I’ve waited for our first cucumber, watching it closely, trying to decide how long to let it grow before we clipped it off the vine and ate it. On Sunday, I’d waited long enough.
Things I have learned include that cucumbers are spiky little buggers. By the time I picked our first Marketmore, it was probably half as spiky as it had been just a couple of days ago, but it still had little pin-pricky thorns sticking from the skin.
I’m used to supermarket cucumbers, waxed and buffed and aged until they’re bitter and smooth. Supermarket cucumbers, apparently, are like women who have had too much plastic surgery.
I brought in the cucumber and showed it to Steve, then put it in the fridge for safe keeping. I had plans to serve it with a light dressing of rice vinegar and salt, something easy and bright, something that would let its flavor shine through.
Last night, I took it the six-inch cucumber out of the refrigerator and peeled it. As I sliced it up, I took a bite.
“Um, Steve, do you mind if we just eat this while I finish up dinner?” I asked.
It might have been the sweetest cucumber I’ve ever tasted. Absolutely fabulous. My little rice-vinegar-and-salt plan would have just deadened the flavor.
And there are more growing, folks. We are in shape for such the cucumber score this summer.
Just to put this into context, it’s not like I haven’t eaten plenty of cucumbers from the farmer’s market before. I’ve had what I considered to be great cucumbers. But this one, maybe because we grew it ourselves, maybe because I picked it just a bit earlier than a farmer might have, was like dessert.
And to think…we came this close to sacrificing this particular plant. Funny how things work out.
P.S. That zucchini blossom in the photo? That’s another story for another day. Trust me…it’s worth the wait. Update: And now you don’t have to wait any longer!
on Jul 12th, 2006 at 7:49 am
“Store cucumbers are like women who have had too much plastic surgery.! Love it!!
Garden fresh cucumbers are amazing aren’t they!! It ruins you for other cucumbers.
on Jul 12th, 2006 at 8:25 am
And this is why we’re all nuts for vegetable gardening. There is NOTHING to compare to the flavor of vegetables that go from the garden to the plate, every minute veggies are off the plant they lose flavor.
on Jul 12th, 2006 at 11:49 am
I just ate my first cucumbers of the season. I heartily agree, there is nothing like fresh,home grown cucumbers eaten right away at their peak. Nothing like it!
on Jul 12th, 2006 at 6:52 pm
I really like this benevolence theme and your header is perfect…. I like the fonts and the boldness. Your garden is lovely.
on Jul 12th, 2006 at 10:03 pm
Kalyn, you know, a few years ago, I allowed farmer’s market tomatoes to ruin me for supermarket tomatoes, which I almost never buy anymore (except in emergencies). I’m about to get there with cukes, as well.
Steven and Carol, you’re totally right, and I never quite realized the extent of this before this year. It’s a good thing to come to realize, believe me.
Chowrescue, you’re so sweet! Thanks for visiting and for the lovely comments.
on Oct 23rd, 2006 at 6:11 pm
[...] Fresh garden cucumbers were one of my biggest revelations of the year. I loved watching those bad boys start out as teeny buds and explode into large, sweet cucumbers. It pleased me to no end to discover that we actually had two cucumber plants in the garden, rather than two cantaloupe plants, thanks to a fortuitous mislabeling. [...]
on Jul 26th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
[...] gave a leisurely thought to the cucumber vines that had trailed across the lawn this morning, winding their way into the grass, stretching longer [...]