Gardening and Horticulture - bitter cucumber

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donna CA
06-30-08, 07:12 PM
am trying to figure out why my cucumbers are always bitter.
am i picking them too soon/late?? any thoughts.

twelvepole
07-01-08, 06:38 AM
Bitterness of cucumbers can be due to a variety of environmental stressors, for example, high temperatures, low moisture, low fertility or foliage diseases. My mother always said to pick cucumbers before the sun hit them or they would be bitter. Same for lettuce.

The bitterness of cucumbers is more concentrated toward stem end and surface. Tips for peeling cucumbers to control bitterness: http://extension.oregonstate.edu/news/story.php?S_No=587&storyType=garde
Newt
07-05-08, 01:38 PM
In addition to the reasons Twelvepole listed, picking them after peak ripness will also result in bitter cucumbers. Maybe this will help about when to harvest veggies.
http://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/L291-w.htm

Newt