Old seeds produce big cucumber
Published 9:35 am Friday, August 13, 2010
WINTON — Yet another large cucumber has been found in the Roanoke Chowan area.
Earnestine Flood of Winton recently grew a 24-inch, eight pounds and one ounce cucumber from her garden. The colossal cuke is 16 inches around and joins the list of large cucumbers found this year despite the dry weather.
Flood’s granddaughter, Tameka Bishop, recently brought the large vegetable to the Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald office.
In a phone interview, Flood said she first discovered the cucumber around June. She placed a piece of plastic under the vegetable so it would not rot.
“So, I just let it stay there,” she said.
Flood said she first planted the cucumber vine in May and applied 10-10-10 fertilizer.
“I’ve gardened all of my life,” said Flood. “When I was a child I was raised on a farm.”
The avid gardener, who grows other vegetables as well, said this is not the first time she has grown a large cucumber. Two years ago, Flood said she grew a similar sized cuke.
Flood said she got the seeds from her other granddaughter, Tekeisha Mitchell, who found them while cleaning out her work desk in Durham.
“I’ve had them for three or four years,” she said.
As for the fate of the cucumber, Flood said she will pickle it.
“The cucumbers I always pickle; the rest (of the vegetables) I freeze,” she said.
Flood said with the dry weather her summer garden is nearing its end. She currently is focusing on her fall garden, which includes cabbage and collard greens.