Burr Gherkins

Grow burr gherkins for your own tiny pickles!

Burr gherkin plant (Eugenio Hansen, OFS) CC BY-SA 3.0

Burr gherkins (Cucumis anguria) are an African cousin to the common cucumber (C. sativus).

Burr gherkin description

Smaller than cucumbers, burr gherkins go by several other names: cackrey, West Indian gherkin, and West Indian gourd. Whatever you call them, these heat-loving plants produce vines that can reach 9’ in length. The fruits are oblong and usually less than 2” long. They get the name burr because fruits are covered with tiny spines or warts.

Burr gherkin flower (Filo gèn') CC BY-SA 4.0

Cucamelon flower (Tigerente) CC BY-SA 3.0

While the vines and flowers of burr gherkins look a lot like cucamelons (Melothria scabra), the two are only distantly related and the fruits are very different. 

Burr gherkin fruit (Filo gèn' ) CC BY-SA 4.0

Cucamelon fruit (Tigerente) CC BY-SA 3.0

These are also not the longer French gherkins, which are pickled in vinegar and tarragon and called cornichons.​

How to grow burr gherkins

As a cucurbit, burr gherkins prefer warm temperatures, loose soil, and something to climb. Burr gherkins can also be allowed to sprawl across the ground, though a bed of straw will help reduce pest and disease damage. Six to eight seeds are planted in 12” hills with 18-24” spaces between hills. Once seedlings emerge, snip off all but the best three in each hill at soil level. Water as needed, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings.

Burr gherkin pests and diseases

Burr gherkins are particularly susceptible to aphids and cucumber beetles. Fungal diseases, such as damping-off, downy mildews, powdery mildew and verticillium wilt are also possible, as are viral diseases, such as mosaics and various yellows. Row covers can be used to protect against some insects, just make sure you don’t trap any pests under the cloth.

Inside burr gherkin fruit (Filo gèn') CC BY-SA 4.0

Preserving burr gherkins

These are very productive plants, but you will want to harvest fruits while they are young. This keeps the plant producing fruit, plus mature fruits are tough. Fruits should start appearing 60-65 days after planting. While burr gherkins can certainly be eaten raw or cooked like zucchini, they are most commonly brined or pickled.

Because of their unusual fruit, burr gherkins are a great addition to children’s gardens. And, just so you know, most of the pickles sold in markets today as “gherkins” are actually just baby cucumbers, not gherkins.

Now you know.