Cucumber

Cucumbers are fun to grow because of their vining. They will grow along the ground or up a trellis. This year I planted some cukes by a trellis in the back yard, but rabbits got most of them. We might get a few vines to climb up the trellis, but not too many. The ones creeping along the ground, however, remain untouched.

We've harvested lots of cukes and have been enjoying eating them for a couple of weeks. Cucumbers are best harvested when small. When they get larger, the outer skin gets tough and more seeds develop inside. When young, they are more tender and flavorful.

Once picked, I will use a vegetable peeler to remove some or all of the skin and use a spoon to remove the seeds. Sliced, cukes are great in a salad or dipped in a yogurt sauce. But, I like putting them in a brine of vinegar and water and salt and storing them overnight in the fridge. Topped with chopped dill, these lightly pickled cukes are a great snack.