Why are cucumbers bitter?

 Are your cucumbers bitter?

The rare gardener who does not grow bitter cucumbers.1 Some things are as frustrating as caring for your vegetables all season, finally harvesting them, and finding that they are not very tasty when you get them to the table. Cucumbers are fertile, sometimes named for the peak. But what good is it if the cucumbers are not tasty?

Unfortunately, you can not tell if the cucumber is still becoming bitter, you have time to do something about it. In general, bitterness can be easily resolved by certain climatic or soil conditions. That is why it is very important to take precautionary measures so that they do not turn bitter in the first place.

What makes cucumbers bitter?

All cultivated cucumbers contain Cucurbitacin B and Cucurbitacin C, which make their leaves bitter and less palatable to animals. These compounds are usually found only in the leaves and stems of plants, parts of plants that are not eaten by humans, so we do not know if they exist. Only when they go into the fruit do we begin to detect the bitter taste. In general, it is not the whole fruit that turns bitter. Most commonly, the bitterness accumulates at the tip of the stem and under the skin.

Prevents bitter cucumber

There is still some disagreement as to what causes the spread of bitter fruits, but this indicates the types of stress when growing cucumbers. While we may not be able to fix the problem after the fact, we can try to avoid the following 3 growing conditions that are potential culprits of bitter cucumber.

Dry conditions: Prolonged hot, dry weather can contribute to bitter cucumbers. Pour water well to compensate for your cucumbers becoming bitter. Soak at least an inch deep in water for a week during a severe drought. Add drip irrigation to get adequate, constant moisture for the plants. Stick your index finger into the soil to a depth of one inch. If it is wet, water is not needed. If the soil is dry, it's time to drink. Add mulch to the area around the roots as the temperature rises to protect the soil moisture and prevent weeds. When the temperature rises in the mid-90s, add a shade of cloth to provide filtered light to the plants during the warmer part of the growing season. Very hot temperatures put pressure on the plants, which promotes bitterness.

Lean soil: Another factor in bitter cucumber is poor soil and lack of nutrients. Cucumbers are heavy fodder, and soil rich in organic matter will go a long way to produce low-pressure, excellent tasty cucumbers. Add compost when making beds, and then apply a lateral dressing to plants throughout the growing season. If your soil is less than optimal, apply regular fertilizer to your cucumbers every 4 to 6 weeks. Consider planting cucumbers on raised beds or mounds — both options allow the soil to warm up early in the season, helping young plants avoid the stress caused by cold soil. Less stress = less bitterness.

Excessive competition: As heavy fodder, cucumbers do not like competition for water and nutrients from other cucumber plants or weeds. Avoid weeds in the bed and give proper space to the cucumber plants when sowing seeds in spring. Plant cucumbers that are placed vertically or in cages at intervals of 8-12 inches, and increase the distance of plants to be piled up at intervals of 3 feet. Cucumbers with good spacing avoid bitterness as there is plenty of space and nutrients to grow.

Lack of sun: Cloudy areas such as the Pacific Northwest have reported bitter cucumbers due to lack of sun. Again, you can’t control the hours the sun shines, but you can plant where the sun allows as much as nature allows. Growing your cucumbers secretly, like polythene, will amplify the available heat and light if it is cold and humid, and cloudy. In the garden, unless you live in very hot climates, avoid planting cucumbers in areas shaded by tall crops — a little afternoon shade will help avoid bitterness on hot days.

So even though cucumber plants grow easily, you can get amazing harvests from one or two plants, to get quality and quantity, you need to provide them with good growing conditions: plenty of sunlight, regular water, and fertile soil.

Finally, take a look at the varieties that are most suitable for your area and are labeled "non-bitter". Some Reliable Types' Mark

Get more 97 ',' Diva ',' Eversweet '(any variety with' sweet 'in the name),' Long Green Updated ', and Heritage' Lemon '.

Like all plants, the real trick to cooking or otherwise, healthy, productive cucumber plants is to explore what growing conditions the plant wants and do everything you can to provide them. Some days stress can even have a ripple effect of damage. Decoration

The plants will probably heal, but with cucumbers and other edible plants, you will have only one chance to get it right. That’s why it’s so important to put some thought into choosing both your growing site and your recipes.

What to do with bitter cucumber

If you find it with bitter cucumbers, do not automatically reach the compost bucket. Peeling the fruit should improve the taste. Cut off the first inch or two from the stem tip and test the flavor. If it is still bitter, try a slice towards the center of the cucumber and see if it is sweet. You need to save more than enough for a salad.

Once you notice the bitter cucumber, take the above precautionary measures to avoid the same fate for your remaining harvest.