Crystal Lemon on the ground

[piskieinboots]

Crystal Lemon cucumbers, growing on the ground, bed is 2 x 2m - what you can't see is the mass of flowers under the canopy, but the bees can. Sadly, the cucumbers have proved to be varying degrees of bitterness - I've tried them small, medium, larger - but still bitter.

Darn shame, because there are masses of the darlings. I've spotted eating them due to the bitterness but am leaving the plants to run for a while just for the bees.

Any ideas why so bitter?

[WendyC]

I grew them once but wasn't impressed so didn't grow again. I know lots of folks like them.

[Scarlet]

Have you tried peeling them? Usually the bitterness is only skin deep and worse at the stalk end.

Often the reason for bitterness in outdoor cues is a lack of nutrients...they need plenty of water, if they have been kept on the dry side they will turn bitter, they also need a regular feed.

[Alison]

I like them but find they're more tender under cover as I think the skins get tough outdoors. Never had problems with bitterness so don't know about that.

[piskieinboots]

Have you tried peeling them? Usually the bitterness is only skin deep and worse at the stalk end.

Often the reason for bitterness in outdoor cues is a lack of nutrients...they need plenty of water, if they have been kept on the dry side they will turn bitter, they also need a regular feed.

Now that's worthy of note because I fear I may have been lax with the water!

[hamamelis]

The first time I grew Crystal Lemon they were inedibly bitter. I gave them a second chance the following year, and they were fine- well, I only got one fruit, but it was lovely.

I don't think I did anything different with the two plants.