Did I harvest them too early or too late? I thought I timed it well, but this is my first attempt. Any tips for getting it right with the next batch?
It sounds like your cucumbers might be a bit overripe, which can cause bitterness. Try picking them when they’re smaller and still green, without any yellow tinge. This will also give you smaller, more palatable seeds. Bitterness can also come from plant stress, so make sure to keep them well-watered at the roots. Avoid watering the leaves to prevent powdery or downy mildew.
Now I understand why my cucumbers did so poorly last year—they were probably stressed from not getting enough water. Note to self: don’t start a community garden if you can’t visit it several times a week! Lol.
My solution to bitter cucumbers? Try growing Lemon Cucumbers next year. They taste great without the bitterness. I grew them this year and enjoyed them all summer. I pick them when they’re green, but even if they turn a bit yellow, they’re still edible. I highly recommend Lemon Cucumbers. After being disappointed with store-bought cucumbers, I decided to plant these, and it made a huge difference. You can find the plants at Lowe’s if that helps. Give them a try!
My solution to bitter cucumbers is Persian cucumbers. They’re delicious, skin and all. English cucumbers are great too!
Is the entire cucumber bitter? Bitterness often concentrates at the stem end and just under the skin. Try peeling the cucumber and tasting the blossom end first. If it’s bitter, the whole cucumber is likely bad. If it’s good, taste a slice about an inch from the stem end, then another slice an inch further down. You’ll eventually find where the bitterness stops, and you can use the rest.
Ooo, good tip! I’ll try that. Thank you!