Photo: NCHFP
After going through the work of pickling cucumbers, you expect that great pickle flavor to come through. But why would they taste watery, or just lack flavor?
If you’ve used tested recipes, it could be due to the variety of cucumber used, and not all cucumbers are destined to make tasty pickles. If using a burpless or table cucumber variety, they will not make the best pickles. Pickling varieties are short and blocky in shape, with a firm flesh that makes a crisp pickle. Spartan Dawn, Liberty, Pioneer, SMR-8, Alibi, and Bush Pickle, are suggested varieties for Kansas gardens.
Use current pickling methods for best results. After canning, allow the jars of pickles to develop their flavor for at least 4-5 weeks before consuming.
Source: KSRE Horticulture Information Center, Cucumber and Cucumbers and Melons
