6-10 weeks from planting. If you don’t finish a whole fruit in one go then pop the cut end in a glass of water and pop in your fridge.

Pepinex F1 has lovely long, thin skinned dark green fruits.  These are bitter free with a really nice flavour.  This all female type is a really good choice as an early variety with your first fruits ready in 10-12 weeks.  Early sowings in February and March with warmth and protection or wait for April/May. Price for 4 seeds. 

SOW & GROW: with constant warmth to 21°C Pepinex can be sown In February or March, keep warm whilst growing on.  Otherwise sow inside in April/May.  Use individual pots, keep moist (not waterlogged) & protect from night time chills.   Pepinex is an all-female variety & should be grown by itself to avoid cross pollination. It will do best with the additional shelter and warmth of a greenhouse (or conservatory).  Male flowers can appear under stress conditions, these should be removed immediately.  Cordon train the stem up a tall cane and then let it grow back down again.  You can feed after the first 2 or 3 fruits form.

EAT: first fruits can be ready in 10-12 weeks

Peticue F1 – is the perfect variety for patio growing taking up less than half the space of other cucumbers – just 45-60cm, short and busy, ideal for pots – but still delivering plenty of sweet, crunchy cucs.  With the plants happy outdoors, fruiting after about 45 days, picking at 18-23cm long, and more fruiting with regular cropping there is a lot to love about Peticue. 

Price for 4 seeds. 

This is a very compact bush variety that is ideal for small growing areas. This variety can even grow in hanging baskets (water and feed them) as the plants only grow to 40-45cm. The fruits have a great flavour and are never bitter, they grow to 20cm in length. Price for 4 seeds

SOW: April/early May inside in individual pots, keep moist (not soggy) and warm. 

GROW: to plant outside, harden off once they have 2/3 leaves; they like a sunny and sheltered site and you may need to protect them from wind while they settle in.  Mulch them if possible and liquid feed mid-season if grown in the garden soil.  Spacemaster plants grow to about 40-45cm and are happy trailing.  If grown in a hanging basket or pot then feed and water regularly.  You can grow this variety in a greenhouse if you prefer; the growth will be a little more vigorous.

EAT: harvest and enjoy from mid-summer to early autumn.

Telegraph Improved is a very reliable variety producing good crops of dark green fruits with a delightful old fashioned flavour.  This variety is best grown under glass, although it will grow in the open, and will need supporting so that the long fruits dangle straight.  If you don’t mind the fruit curling a bit just let it scramble along.  Price for 4 seeds.

SOW: inside in April/early May in individual pots, keep moist (not waterlogged) and warm, ready to start to harden off once the plants have 2/3 leaves

GROW:  harden off over a couple of weeks before planting out.  Telegraph Improved is best grown under glass, although it will grow in the open, and will need supporting so that the long fruits dangle straight so provide a sturdy trellis, wires or canes (up to 1m in height by 1.5m spread) but you don’t mind the fruit curling a bit just let it scramble about.  Keep plants weeded and well-watered.  Mulch if possible, they respond to a mid-season liquid feed too. 

Picking these fruit at just 7cm length truly gives you taste that will fit in the palm of your hand.  These are bitter free so perfect for salads or cut into batons and enjoying with dips.  They are prolific and the vines will only reach about a meter in length so well behaved in smaller spaces!

SOW: cucumbers germinate and grow best when summer really gets going, they don’t appreciate being planted out too early, so wait until mid April to early June to start them off.  Seed depth 2cm and then place on warm draft-free windowsill or in a propagator, emerging 10-14 days later.

GROW:  transplant within 3 weeks as the tap roots can easily be damaged.  The shorter vines of White Pickle Mini means that they will be happy left to scramble around, they could be planted in a patio pot (warm and sunny position) or even a hanging basket.  There really isn’t a need to tie on to a trellis unless you really want to.

You ought to be enjoying your first mini cucs about 10 weeks from planting out.  As their name suggests they do make good picklers yet irresistible fresh in salads!

For over 100 years gardeners have been enjoying this fabulously crisp cucumber. White Wonder fruits grow to about 15cm long and are a beautiful pale creamy-white, perfect for slicing or dicing for tasty salads. The strong plants start to produce quickly. Price for 4 seeds.

SOW: inside in April/early May in individual pots, keep moist (not waterlogged) and warm, ready to start to harden off once they have 2/3 leaves

GROW:  Harden off over a couple of weeks before planting out.  They prefer a sunny and sheltered site; you may need to protect them from wind while they settle in.  Alternatively grow them in the more sheltered environment of a greenhouse.  Keep plants weeded and well-watered (from the bottom).  Mulch if possible, they respond to a mid-season liquid feed too! 

EAT: perfect for slicing or dicing for tasty salads