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Bitter cucumbers

 
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tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Sun Jul 23, 06 1:10 pm    Post subject: Bitter cucumbers Reply with quote
    

Why are my cues bitter? 2 different varieties of outdoor types.

sally_in_wales
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 06 Mar 2005
Posts: 20809
Location: sunny wales
PostPosted: Sun Jul 23, 06 1:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

No idea from the growing front, but Gareth always salts bitter veg during the preparation stage then rinses the salt off well before eating. Amazing how well it takes away any bitterness. Might be worth a try?

culpepper



Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 638
Location: Kent
PostPosted: Sun Jul 23, 06 1:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

in my john seymour book it says if it has both male and female flowers,you must remove the male flowers or you'll get bitter cuces.

Bugs



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

PostPosted: Sun Jul 23, 06 1:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

This could be the problem?

https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/todo_now/faqs.php?id=74

Or...I think the skin on some of the outdoor varieties is known to be bitter and you might just need to peel them.

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Sun Jul 23, 06 1:48 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Ta Bugs, that looks likely. Hope it's not culpepper's idea, They're flipping rampant, can't see anyway to nip the males out.

Penny Outskirts



Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 23385
Location: Planet, not on the....
PostPosted: Sun Jul 23, 06 2:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Mine are too I had them from Pricey (slugs got all mine ) they're chinese long green. Strangely though, mine have been grown in the greenhouse, Pricey's outside, and his are perfect.

He hasn't removed any male flowers, which my reading also suggested the problem might be. From discussions with Pricey about girth and length, I think I picked mine too soon, so I'm leaving them until they're a bit bigger and see what happens.

pricey



Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Posts: 6444

PostPosted: Sun Jul 23, 06 3:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Penny wrote:
Mine are too I had them from Pricey (slugs got all mine ) they're chinese long green. Strangely though, mine have been grown in the greenhouse, Pricey's outside, and his are perfect.

He hasn't removed any male flowers, which my reading also suggested the problem might be. From discussions with Pricey about girth and length, I think I picked mine too soon, so I'm leaving them until they're a bit bigger and see what happens.


You got me giggling again

deanom



Joined: 19 Apr 2006
Posts: 93
Location: Lincolnshire
PostPosted: Sun Jul 23, 06 6:50 pm    Post subject: Bitterness Reply with quote
    

Cannot answer the why?

We've grown ours outside, not removed flowers, no bitterness.

Variety is Muncher, from the Organic gardening catalogue. Nice smallish (9 inch) Cues. I'm not normally a cucumber fan, but i like these.

Bugs



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

PostPosted: Sun Jul 23, 06 8:11 pm    Post subject: Re: Bitterness Reply with quote
    

deanom wrote:
We've grown ours outside, not removed flowers, no bitterness.


I've only ever grown all females, in the greenhouse, and then not very successfully, but I've been indulging in that dangerous reading habit again and I think the outdoors types often do go quite well with being pollinated (I think outdoors can have tough, spiney or bitter skins). However the link above suggested something new, that crossing varieties, can result in bitterness, which when you think what hussies cucurbits are seems logical enough...if you have stuck to the one variety that might explain why all's well, and I vaguely got the impression that you can mix some varieties but might be unlucky with other combinations.

Penny Outskirts



Joined: 18 Sep 2005
Posts: 23385
Location: Planet, not on the....
PostPosted: Sun Jul 23, 06 8:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

pricey wrote:
Penny wrote:
Mine are too I had them from Pricey (slugs got all mine ) they're chinese long green. Strangely though, mine have been grown in the greenhouse, Pricey's outside, and his are perfect.

He hasn't removed any male flowers, which my reading also suggested the problem might be. From discussions with Pricey about girth and length, I think I picked mine too soon, so I'm leaving them until they're a bit bigger and see what happens.


You got me giggling again


And I tried sooo hard not to put anything in about how that conversation deterioated into giggling

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