Bitter cucumber

[Rosyred]

I've had two like this now and two that aren't why would that be?

[Rosyred]

[manicscousers]

are there male and female flowers, if the flower is pollinated, the cucumber can  be bitter..we grow all female ones now  :)

[Baccy Man]

Cucumber plants contain a bitter compound called cucurbitacins which can be present in the fruit as well as the foliage. Bitterness in cucumbers tends to be more prominent when plants are under stress from low moisture, high temperatures, or poor nutrition. For some cucumber eaters, the bitter taste can be accompanied by a digestive discomfort known as a burp. Some of the newer cultivars of cucumbers do not have the bitter compound and thus no burp. So, some seed companies called their bitter-free cukes "burpless".The amount of bitterness in the cucumber depends on the severity of the heat and drought. Cutting off the stem-end and removing the skin of bitter cucumbers will remove much of the bitterness in most cases. Some fruits will be bitter all the way through and should be discarded. Bitter cucumbers will not improve in taste. Watering during droughty periods to provide 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water in a single application will help keep bitterness out of subsequent fruits. Apply a mulch such as straw, shredded bark, or newspaper, to help cool the soil,conserve moisture, and keep weeds under control.Next year, consider planting bitter-free cultivars. New cultivars arrive each year so be sure to read through next season's garden catalogs to find the bitter-free (burpless) types.

[lorna]

I am going to do same next year..female plants only. This year I thought I had removed all male flowers but still got bitter cues. Have now dumped plants. Very frustrating.
Lorna

[saddad]

I stay with old varieties like Crystal apple and Boothby's Blond where you don't remove the Male flowers..
:-X

[Rosyred]

ok thanks interesting reading. It is a telegraph variety growing in my greenhouse - we live and learn......

[Mrs Ava]

I've grown burpless something or the other this year for the first time and even the cukes that get missed and are on the triffid side of giant are still crunchy and sweet.

[tim]

Same with us, surprisingly.

[cleo]

Hi Rosyred-I posted about your Cus not having fruit and did mention it was a good idea to remove the male flowers when growing Telegraph. The all female varieties do cost more but it saves a lot of hassle.

Baccyman?-yes stress can cause bitterness