Find out what makes cucumbers bitter and how to prevent it.
Bitter cucumbers are masters of disguise.
Scientists have identified what makescucumbersbitter and why that unpleasant flavor develops.
These five easy-to-follow tips will help you avoid growing bitter cucumbers in your garden.
Why Are My Cucumbers Bitter?
Manycucumbers are perfectly deliciouswhile other fruit, sometimes even on the same vine, are bitter.
The cause is an organic compound called cucurbitacin.
Bitter cucumbers contain high amounts of cucurbitacin in their fruit.
It’s mostly in their stems, leaves, and roots, where it can help deterpestssuch ascucumber beetles.
Cucurbitacin migrates into the fruit during stressful growing conditions.
Cucumber skin often contains more of the bitter compound than the flesh.
Removing the skin helps to remove much of the bitter flavor as well.
How to Prevent Bitter Tasting Cucumbers
1.
Choose the right varieties.
Sometypes of cucumbersare, by nature, more prone to bitterness than others.
Plant breeders have selected new varieties based on the amount of cucurbitacin prevalent in the plant parts and stems.
Plants with lower levels of cucurbitacin are less likely to become bitter in adverse growing conditions.
High concentrations of cucurbitacin are sometimes accompanied by digestive discomfort.
As a nod to preventing unsettling digestion, plant breeders have named some new varieties burp-less.
Expect burp-less cultivars to be sweet, not bitter, and less likely to cause unpleasant digestive problems.
Provide plenty of water.
Cucumbers are more likely to become bitter during dry conditions.
The cucurbitacin compound builds up in the plant as it struggles to grow.
In time, the cucurbitacin makes its way to the fruit to create a bitter cucumber.
Aim towater in the morning or late afternoonso foliage can dry quickly.
Fungal diseases are more likely to develop on foliage that remains moist for long periods.
If you live in a dry region, consider installing a drip line or soaker hose nearcucumber plants.
Stressful growing conditions ranging from drought to heat to cold can cause bitter cucumbers.
Mulch combats dry conditions by creating a barrier to limit soil moisture loss.
A 2-inchlayer of mulchalso works to insulate the soil.
The insulating power of mulch moderates temperature swings in the plants root zone, which helps prevent bitter fruit.
Sow cucumbers every 2 weeks.
When dealing with bitter cucumbers, remember this too shall pass.
The sweet and tart combination will mitigate the bitterness.
