Trials to produce English cucumbers grown in winter have been successful, according to growers in Essex.
Valley Grown Nurseries in Nazeing said the plants were grown in state-of-the-art glasshouses and exposed to powerful lights for up to 18 hours a day. Cropping had begun a week later than anticipated, but MD Gary Taylor said the trial proved cucumbers could be grown in the UK in the colder months. Production is set to continue until the main season starts in March.
Most cucumbers available to UK shoppers in the winter are imported from Spain. The trial’s volumes are being marketed by Valley Grown Salads, which is category manager for Waitrose.