Japanese cucumbers in northwestern San Francisco?

[poot]

For my annual lunar celebration, I'd like some excellent Japanese cucumbers, small with stubble. The following shopping zones are preferred: Irving & Clement. What have you seen recently?

[beth1]

They're super easy to grow, if you have space. I grew some last year in a large pot. The vines get huge, and the cukes come in pretty quickly. I love them, but I don't like paying over $2/lb.

[walker]

Sometimes, Cal-Mart charges $5.99 lb. Come to think of it, I think it's been even higher there.

You put the pot in a sunny window? I bought an aero grow thing and got about 5 cukes (tasty) and then the pump stopped working and the company would not replace so I gave it away.

[sfbing]

22nd and irving.

[poot]

Couldn't be a better location. Thank you.

[walker]

I shop at 22nd/Irv often and have only seen Persian, fat pickle cukes, maybe English cukes, NOT Japanese. In SF, I've only found Japanese ones at Cal-Mart (hidden near the mushrooms) and often they are not fresh enough for me to buy them.

The ones I've found at Japanese Mkt at Webster/Post are kind of overgrown, big seeds.

Best I've found is Monterey Mkt in Berkeley (Hopkins St) but they only get their shipment in on Wednesdays.

[poot]

Walker, you are right on. SFbing let me down. But the Persian cucumbers worked okay, so I'm not pursuing a vendetta. (I buy the stubbly guys at the Ferry Building farmers market from time to time; the old couple with a stand in the rear area adjacent to brown rice and Frog Poop Hollow.)

[walker]

I can't make it to farmer's mkts (work a night shift and hate crowds). Costco gets in really great Persian cukes and sometimes lately has pkgs of super small ones. I have a great Asian cuke salad that calls for rice vinegar, fresh lime juice, shallots, sugar, chile.

[poot]

Sounds much like the dish I made. But here's the thing: rather than slice the cucumbers you smack the hell out of them with the flat of your cleaver, then chop. The irregular shapes have great surface area to collect dressing.