Unusually-shaped cucumbers are flourishing at RHS Garden Harlow Carr in Harrogate this week because of the recent hot weather.
This year eighteen weird and wonderful cucumber cultivars (Cucumis sativus) are being grown at the garden for the first time – from round and hairy to long and slender, and even short and knobbly.
All are edible and while many have the familiar mild taste we know and love, some offer slightly different flavours: the creamy white fruits of cucumber ‘White Wonder’ for example have a sweet citrus flavour and crisp crunchy flesh and are the perfect addition to a gin and tonic.
Kitchen gardener Joe Lofthouse is overseeing Harlow Carr’s quirky cucumber display, which can be found in the Kitchen Garden greenhouse.
