I've be growing 3 Japanese cucumber plants, good yields, and the first maybe 10 or 12 cucumbers were just fine. But now they are uneatable due to being very bitter. Does anyone know the cause?
It may be due to heat. We don't get bitter cucumbers in spring or fall, but if we keep the vines alive during the summer, the cucumbers are bitter. If the vines are healthy and you want to invest the time to keep them alive, the fruit set when the weather cools will likely be better tasting. We usually just re-plant for a fall crop.
Hi @cuatro-gatos I've never grown cucumber so can't help regarding in advice like the other members but this link explains why they turn bitter. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/vegetables/cucumber/what-causes-bitter-cucumber.htm
Thank you for the info. I wont waste anymore time or water on these plants and will yank them out. Nor sure if I can get another batch out before the days get shorter, but I can always try.
Are you letting them get too big before you pick them ? They get terribly bitter when over grown. What type are you growing ? Pickling or slicing ? Letting the slices sit in a salt brine abut half an hour usually removes the bitter taste for cucumbers ! Just remove the current large ones and water well. Any that are small can be left ! You can make relish out of the bitter ones if you soak them in brine, chop then cook with onions, peppers vinegar and sugar ect !
You are in southern California, many veggies that can not handle the really hot weather of the southern US can be replanted in Sept and have plenty of time to put out a good crop.
That's weird.. I am also in Southern Cali and noticed that my basil that we put on some pizza was so bitter that we had to pick it off. I have also grown celery that turned out so bitter we couldn't eat it. Everything was in store bought soil, in pots. I do use used/brewed tea leaves as a fertilizer occasionally and thought maybe that was causing the bitterness? Any ideas?
Hi plantmom...scroll down to How we Compost Tea on the link and that tells you how to use tea as a compost for your plants https://oldworldgardenfarms.com/201...-compost-tea-the-ultimate-organic-fertilizer/
Both having the same problem in similar area ? How large are the pots you use ?? Tea is not the cause !!
I think it is because of not enough water. Our neighbor used to give us cucumbers and when it was dry she never watered.The next summer had a lot more rainy weather and they were fine. Not sure if she used another kind or not and I am not an expert but she always let Mother Nature take care of her garden.
