Speaking of cucumbers...

[TheDens]

Okay, all you cuke experts out there, hope you don't mind indulging yet another curcurbit question. I picked my first cuke tonight (sweet burpless hybrid). Much to my disappointment, it was completely inedible, so bitter I had to spit it out. I did some sniffing around, and one site I read said that once a cucumber plant puts out a bitter cuke, to just yank it up because that's all it's going to produce for the rest of the season. Is that true? I hate to pull it, I only have two plants.

Denna

[Adenn1]

Denna:

I have come across others complaining of bitter cucumbers...not sure if this is a result of weather, soil, fertilization, etc.

I would try a few more fruit before thought of yanking anything out. Hope it gets better for you...

[Gimme3]

Denna..bein in Georgia...you got a World of Time...)))to plant you some more...so dont Sweat it...)))in fact...keepin a few on the Rise is a good idea...always...for our long Season. I kinda believe the Hot Dry Weather might be the cause for it's bitterness, an would contemplate the soil temps an conditions, that the Plant is coping with.

A very Heavy Mulch, in these conditions...will go a Long Ways...towards helpin a cuke, a squash, a watermelon..feel cooler soil temps. Stick yo hand into the soil...Feel how HOT it is...))) a cuke loves good warm seasonality, but not burnin up heat, like we been havin. it also Loves...water, and very Rich soil. Ponder these things...)))

Best Wishes...)))

[TheDens]

Thanks, both of you. My garden is thoroughly mulched, but those cukes were obviously stressed in our 100 degree heat this week, and I probably haven't watered them enough. I let them wilt before I watered them a few times, and I should've just hit them with a drink in the morning before it got hot.
I think I'm going to combine suggestions and start a few more plants, but wait to see how the next few cukes taste before pulling the current one.

Denna

[feldon30]

The impression I've gotten is that this is caused by underwatering and/or letting the fruit get too mature. Unlike watermelons and other melons which benefit from getting less water towards ripening. I was reasonably satisfied with the taste of a Straight Eight I got last week.

[shelleybean]

Yes, it helps to water daily when the weather is hot. Several hot days in a row without watering is what causes that little hollow space in the seed mass, as well as the bitter taste. I don't think you need to pull your plants, though you might want to just cut and pitch the cukes that have already been pollinated. Start over with new fruit on this vine and if you keep it watered, I think everything will be fine.