Bitter Cucumbers

[mommytotwo]

I had picked a cucumber this afternoon and had it for dinner and it was a bit on the bitter side, what should I do? Does this mean that it needs more fertilizer or water?

 

[Snowwark]

Has the weather been very hot and dry lately, Patsy? Apparently that can affect the taste. And here I was going to say.....add more salt, vinegar, sour cream, whatever it is you enjoy on them!

~Bitterness in cucumber is due to the presence of a compound called cucurbitacin. This contributes to cucumber flavor in small amounts, but in large amounts causes bitterness. Hot, dry weather increases the fruit levels of this compound. Insufficient irrigation is also a culprit. Lastly, seeds of an off-type may have gotten into your garden, and these can form bitter fruit. ~

 

[mommytotwo]

Yup, the weather has been on the dry side, but I have been watering the plants everyday, so hopefully that will help out the cucumbers and we will no longer have bitter cucumbers. Thank you Snowwark , you're always very helpful.