[Arid_gardener] Re: Bitter Cucumberse

[Olin Miller]

----- Original Message ----- From: <kjohnr at cox.net>
Sent: Monday, July 16, 2007 3:26 PM
> John Kuhl 85251 kjohnr at cox.net
> My cucumber vines (Straight 8 variety) have grown like crazy and are
> producing a lot of fruit - 8 to 10 inches in length and up to 2 inches in
> diameter.  However, the skin of all of the fruit remains white to very
> pale green.  None have ripened to a dark green as expected.  Those that we
> have picked anyway have been firm and well deevloped internally, but very
> bitter.  What am I doing wrong, or what is missing??
===================================

Cucumbers are 96 % water by weight and need a constant supply of moisture,
especially during the flowering and fruiting period.  Bitter cucumbers is
almost always a sign of stress, usually water stress.  Possibly they may
also be left on the vine too long.  Heat stress could also contribute to the
problem - shade during this hot period of the year would also be helpful.
Trellissing exposes them to hot dry winds which could also limit water
takeup and cause water stress.

Olin Miller, Master Gardener Volunteer
U of A Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County AZ