FREE: Armenian Yard Long Cucumber - Ancestral Heirloom - 12 Seeds

The listing, Armenian Yard Long Cucumber - Ancestral Heirloom - 12 Seeds has ended.

You are bidding on 12 Seeds of my delicious Organic Ancestral Heirloom Yard Long Cucumbers.

As its name suggests, the Armenian Cucumber is native to Armenia. Its initial cultivation is dated back to the 15th Century, which puts it into the category of ancestral varieties. This takes greater historical precedent over heirloom. Ancestral varieties were introduced into the human diet when the only foods eaten were whole, unprocessed, easier to digest and metabolize, generally predating the 19th century. Today, ironically, or perhaps because of migration and the natural distribution of food that follows, the Armenian cucumber can be found growing more in California than in Armenia. The Armenian cucumber, like many cucumbers and melons, are frost sensitive, thus require a planting period during Spring. Full sun and warm Summers bring prolific harvests into Fall.

The Armenian cucumber is thin, elongated, curved and often irregularly curled with a dark green to creamy pistachio colored skin that is textured with smooth long furrows. Its flesh is crisp, succulent and mildly flavored, similar to a common cucumber. Ideal sized Armenian cucumbers will range in length from 10-15 inches. Longer cucumbers will tend to be not just over-sized, but also overly mature with less moisture content (I use these in stir fry or baked dishes not on salads). The Armenian cucumber is entire edible, skin flesh, seeds and all.
When eating this tasty fellow there is no need to peel the Armenian cucumber. Its thin skin makes it an ideal fresh slicing cucumber, Or if you are like me you will eat it right off the vine while watering the rest of the garden!!
Armenian cucumbers favor being served raw in green leaf, chopped salads and pasta salads. Their delicate flavor allows them to become a perfect textural component in sandwiches and sushi. They can be sliced lengthwise, widthwise, diced and julienned. The Armenian cucumber can be grilled, puréed or pickle.