Tokiwa Tokyo Green Cucumbers were one of the 10 seed packets I picked as a gift from Baker Creek Seeds in the Fall of 2019. I really wanted a different cucumber variety, but this one was the only available. I felt disappointed at the time.
Based on the information on the package Tokyo Green Cucumbers grow in partial shade and…. I decided to plant in what I called the Niederrheiner Garden (because it is near the Lemon Cuckoo Niederrheiner outdoor pen). As a side note, the Niederrheiner pen sat exactly where the garden currently is.
I use my flock to kill off the sod as preparation for garden space. You can read how I use Chickens on the Homestead by clicking below.
Planting Tokiwa Tokyo Green Seeds
I planted every seed I had of the Tokiwa Tokyo Green Cucumbers in a 10 foot row about 4 inches apart. If it was a lack of water or other reason, only 4 or 5 ever sprouted.
I left for a week and came home to find weeds had choked out all but 2 of my seedlings, one growing on each end of my 10 foot row.
Trust
My desire to be positive produced my honest thought, maybe God know something I did not. To be clear, I do not always think this way. But in this instance, this was on my mind with peace in my heart. ‘Trust me’, seemed to be the answer to my disappointment with the lack of sprouting and development.
As a bigger picture the Quinoa did not sprout at all. In this instance I needed to learn my mistake of not planting it early enough. I had no such indication I needed to trust God’s sovereignty about the Quinoa.
Are you familiar with the passage in Matthew 13? Sowing seeds reminds me how Jesus shares the parable of the sower and the various reasons seeds may not produce a harvest. Beyond the garden these truths hold a lesson for how we invest into the lives of others.
~ Maria Graber
Setting up the Trellis
I drove T posts on each end of my row. Repurposing twine from opened hay bales I strung a single string from one post to the other. Tokiwa Tokyo Green Cucumbers vine well.
I planted them close to the Lincoln Peas intending to vine both. The plants will grow and the unwanted vegetation will be choked out by the vegetables. But when the plants are young, those weeds need to be removed.
Weeds
Before leaving I left one string for the cucumbers to vine on. Check out the changes I found when I returned. I quickly added a second twine for the plants to continue vining upward.
These cucumbers really do great in the vining category. Several times a week I would remove them from the Lincoln pea trellis and put them back in their own space. Toward the end of the summer I let them go where they pleased.
Plant Development
The young plants grew rapidly and I found myself adding addition levels of twine 2 or 3 times in the next 5 to 6 weeks.
Flowers
Flowers appeared and my anticipation grew. I did not know what to expect in terms of shape, size and flavor.
Tokiwa Tokyo Green Cucumbers
Finally, I spotted tiny cucumbers growing on the vines. I noted some flowers did not produce cucumbers. . Both male and female flowers grow on one vine. One plant will pollinate itself.
I watched as the cucumbers grew, undecided when I should pick them. I learned they can be eaten at various sizes. The larger the cucumber the larger the seeds inside. (Sometimes) The weather impacted the seed development inside too.
There is a correlation between the bumpy or smoothness of the outer skin and the ripeness of the cucumber.
The bumpy exterior indicates a crisper cucumber with less developed seeds. The smoother skin and often larger cucumber indicates a softer, riper cucumber with larger, (and more developed) seeds.
Uses for Tokiwa Tokyo Green Cucumbers
- Dill Pickles
- Bread and Butter Pickles
- Sweet Relish
- Dill Relish
- Cucumber Salad
The Process of Saving Tokiwa Seeds
There are a few different ways to go about saving seeds. I saved seeds 3 different ways from the Tokyo Green Cucumbers this year.
Saving Seeds in Mid-Summer
As I was processing cucumbers into pickles I took a few minuets to save seeds from one of the riper cucumbers. I did not want to miss an opportunity to save seeds in case circumstances prevented any further saving.
I kept back seeds from a riper cucumber and allowed them to dry on a paper plate. Here is what I had this fall.
The Last Cucumber of the Season
I left the last developed Tokiwa Tokyo Green cucumber on the vine well after the fall freeze killed the plant. I removed the seeds before the cucumber had completely dried.
Cutting into the cucumber with a knife, I picked the seeds out.
Saving Seeds from an Over Ripe Cucumber
I choose one of the larger cucumbers in August and allowed it to develop especially large. It was one I missed as I picked about 3 times a week. I wanted this cucumber to select seeds from for next years crop.
I allowed to it to sit and age for 3 months outside on a metal rack exposed to the elements. The ‘rack’ was the top of a wire dog kennel. The cucumber dried up as pictured below.
The cucumber had completely dried. I spent around 30 minutes extracting the seeds for future use. I became apparent despite the fact I had allowed the cucumber to grow large, some of the seeds had not developed enough to be used for planting.
Difference Between a Developed Seed and an Undeveloped Seed
A seed with the potential to sprout and grow a new plant is full, rounded on both sides.
An undeveloped seed will be flat, even pitted in the center and feels empty.
I found the largest number of developed seeds in the rear or larger half of the cucumber.
The front or skinnier portion of the cucumber contained many undeveloped seeds as pictured below.
Storing Tokiwa Tokyo Green Heirloom Seeds
I will store any seeds I have saved in a paper envelope labeled with the name of the seeds and year I saved them. Heirloom seeds often germinate and produce plants beyond the year after they were saved.
Seeds need some air and darkness. I have been advised to not store them in an air tight container such as glass or plastic. However, I am learning on this topic. Do you have any advice for me? Please leave a comment below if you do.
I intend to use these seeds and the produce of these seeds for years to come.
The Abundant Part
I was impressed by how the 2 plants continued to grow and produce up until a killing frost.
I canned 12 cups of relish, and around 32 pints of Dill pickles, and 34 pints of Bread and Butter Pickles from 2 plants. Not to mention all I fed the chickens and shared with friends and family. All. From. Two. Plants.
