15 Cucumber Varieties that You Can Use for Pickles

There are different cucumbers for different needs.

Some are better for slicing and snacking, while others taste best when pickled.

The best pickling cucumbers have thin skin and firm flesh. They will be short with blunt ends.

Here are some cucumber varieties that make delicious pickles.

1. Boston Pickling Cucumbers

Boston pickling cucumbers are one of the most reliable plants that you can grow easily.

With minimum care, these plants will thrive and reward you with ample produce.

The vines produce abundant cucumbers continuously, and you will have enough for several batches of pickles.

The cucumbers are ready for harvesting in 55 days when they are 3 inches in size.

The flesh is crunchy and very firm. It easily absorbs flavors and doesn’t have too many seeds.

2. Bush Cucumbers

Bush cucumber is a good cultivar for small spaces. They don’t spread far, and the vines don’t trail off.

This type of cucumber grows on bushy vines that don’t exceed four feet.

It’s a perfect variety for container gardening. However, it needs a good amount of sunlight for flowering.

This cucumber produces a good harvest within 50 days of planting.

You can harvest the cucumbers when they are four to five inches long.

The planting season is shorter. So you may have to plant it at intervals for a continuous supply of cucumbers.

3. Calypso Cucumbers

Calypso is an exceptional, disease-resistant hybrid cucumber that is good for pickling. It has firm and crunchy flesh.

Additionally, the thin skin allows the flavors in the brine to seep into the flesh.

This cucumber is commercially bred for pickling purposes.

The plant can be easily managed by home gardeners too.

The cucumbers have slightly bumpy green skin with white patches at the harvesting stage.

They will be 4 inches long at this stage.

If you cultivate this variety, you must support the vines with a trellis since it’s a vining type that spreads out.

4. Double Yield Cucumbers

If you are looking for a prolific harvest, the Double Yield cucumber will not disappoint.

This heirloom variety is ready to harvest in just 52 days. It produces more cucumbers than most other varieties.

The specialty of this cucumber is that each leaf joint bears two fruits.

So you will end up with twice as many cucumbers as other varieties.

The skin is dark green, and the cucumbers are slim and long with small black spines.

Interesting Reading: 10 Reasons Why Cucumber Isn’t Squash

5. Wisconsin SMR 58 Cucumbers

This variety was developed at the University of Wisconsin in 1959.

It’s an ever-bearing plant that produces small masses of cucumbers throughout the growing season.

The ample harvest makes it attractive for pickling.

Additionally, the cucumbers grow straight and are the same size.

This factor makes it easier to fit the cucumbers inside a pickling jar.

The cucumbers are between 4 to 6 inches long when ripe and ready for harvest.

These plants trail and spread, so you can use a trellis to direct and support the growth.

6. Hokus Cucumbers

These cucumbers are just as interesting as their name.

They are tiny spiny cucumbers no more than one or two inches long at the time of harvest.

If you leave Hokus on the vine for much longer, they reach four to six inches.

However, it’s best to harvest them before they grow beyond two inches.

The vegetables are round and have fewer seeds than other varieties. They have delicious crunchy flesh.

They remain crisp even when pickled, which adds to their appeal.

The plants grow to six feet or beyond. So, you may like to train the vines with a trellis.

7. Homemade Pickles Cucumbers

“Homemade pickles” is the name of an heirloom cucumber cultivar that is used for pickling.

This plant produces impressive yields.

The cucumbers range in size from 1 inch to 6 inches in length, and you can pick them at any of these sizes for pickling.

The cucumbers have a beautiful light green color and a crispy texture.

They have a subtle sweetness that works well with salt and vinegar.

So pickling Homemade pickles results in a complex and delicious assortment of flavors.

The plant doesn’t spread much and is a good choice for container gardening.

8. Miniature White Cucumbers

Miniature white cucumbers are different from typical green pickling cucumbers.

However, they have a distinct and very exciting sweet flavor.

