Substitute for gherkin pickles?

I love to use pickles in salads (especially pasta salads) - but pickles are kind of expensive where I live - and we dont have those tiny little gherkins (to pickle at home) - we have cucumbers and american gherkins ( the large ones) - what can I make at home (Pickle/relish) - that I can use for salads (using american gherkins or even any other veg?...I guess I'll have to chop it or slice...