About cucumber bitterness

[Crosbie]

Hi everyone

I had a first cucumber that was slightly bitter - just a bit tho'. There are now loads of little cucumbers in full production.

My question is, if I assume that these others might also be bitter - is there a way of making them 'unbitter' while they are still growing...? In other words, can you rectify a bitter cucumber while it's still growing on the vine?

Please don't tell me to cut it off and try it...

Cheers
Crosbie

[selfraising]

Hmmm is it an all female variety? I think I remember reading that you need to remove male flowers to avoid bitterness but don't know if this is too late for you. You could try giving it an extra watering and see if that helps.

[T8Ter]

If it's not an F1 all female variety and you haven't removed the male flowers any fruit pollinated male/female will, potentially, be bitter, if they are there's no way to rectify this once growing.

[SarzWix]

Ones that come out bitter are usually improved by peeling the skin off... I've had this problem because of planting an All-Female plant next to an old fashioned one with male flowers I won't make the same mistake next year

[Crosbie]

Thanks for your replies...

American - 'Straight Eight' - so maybe outdoor? - I've got them in a hexagon plastic greenhouse - opened during the day - loadsa bees...I think I'll flood them with water.

Cheers Crosbie

[gojiberry]

I have grown two varieties this year, both potential outdoor type. They both need pollinating for the fruits to grow so I don't have to worry about the male/female thing, so much easier. I could have gone for all female types but find them so expensive.

Ian

[ladylottie]

Hi everyone

I had a first cucumber that was slightly bitter - just a bit tho'. There are now loads of little cucumbers in full production.

My question is, if I assume that these others might also be bitter - is there a way of making them 'unbitter' while they are still growing...? In other words, can you rectify a bitter cucumber while it's still growing on the vine?

Please don't tell me to cut it off and try it...

Cheers
Crosbie

I read somewhere on this site (can't remember where now!) that once you've cut them, slice off one end and rub the two pieces of cucumber together. That takes away the bitterness apparently. I haven't tried it myself as I haven't as yet had a bitter cue. Hope this wasn't someone having a laugh!

[ladylottie]

I read somewhere on this site (can't remember where now!) that once you've cut them, slice off one end and rub the two pieces of cucumber together. That takes away the bitterness apparently. I haven't tried it myself as I haven't as yet had a bitter cue. Hope this wasn't someone having a laugh!

Sorry - forgot to say that I don't think there's a way of knowing if they are bitter without cutting them off!

[coreopsis]

Some cukes are bitter at one end-can't remember which one(probably the one where the stem goes to) but try to cut off both of them about 2cm-if you try to peel off the cuke without cutting the ends off first,you "spread" the bitterness along whole cuke.

[Crosbie]

Thanks for your advice all - I appreciate it very much.

I cut off a biggun - and did a taste test:

It's the last 2cm of the blossom end that was bitter - the rest was great -

I've stepped up the watering to twice a day for the newbies.

Cheers
Crosbie