Bitter Cucumber Fruit

 
 
Subscribe to our free E-Newsletter, "RTW This Week"Sign up for our
E-Newsletter
  
 
 
 Many calls have come in about cucumber fruit being bitter. These calls have increased since the weather has been warm, with temperatures around 37ºC in some areas.

Some reasons for cucumbers to turn bitter:

  • many varieties which are not totally seedless will set male flowers caused by water or heat stress. These male flowers can pollinate the female flowers.
  • seedless varieties pollinated by bees visiting the greenhouse.
  • air pollution, excessive carbon dioxide or pesticide sprays.
  • high salt levels in the growing medium.
Generally this complaint originates with smaller, hobby growers. I have only seen one commercial crop where some cucumbers became bitter.

M. Mirza, CDCN
Greenhouse Coverings - July, 2001 		 
 
 
 
For more information about the content of this document, contact Shelley Barkley.
This information published to the web on July 3, 2002.
Last Reviewed/Revised on June 19, 2010.