The homeland of cucumbers is India, or rather its tropical forest zones. Cucumber is a capricious and demanding culture, does not like hot and cold weather, as well as sudden temperature fluctuations, prefers to grow in conditions of sufficient humidity in the soil and in the air. If these conditions are not met, then vegetable plants, being under stress, produce a special substance to neutralize stress - cucurbitacin. This substance is found in the peel of the cucumber at the very stalk, and it is also the cause of the bitterness of the fruit.
The main reasons why cucumbers are bitter
- There are varieties of cucumbers that can taste bitter due to inheritance from previous crops transmitted through seed.
- Violation of watering rules when plants receive water in excess or in shortage. It is necessary to regulate the volumes of irrigation water.
- Climatic and weather conditions when heavy rains create excess moisture.
- Direct sunlight for a long time during the day, excessive sunlight. It is recommended to place cucumber beds between corn plantings to create a little shade.
- Dry air and low humidity, especially during dry and hot summers. Additional water spraying will come to the rescue.
- Inadequate nutrition and inadequate amounts of some nutrients. Plants need fertilizing and fertilizers, which contain nitrogen and potassium.
- When collecting seed, it is necessary to take seeds only from the front and middle of the fruit. Seeds that are close to the stalk can cause bitterness in future cucumbers.
- Watering crops must be carried out directly under the root of each bush, especially at the stage of ovary formation. During hot summer days and dry periods, moistening of the leaf part will be required - washing with water from a watering can or spray.
- The appearance of bitterness in the fruits may appear already at harvest, when the cucumbers are harvested inaccurately - with damage and twisting of the cucumber lashes.
- A sharp change in temperature (extreme heat and a sharp cold snap).
Cucumbers with bitterness can be safely eaten in a peeled form. At the same time, the aroma, crunch and taste are preserved, however, it is believed that all vitamins and useful elements are located in the peel. The bitterness of the fruit disappears during heat treatment, therefore, such fruits are also suitable for pickling, salting and canning.
Years of breeding trials have borne fruit both literally and figuratively. Hybrid varieties of cucumbers have been developed that never taste bitter (for example, Liliput, Harmonist, Egoza, Schedrik and others), their fruits have a sweetish taste and pleasant aroma. However, such varieties cannot be used for winter preparations.
Rules for growing sweet cucumbers without bitterness
- When growing cucumbers in a greenhouse, you need to take care of full lighting and a stable water regime.Watering should be done regularly and the humidity level should be kept approximately the same.
- Irrigation water should be slightly lukewarm. Watering is recommended only in good weather in the morning or evening.
- With a sharp change in weather and with temperature fluctuations, cucumber beds in the open air must be covered with a special covering material and left until warming.
- It is not recommended to use fresh manure as a top dressing. The introduction of such fertilizer contributes to poor storage of the crop and causes the appearance of bitterness in the fruit.
- When choosing a place for beds with cucumbers, it is not recommended to use heavy clay and crumbly sandy soil.
- The soil on cucumber beds should not dry out; it is necessary to maintain its constant moderate moisture.
If you follow all the recommendations and rules, you can grow sweet and fragrant cucumbers, both in greenhouse conditions and in the open field. It must be remembered that the cucumber is a delicate and capricious culture that reacts to the slightest changes and violations of the maintenance regime.
