[Madame Cholet]

I can see 2 small ones

[surbie100]

I've been picking mine on and off for a couple of weeks, but they are really starting to motor now. I wish someone would breed a purple one so I have a better chance of spotting them!

They are amazingly prolific, I had no idea there would be so many.

[Madame Cholet]

You can see them grow every day. They have got a new variety that are much bigger but they were very expensive because of the shortage of seeds I might try them next year.

[NewSteve]

I've got a couple coming up to around 2cm long, so a little while to go before I pick them (I've never grown them before but get the impression 1-2 inches is about right?). Plenty of smaller ones, and the vine has taken over the garden.

I'm glad to read it's not just me who's still waiting.

[surbie100]

I try to get them at an inch long as they are sweeter then and I can eat them whole and raw. Bigger and they are tougher and need cooking, plus de-seeding.

[WhiteWolf]

Fat babies?

WW

[surbie100]

http://www.realseeds.co.uk/cucumbers.html

[WhiteWolf]

http://www.realseeds.co.uk/cucumbers.html

Cheers surbie

they look interesting (note to self, talk to the boss see what she thinks  )

WW 

[8doubles]

http://www.realseeds.co.uk/cucumbers.html

Cheers surbie

they look interesting (note to self, talk to the boss see what she thinks  )

WW 

Interesting is about the best description, as Surbie said they are prolific = weed they grow next year without being planted = weed
And they taste nowhere near as good as a runner bean or other climbing veg !

[sunshineband]

They are best eaten small imho. This is the second year I have grown them and I might try pickling some real babies as there are so many of them.... and I only have three plants 

Anyone tried this?

[AnneB]

No sign of any yet up here.....

[pigguns]

I have pick my first few now, kids were impressed I grew 'grenades'  but not sure what to do with them now 

[Madame Cholet]

A bit like courgettes chop them up in every thing, soups, stews, curries ommlettes.

[New shoot]

I snaffled my first one off the plot this morning.  It was only small so got eaten there and then.

They have a green pepper flavour to them and I would agree with Madame Cholet about the recipe ideas.  They fry well so lend themselves to omlettes, stir-fry and the like.  If you miss a few and they get big enough that you have to seed them, frying is the best option I think.  The pepper flavour intensifies, but you lose a lot of the flesh to the seed cavity.  Smaller ones simmer well.  They go soft and soak up flavours.

The spines rub off really easily and I chucked them whole into a Thai curry as a sub for pea aubergines last year.  They were excellent like that 

I might try pickling some real babies as there are so many of them....

Anyone tried this?

No, but you've got me thinking about it now    What about a cucumber fridge pickle recipe or bread and butter type pickle.  They are juicy and tender when small, so I reckon that would work 

[Madame Cholet]

yes they would be good to bulk out any sort of mixed veg pickle too.