They also look different with their creamy white skin, which enhances the appeal of the pickle.

There is no need to peel these vegetables.

You can add them whole, chopped, or with skin into the pickling solution.

The cucumbers are best for pickling when they are three inches or smaller.

They have a milder flavor than most cucumbers but are crunchy and juicy.

9. National Pickling Cucumbers

This is another cucumber that is made for pickling. It’s a hybrid variety with excellent disease resistance.

The vines yield plenty of fruit, and you will have enough for pickling throughout the growing season.

It has dark green skin with a black spine and a bumpy surface. They are delicious at any stage.

Nonetheless, it’s advisable to wait until the fruits are at least 58 days old for harvest to avoid any bitter aftertaste.

You can pick them when they are 2 to 3 inches long to use as gherkins.

If they grow bigger, they are better suited for sliced pickles.

10. Parisian Cucumbers

As the name suggests, this pickle is a French heirloom cultivar.

It bears some resemblance to the popular Bourbonne variety and is hence called the “improved Bourbonne.”

Two main factors make the Parisian cucumber an excellent choice for pickling.

Firstly, it has thick and firm flesh that doesn’t turn soggy when put in brine.

Secondly, this cucumber has very few seeds.

The cucumbers grow to six inches and are spiny and dark green.

You can pick them before they reach full size for pickling.

Or you can wait until they are fully grown to prepare sliced cucumber pickles.

11. Picklebush Cucumbers

Picklebush cucumbers are a good choice for home gardeners who don’t have much gardening space.

These plants grow very compact vines that don’t exceed 2 feet in length.

Hence, they are good for container gardening.

You can even grow them in a balcony garden.

They are disease-resistant, making them easy to grow and maintain.

The cucumbers develop white spines when they mature with a classic deep green color that looks amazing in pickles.

The fruits are ready for harvesting in just 52 days.

12. Rhinish Pickle Cucumbers

Rhinish pickle cucumbers are commonplace on cheese and charcuterie boards.

They develop complex flavors with a hint of sourness when pickled.

This variety originated in Germany but is grown all over the world.

It’s an early-growing variety that is ready for harvest in 55 days.

The cucumbers are sweet and crunchy when they are just ripe. It’s ideal to harvest them at this stage.

The longer you leave them on the vine, the more they soften. They also grow bigger as they age.

The longer you wait to harvest them, the less suitable they will be for pickling.

13. H-19 Little Leaf Cucumbers

The H-19 little leaf is an heirloom pickling cucumber. It grows well in tiny spaces.

You can use this cucumber for container gardening because it has a tiny footprint.

The leaves of this variety are very compact compared to other cultivars.

Multiple branches take off from the main vine and bear flowers and fruits.

These cucumbers are small, but the plants produce a lot of fruits at once.

They don’t grow more than 3 or 4 inches and are small with round edges.

They have a lovely emerald color that looks beautiful when pickled.

14. Kirby Cucumbers

Small Kirby cucumbers are easily available and good for pickling. They are 6 inches or smaller with firm flesh.

These cucumbers have thick skin that holds up well in the pickling liquid.

So the flesh remains crispy and snaps even after you place them in the brining solution.

They have a mild flavor and taste refreshing in salads and sandwiches. You can also eat Kirby cucumbers raw.

For pickling, it’s best to pick them off the vines when they are 3 to 4 inches.

If they grow longer, they won’t fit in the pickling jars.

In this case, you may like to slice them and use them in a pickle.

Interesting Reading: 10 Reasons Why Cucumber Isn’t Melon

15. County Fair Cucumbers

County Fair cucumbers taste good in pickles.

They are best without seeds, but you must grow this variety away from other cucumbers to prevent them from developing seeds.

In this case, the flowers will not get pollinated. So the fruit will be seedless with a uniform texture inside.

Country Fair cucumbers grow to a size of 6 to 8 inches. You can pluck them for pickling when they are 6 inches.

At this stage, they will be sweet and crunchy, without any bitter taste.