Why are cucumbers bitter in the greenhouse and in the garden, and what to do
The problem of the unpleasant taste of cucumbers often worries gardeners. Few people know why cucumbers are bitter, what contributes to this, but scientists have identified the cause of the problem long ago. The point is this: the degree of bitterness depends on the amount of cucurbitacin accumulated in the vegetable. The more it is, the more bitter the cucumber seems.
Causes of bitterness
In different periods, scientists have put forward various reasons for this phenomenon. Many are sure: the appearance of an unpleasant taste is associated with the peculiarities of watering: either there is not enough water, or watering is too abundant. This is not entirely true.
There are many more reasons why cucumbers are bitter. Here are the main ones:
- The presence of a large amount of cucurbitacin. The substance begins to be produced at the moment when the plant is under stress. This happens for the reasons listed below.
- Very bright light or shade. It is recommended to plant cucumbers in open ground in well-lit places, but preferably in the shade of trees, that is, daylight should be diffused.
- Poor seed quality and harvesting errors. If the material is taken from the back of the vegetable, then you cannot count on a good harvest: the vegetables are very likely to become very bitter. Ideal for harvesting those seeds that are located in the upper part of the fruit.
- Insufficiently moist or too moist soil. Since the homeland of cucumber is India, the culture prefers to grow in warm, moist soil, however, oversaturation of the earth with water should be avoided.
- Land with a high clay content. This is one of the reasons why cucumbers are bitter in a greenhouse where conditions are close to ideal.
- Lack of nutrients. So, for a cucumber, it is advisable to prepare the soil in advance by enriching it with nitrogen. Ideal if the gardener has the opportunity to fertilize the ground with chicken droppings.
- Sharp jumps in air temperature. This factor is especially relevant if bitter cucumbers are not grown in a greenhouse.
- Dry air.
- Watering with water at a low temperature, which is strictly prohibited.
In general, cucumber is a rather delicate culture, easily reacting to every change in climate and conditions. This is the main reason why cucumbers in the greenhouse are bitter, explaining the nature of this phenomenon. To make the fruits grow tasty, they try to eliminate the impact of negative factors on the culture.
How to prevent bitterness
To create an environment in which cucumbers grow sweet and tasty, some growing rules must be followed. This way you can guarantee that cucumbers do not have bitter fruits. These requirements are simple, even a novice gardener can fulfill them.
First of all, you need to remember: watering should be carried out exclusively at the root and only with warm water.
In warm, dry and hot climates, irrigation should be done twice a day. The choice of time of day should be considered carefully. At this time, the sun should not "burn" much. The best option is to water the plant in the early morning and late evening, before sunset. Compliance with this condition will allow you to never later wonder why bitter cucumbers and what to do with them.
Choice of neighbors plays an important role in preventing unpleasant tastes. It is good if broccoli or Chinese cabbage, dill or celery, asparagus or spinach, radishes or legumes, onions or beets grow next to the cucumber garden.
Cucumber is a delicate plant that reacts quickly to changing conditions. Five hot days and warm nights are enough for the amount of the crop to increase dramatically. If the plants are cultivated in the garden, it is necessary to cover them with agrofibre during the sun. If this is not possible, you can plant the vegetable in places that are slightly shaded.
You can protect the cucumber bed from temperature extremes with a film, which should be used to cover the plants at night. This method is used when it is not possible to equip and maintain a greenhouse. This protection will help stop and prevent the production of cucurbitacin, and the cucumber will remain sweet.
You can prevent the formation of bitterness in fruits by organizing plant feeding. Cucumbers grow especially well on nitrogen-enriched soils. To prevent the appearance of a bitter taste, peat, wood ash, potassium humate and organic additives can be applied as fertilizer.
How to remove bitterness from cucumbers
If, nevertheless, a crop has been obtained, the fruits of which are very bitter, you can still fix the situation. The easiest and most affordable way is to soak greenhouse cucumbers in water. The time during which the fruits should get wet is at least 12 hours. The water should be cold. You can salt the crop, as cucurbitacin does not withstand heat treatment.
After the end of the canning process, the bitter taste of the fruit will disappear, they become tasty.
Housewives have learned to quickly reduce the level of the bitter substance. To do this, you need to cut off the tail and peel at the top and quickly rub the cut. This should be done until foam appears. This is an indication of the removal of cucurbitacin, a substance that provokes the appearance of a bitter taste. The vegetable becomes suitable for the preparation of salads and other dishes, in which the cucumber should not be heat-treated.
In some cases, the bitterness is contained only in the peel. Bitter skins can be cut off, and only the sweet portion should be used as food.
Sometimes it is not possible to etch the unpleasant taste. Even bitter fruits can be eaten. Some doctors are convinced that the bitterness in cucumbers can prevent such a serious disease as cancer. Such fruits will not bring gastronomic pleasure, but may be beneficial to health.
How to grow a sweet cucumber
Getting a crop without bitterness is quite real. To do this, you need to follow some simple rules.
- The beds must be made in places located north of tall crops - this is necessary for the access of diffused sunlight.
- It is best to plant cucumbers as seedlings in early May.
- Before planting, make sure that there is no threat of frost.
- When preparing a site for planting after the first feeding for two weeks, it is not recommended to water the soil.
- It is necessary to regularly loosen the soil for the cucumbers and eliminate weeds.
- Watering is recommended at about the same time, if the climate is very hot - twice a day.
- It is important that pests do not start on the plants, therefore, regular inspections should be carried out.
- Monitor the condition of plants: old, diseased leaves must be cut off in time.
In some countries, cucumber is considered a fruit - on the dinner table, it is on an equal footing with desserts. Of course, sweet things cannot be bitter, so it is so important to monitor the plants, follow all the rules of cultivation, so that the unpleasant bitterness in cucumbers does not darken the harvesting process and spoil the taste. Thinking in advance about why the cucumbers in the greenhouse are bitter and what to do to prevent this, you can guarantee a high-quality harvest.
