Why cucumbers are bitter: the reason
Where does the bitterness in cucumbers come from? Cucurbitacins, natural compounds found in cucumbers, give vegetables their bitter taste. Some varieties of cucumbers have bitterness in their genetics as a defense mechanism against insects and predators. Therefore, this substance produced by cucumbers does not indicate their disease, but rather a healthy state.
Scientific studies prove the healing properties of cucurbitacins contained in cucumbers. They stimulate digestion, have antifungal, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and can even stop the spread of cancer cells. In natural medicine, cucurbitacins have been used to combat parasites in the digestive system, and can now be included in some supplements for men with prostate hyperplasia.
Additional Information! Cucurbitacin compounds accumulate in leaves, stems and roots. This is a natural feature of cucumbers. Sometimes it happens that they end up in cucumber fruits. They penetrate from the side of the stem, so most of the bitterness is at the base.
When do bitter compounds get into cucumbers? This mainly happens in two situations: when the crop has too little water, when the cucumber fruits are overripe. If cucumbers experience stress such as lack of water, low temperatures, too much nitrogen in the soil, or other unfavorable conditions, they may produce more bitterness.
Note! Insufficient fertilizer, poor ventilation, irregularities in watering schedules and other deficiencies in plant care can contribute to the formation of bitterness in cucumbers. Maintaining stable conditions can help prevent this effect.
What can you do to prevent cucumbers from being bitter? The ripening of cucumbers may be associated with the formation of bitterness. Therefore, to obtain sweeter cucumbers, they should be picked on time, when they are still young and small.
Thanks to the work of breeders, many varieties of cucumbers are now available that lack this natural bitterness. There is no need to be afraid of bitter cucumbers, but bitter cucumbers are not tasty and it is unlikely that anyone will want to eat them. In the case of field cucumbers, the bitterness can be easily removed by pickling, and a slight bitterness is even necessary for the cucumber to pickle well.
How to take care of cucumbers?
The taste of cucumbers must be taken care of already at the stage of selecting seeds for cultivation. Follow the appropriate rules for caring for cucumber beds, including the correct methods for collecting and storing cucumber fruits.
To avoid bitterness in cucumbers, you should choose varieties that do not have bitterness in their genetics. The younger the cucumber variety, the greater the chance that the cucumbers will have a mild, non-bitter taste. Therefore, at the seed selection stage, varieties that do not contain bitterness should be selected. Then you should seek advice from a garden store or choose a relatively new variety. The newest varieties, selected by breeders in recent years, are the most devoid of bitterness. The best varietal performance can be expected from heterotic varieties marked with the F1 symbol, although there are good and tasty old cucumber varieties.
They provide them with good growing conditions, regularly care for the plants and collect cucumbers on time, when they are still young and sweet. These vegetables love full sun, but also love water, so keep the soil slightly moist. Cucumbers grow best at the optimum temperature, which is usually around 25-30 degrees Celsius. Avoid strong temperature changes and cold nights.
Provide cucumber plants with sufficient moisture and fertilizers
Water the cucumbers often, but with small portions of water. Plants should be watered regularly, but not too much. If you do this rarely, once every few days, the cucumbers will become bitter. This is why it is very important to water your cucumbers regularly, often, but with small amounts of water, so that the soil is constantly slightly moist, but not excessively wet, especially during periods of dry and hot weather.
Cucumbers grown in soil usually need to be watered only every other day. Regularly check the soil for moisture and maintain it at an optimal level. They also make sure that the plants receive enough sunlight.
Take care of organic fertilizers
Before planting, it is worth taking care of the proper preparation of the cucumber bed and the substrate in which the vegetables will grow. They do well in soil enriched with compost. An important mineral for the plant that affects the absence of bitterness is potassium, because it helps cucumbers absorb a sufficient amount of water from the soil.
Cucumbers feel good in the first year after applying manure (it should be spread on the beds in the fall of the previous year), although fertilizing with compost works just as well. If you have not prepared the soil in advance, just before planting the cucumbers in the beds, you can mix the soil with compost or use granular manure, which is usually available at garden centers.
They should be weeded and enriched with organic fertilizers. The use of organic fertilizers is extremely important because cucumbers are very sensitive to mineral salts in the soil. Fertilizing during the growth of cucumbers: you can add compost between plants or water with diluted vermicompost.
Correct collection . Cucumbers are harvested regularly as soon as they reach the desired size and shape. Cucumbers that are left on the plant too long can become bitter. You should also not leave overripe ones on the bushes. Monitor for diseases and pests in time that may affect the health of cucumbers.
What to do with bitter cucumbers in the kitchen?
The most bitter substance may be found at the base of the cucumber. It is believed that if you peel a cucumber and cut off the green tip, the cucumber will not be bitter. This method sometimes works. However, it happens that the unpleasant aftertaste cannot be removed, and besides, it usually turns out that the whole cucumber is bitter, and not just one piece.
What to do with such vegetables? These cucumbers are perfect for pickling. During the fermentation process, cucumbers will lose their unpleasant bitter taste. By following these tips and paying attention to plant care, you can get sweet and tasty cucumbers even when growing them in open ground.
