By Robert R. Westerfield
University of
Georgia
Few things in the garden are more heartbreaking than taking the
time and effort to cultivate the soil, plant seed, fertilize,
water and nurture your plants, only to have your harvest taste
awful.
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This is often the case with cucumbers. Sometimes they can taste
downright bitter. The good news is that this is preventable.
Following a few simple tips can make sure you get the
great-tasting cukes your labors deserve.
The bitter taste that sometimes happens comes from one of three
things, or a combination of the three. Here are some tips to help
you avoid all of them.
The first is to harvest cucumbers before they reach full
maturity. Leaving them on the vine too long, trying to get extra
long fruit, can lead to disappointing taste. Cucumbers can grow
fast once they start producing, so be sure to plant only as much
as you can keep up with, to keep the harvest young.
Water
Moisture control is the second tip for growing salad-quality
cucumbers. Irrigation or rain is critical, especially in the last
week or so before the harvest. Failing to provide enough water
can definitely lead to poor-tasting cucumbers.
The best way to water is with a drip system, irrigation tape or
soaker hoses. Provide about 1 inch to 1.5 inches of water per
week. Even more water near harvest time will help. Overhead
watering is OK. But it’s the least efficient method, and it may
lead to foliar diseases.
Third, manage the soil fertility. This means adjusting the pH
(alkalinity or acidity) of the soil correctly and providing
proper nutrition.
Submitting a soil sample to your University of Georgia
Cooperative Extension county agent’s office is the most precise
way to do this. There’s no way to guess at the pH without the
soil test.
The test will also provide details of what and how much
fertilizer to apply. Proper nutritional management will lead to
healthier plants and help eliminate the fertility problems that
can cause a bitter taste.
By following these tips, you should be able to grow all the
great-tasting cucumbers you need for your salads and pickle jars.
(Bob Westerfield is the Cooperative Extension consumer
horticulturist with the University of Georgia College of
Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.)
