West Indian Gherkin Cucumber Seeds – 30 Count

Southern Seeds was founded in 2019 by Ryan and Kim Dorn and became Seed Therapy in 2025. The family business moved its operations to the Dallas, Texas, area in 2023. Drawing on generations of growing experience, the team focuses on dependable seeds, personal customer service, and helping gardeners succeed. Its work includes relationships with American farms and seed donations to schools and community gardens.

West Indian Gherkin Cucumber (Cucumis sativus) - 30 Seeds

Description:

West Indian Gherkin grow extremely vigorous vines that are excellent for all gardens, space permitting. These plants grow so prolifically that fruits can be harvested throughout the entire summer and won't wilt in the heat, and vines don’t leave room for weeds. Fruits are 3-5” long and have a rounded shape, covered in small spikes.

The 'gerki'n, which bears many small, cucumber-like fruits covered in blunt spines, was a common crop in the Monticello vegetable garden. Thomas Jefferson recommended it to his brother, Randolph, in 1813: "the season being over for planting everything but the Gerkin. It is that by which we distinguish the very small pickling cucumber". This was likely the West Indian Gherkin (Cucumis anguria), a native of Africa brought to the Caribbean through the slave trade, then reputedly introduced from Jamaica in 1792 by Richmond seed merchant Minton Collins. Jefferson-documented: This plant was documented by Thomas Jefferson in his Garden Book, Notes on the State of Virginia, or other writings.

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• Heirloom
• Non-GMO
• American grown seeds
• USDA Zones: 3-12

Sold as seeds for planting. Select this packet by its variety, quantity, and growing requirements; it is not a live plant.

Country of origin: United States. The supplier identifies this product as American-grown.

Direct sow West Indian Gherkin seeds in hills or rows after the last spring frost; for hills, sow 6-8 seeds per 12"-wide hill, then thin to the best 3 plants per hill. The long, vigorous vines benefit from a support structure. Harvest when 1"-2" around for eating fresh, cooking or pickling.

Keep unused seeds dry and cool in a clearly labeled, closed container. Protect the packet from humidity and temperature swings, and retain the variety name and sowing notes for your next planting. Use the species-specific directions below when deciding whether to start indoors, sow directly, soak seeds, or provide a cold period. Germination and growth vary with seed handling and local growing conditions.

For general seed-starting and storage guidance, see University of Minnesota Extension’s seed-starting guide. Use the variety-specific packet directions for this product.

Shipping for this product

This product ships directly from Southern Seeds, now Seed Therapy. The supplier currently lists standard processing of 1–3 business days, increasing to approximately 3–5 business days during the busy late-December-through-April-or-May seed season. Processing is separate from carrier transit time. Its published standard shipping rate is $4.99 per order, with free standard shipping at a merchandise subtotal of $35 or more after discounts and before taxes. The options, offers, and final charges displayed at BuyAmerican checkout govern this order; purchases from other makers may ship separately. Carrier delivery dates are estimates. The supplier ships within the United States and may restrict certain seeds by destination.

Returns and seed guarantee

For this product, Southern Seeds/Seed Therapy publishes a 60-day satisfaction guarantee, offering an eligible replacement or product-price refund for concerns reported within 60 days of delivery. Original shipping is generally excluded. Preference-based physical returns generally require customer-paid return shipping; supplier errors or damaged or defective items receive an appropriate resolution without an additional return-shipping charge. Contact BuyAmerican at hello@buyamerican.com with your order number, product name, and concern before mailing anything back. BuyAmerican’s standard return policy provides a 30-day request period for eligible unused items in original packaging. Ask BuyAmerican to coordinate any supplier guarantee request for your marketplace order.

Read the BuyAmerican return policy or contact BuyAmerican order support before a return.