VegetableCucumber
Parisian Pickle Cucumber
Parisian Pickle Cucumber is a French gherkin-style cucumber that brings historic charm and practical pickling excellence to the home garden. First introduced to American gardeners around 1892 by seed pioneer J.H. Gregory, this open-pollinated heirloom thrives in zones 2-12 and reaches harvest in just 60 days. The vining plants grow 18-30 inches tall and produce abundant small cucumbers suited to both traditional dill pickles and sweet preserves, making it a living connection to 19th-century American seed catalogs.
Photo © True Leaf Market
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
2-12
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Growth Stats
30 in
Height
TypeVining
Spacing
18
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
2-12
Size
30in H x ?in W
Growth
—
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
This French gherkin excels at what it was bred to do: produce crisp, compact cucumbers perfect for pickling in just two months. Unlike modern slicing varieties, Parisian Pickle grows as a vigorous vine that adapts beautifully to container growing with support, raised beds, or traditional garden rows, and it tolerates a remarkably wide climate range from zone 2 through zone 12. The heirloom genetics mean you can save seeds year after year, connecting your garden to the same variety American growers cherished in the 1890s.
Common Uses
Parisian Pickle is purpose-built for pickling. The small, tender cucumbers are exceptional for making classic dill pickles, sweet pickles, and cornichons. The compact fruit size and prolific production make it far more practical than full-sized slicing varieties when the goal is filling jars rather than slicing for salads. Home preservers value this cultivar specifically because the smaller fruit pickles evenly and quickly, yielding that satisfying crunch and properly balanced brine penetration that larger cucumbers cannot achieve.
Growing Timeline
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Care Instructions
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant hardened seedlings outdoors after all frost danger has passed and soil temperature reaches at least 60°F, preferably warmer. Space plants 18 inches apart with 48 inches between rows to accommodate the vining growth habit.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outdoors after all danger of frost has passed and soil is warm. Sow seeds where they will grow, spacing plants 18 inches apart with 48 inches between rows.
Harvesting
Harvest cucumbers when they reach 2-3 inches long for optimal pickling texture and tenderness, typically around 60 days from planting. Pick fruit regularly while still small and firm; mature fruit left too long on the vine becomes seedy and soft. Check plants every 2-3 days during peak production season, as Parisian Pickle produces prolifically and small immature fruit are ideal for pickling.
Pruning
Train the vining growth onto a sturdy trellis or support system. Pruning is not necessary, but removing lower leaves once plants establish can improve air circulation and reduce disease pressure. Allow the vine to climb and spread across the support structure to maximize sunlight exposure and fruit production.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Scientific Classification
Cucumis sativus
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Cucumis
Growth Habit
Vining
Native Status
L48 (I)HI (I)PR (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Parisian Pickle entered American gardening consciousness around 1892 when J.H. Gregory, the legendary Massachusetts seedsman known for developing the Hubbard squash and popularizing many European varieties, first offered it to U.S. gardeners. Gregory's catalog introductions often brought the best European cultivars to American home gardeners, and his decision to include this French gherkin-style cucumber reflected both its popularity abroad and its utility in American kitchens. The variety's survival as an open-pollinated heirloom means gardeners today are planting seeds descended directly from Gregory's original introductions more than 130 years ago.”