Why cucumbers are bitter in the greenhouse and open field: reasons for 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 for a long time. Here's the thing: 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 put forward various reasons for this phenomenon. Many are sure that the appearance of an unpleasant taste is associated with the characteristics of irrigation: either there is not enough water, or watering is too plentiful. This is not entirely true.

There are many more reasons why cucumbers are bitter. Here are the main ones:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. Poor seed quality and harvesting errors. If the material is taken from the back of the vegetable, then you can’t count on a good harvest: with a high degree of probability, the vegetables will become very bitter. Those seeds that are located in the upper part of the fruit are ideal for harvesting.
4. Inadequate or too wet soil. Since the homeland of the cucumber is India, the culture prefers to grow in warm, moist soil, but oversaturation of the earth with water should be avoided.
5. Land with high clay content. This is one of the reasons why cucumbers are bitter in a greenhouse where conditions are close to ideal.
6. Lack of nutrients. So, for a cucumber, it is advisable to prepare the soil in advance by enriching it with nitrogen. Ideally, if the gardener has the opportunity to fertilize the ground with chicken manure.
7. Sharp jumps in air temperature. This factor is especially relevant if bitter cucumbers are not grown in a greenhouse.
8. Dry air.
9. Irrigation with low temperature water, which is strictly prohibited.

In general, the cucumber is a rather tender culture, easily reacting to every change in climate and conditions of detention. This is the main reason why cucumbers are bitter in the greenhouse, explaining the nature of this phenomenon. In order for the fruits to grow tasty, they try to exclude the impact of negative factors on the culture.

How to prevent bitterness

In order to create conditions in which cucumbers would grow sweet and tasty, it is necessary to follow some growing rules. So you can guarantee the absence of bitter fruits in cucumbers. These requirements are simple, even a novice gardener can fulfill them.

First of all, you need to remember: watering should be carried out exclusively under 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 “scorch” 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 never later to wonder why bitter cucumbers and what to do with them.

The choice of "neighbors" plays an important role in preventing the appearance of an unpleasant taste. It is good if broccoli or Beijing cabbage, dill or celery, asparagus or spinach, radishes or legumes, onions or beets grow next to the cucumber bed.

Cucumber is a delicate plant that quickly reacts 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, during the period of the sun it is necessary to cover them with agrofibre. If this is not possible, you can plant a vegetable in places that are slightly shaded.

You can protect the cucumber bed from temperature changes with the help of a film that should cover the plants at night. This method is used when it is not possible to equip and maintain a greenhouse. Such 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 nutrition. Cucumbers grow especially well on soils enriched with nitrogen. To prevent the appearance of a bitter taste, peat, wood ash, potassium humate and organic additives can be applied as a fertilizer.

How to remove bitterness from cucumbers

If, nevertheless, a crop is obtained, the fruits of which are very bitter, it is still possible to correct the situation. The easiest and most affordable way is to soak greenhouse cucumbers in water. The time during which the fruits must get wet is at least 12 hours. The water must be cold. It is possible to s alt the crop, as cucurbitacin does not withstand heat treatment.

After the canning process is completed, the bitter taste of the fruit will disappear, they become delicious.

Mistresses have learned to quickly reduce the level of a bitter substance. To do this, cut off the tail and peel at the top and quickly grate the cut. You need to do this until foam appears. This is an indicator of the removal of cucurbitacin, a substance that provokes the appearance of a bitter taste. The vegetable becomes suitable for preparing salads and other dishes in which the cucumber should not be cooked.

In some cases, bitterness is contained only in the peel. The bitter skin can be cut off, and only the sweet part should be used as food.

Sometimes the bad taste can't be eradicated. Even bitter fruits can be eaten. Some doctors are sure 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 he alth.

How to grow a sweet cucumber

Getting a crop without bitterness is quite real. To do this, you need to follow some simple rules.

1. The beds should be made in places located north of high crops - this is necessary for access to diffused sunlight.
2. It is best to plant cucumbers in the form of seedlings in early May.
3. Before planting, make sure there is no danger of frost.
4. When preparing a site for planting after the first top dressing, it is not recommended to water the soil for two weeks.
5. It is necessary to regularly loosen the soil for cucumbers and eliminate weeds.
6. Watering is recommended at about the same time if the climate is very hot - twice a day.
7. It is important that pests do not start on the plants, so regular inspections should be carried out.
8. Monitor the condition of plants: old, diseased leaves must be cut off in a timely manner.

In some countries, the cucumber is considered a fruit - on the dinner table it is on an equal footing with desserts. Of course, sweet cannot be bitter, which is why it is so important to follow the plants, follow all the rules of cultivation, so that the unpleasant bitterness in cucumbers does not overshadow 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 quality crop.

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