Pickling Cucumber Info & FAQ’s

Pickling cucumber season is upon us! The season runs from early July through September (depending on fall rain). Please read on for more info about the cucumbers we grow and how to place an order.

What type of cucumbers do we grow?
After trialing many different varieties, we have narrowed down the type we grow to one European pickling cucumber that tastes great both fresh and pickled. In particular, we’ve noted that it holds its crunch really well when pickled (although that may depend on your pickling method). This variety has tiny bumps or spines, as opposed to the larger “warty” American pickling cucumbers you might also see around this time of year. Although prickly to the touch at first, the spines easily rub off when wiped down or washed.

What size are the cucumbers?
Our pickling cucumbers range from about 3-5” long, and are about the diameter of a twoonie or smaller. We pick them, at minimum, every other day (often every day at the heigh of the season) to ensure we get them at the right size. It is a fine balance between allowing them to size up for a descent pick and having them too large for a good pickle. We aim to only include cucumbers that make a reasonable pickle… and we know A LOT about that. As a side note, Niki learned to make pickles from her mom and Ukrainian Baba as a kid, and has been making them ever since, for over 30 years now. She knows a good pickle. This is all to say, no we cannot guarantee all the cucumbers will be an exact size, and no we cannot give you only the “small ones”. What we can promise is that we’ll give you high quality, reasonably sized cucumbers that make great pickles. The fact that we have numerous repeat customers (including chefs and seasoned home canners) year over year, collectively purchasing hundreds of pounds of cucumbers, is a testament to their quality.

How much should I buy?
If you’re not sure how many cucumber you’ll need, we recommend approximately 1 lb/ quart jar for dills.

How much do they cost?
This season our pickling cukes cost $3.80/ lb and we have a minimum order of 10 lb. Just a reminder our cucumbers, like all our produce, are certified organic and we are a living wage employer. That means we pay our farm crew (and ourselves) a fair wage for the hard work of picking the cucumbers (think bent over and/ or crawling on your knees, searching through prickly plants for cukes of just the right size!).

Do you sell dill and garlic to go with?
Yes, we have dill bunches available for $3.80/ bunch. One bunch is approximately 10 large flower heads, or enough for 10 jars. To keep things simple, garlic is also $3.80/ head. These are large heads with large cloves (5 cloves/ head on average). Because of the timing, the garlic can be quite fresh/ newly dug, so the cloves are easier to peel.

How do I place an order?
Please send us an email (tatloroadfarm@gmail.com) with the amount of cucumbers you’d like. If you’d like dill and/ or garlic to go with them, please let us know how much. Also let us know your ideal timing for pick up (e.g. if there’s a certain day or week you’d like to get them, or on the other hand if you can be flexible). Niki will follow up with you to confirm the order and a pick-up date. We are constantly trying to balance orders with the harvests, so that everyone receives the amount they’re looking for, but please be patient with us while we get back to you. In addition to growing pickling cucumbers, we have many other crops to tend to at this busy time of year!