You will need about 14 pounds of cucumbers per load of 7 quarts. For a load of 9 pints, you will need about 9 pounds of cucumbers. You should choose firm cucumbers that are about 1 and 1/2 inches for gherkins and 4 inches for dills. For relishes, you can use odd-shaped and more mature cucumbers. These also work well for bread-and-butter style pickles.