My husband planted this cucumber. He does not remember the name. Any ideas?
by
Donna J
+17
I am not sure when it's ready for harvesting. I've tried eating them at different stages and in all the cucumbers are bitter tasting. Should I just pull out the vine and discard it?
20 answers
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Donna, wondering if it is a seedless variety? They usually appear long and thin, but not sure of the bitterness, I am dealing with bitter vegetables as well here in Michigan. Wondering if it the weather?
Laurie B
on Jul 16, 2012
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I have never grown cucumbers personally, but I have heard that uneven watering (letting them dry out between waterings) can make them bitter. Have you tried peeling them, or is the flesh just as bitter?
3po3
on Jul 16, 2012
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No, it's not the seedless variety. These mature so fast too. Today I picked four. I peeled and sliced up two and they were both bitter. Also, we have two other cucumber vines of the regular variety. Those are growing at the normal rate and the cucumbers are sweet. We have been getting a little bit of rain during the past 10 days and the vine is doing really well.
Donna J
on Jul 16, 2012
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Again, I'm no expert, but I know certain varieties just have more of the bitter compound. Might have to chalk it up to experience and try another variety next year - or find recipes using bitter cucumbers.
3po3
on Jul 16, 2012
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I don't know if this will work, or if you wish to put the time into it, but when cooking eggplant, it is macerated for hours to remove any bitterness (as eggplant can be bitter sometimes too). What you do is slice it into 1/4" thickness slices, sprinkle salt on it; let it sit an hour; wipe the salt off; turn it over and repeat the same steps. You can rinse it and use it when finished.
Becky H
on Jul 16, 2012
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Armenian cucumber.
Cynthia
on Mar 04, 2013
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They are not as bitter if you don't let them get too long. Keep them 1-1 1/2 ft long. Any longer and they do get bitter.
Cynthia
on Mar 04, 2013
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Pickling removes the bitterness. Try making refrigerator pickles out of them.
Christa L
on Aug 20, 2013
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Looks like a Long English Cucumber to me. I slice them & soak them in a bit of vinegar with water & a tsp of sugar... fresh pickles, YUM!
Erin G
on Aug 26, 2013
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We had cucumbers just like these this year. One was 15 inches. Most were curved. We bought what we thought to be burpless cucumbers. They were not bitter, but quickly turned yellow after picking. We gave them away with no complaints. They were burpless.
Diane Dixon
on Sep 15, 2013
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burpless cucumbers. They grow so large they look obscene...lol, but very tasty...
Debra Wilks
on Sep 15, 2013
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Donna J, this kind of cucumber is a bit bitter, but here's what you do: you cut the top and rub it against the part you just cutt... do the same with the other top... you'll see a milky substance come out... this way, they won't be bitter, also, you don't peel it completly... leave litlle stripes of the peel, so your digestion is better. let me know how it went! they're delicious sliced thinly with lettuce and tomato salad, with a pinch of olive oil, vinegar, salt and oregano! :)
Ana Matias
on Sep 16, 2013
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@Ana Matias thank you for your suggestion. This question was posted last year. What a harvest I had with those cucumbers. They were large and delicious when picked at the right time. I planted cucumbers this year but nothing as big as these. I would use your recipe for them.
Donna J
on Sep 16, 2013
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yw! i thought they were a bit yellow though... i live in Portugal and here when they're ready to harvest, they're really green! i'm glad they turned out ok! i love cucumber! enjoy the recipe... it's great as a side dish for grilled fish or meat, in the summer. refreshing! ;)
Ana Matias
on Sep 16, 2013
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I soak my bitter cucumbers (sliced thin or diced into cubes) in a little sweet rice vinegar in the refrigerator over night. They taste great this way with diced tomatoes in tuna salad.
Jennifer G
on Jun 12, 2014
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It looks like a banana cucumber Which is new to the cucumber family I ordered mine from Burgess ordering magazine Rose from Abbeville, LA
Ros6881122
on Jul 15, 2016
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It is an English Cucumber, just a good inch off of each end that is usually where the bitter taste is. Pick them before they get so large, or they tend to get bitter
Gerrianne Hartse
on Jul 21, 2016
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My grandfather was an excellent gardener. He told me if veggies do not get enough water then they can b bitter. Also on the cucumbers if u cut about an inch off the bottom then take that bottom part and rub the two ends together in about 10 fast circles that usually take the bitterness away. Throw the end piece away . It will most generally have a little gooiness on it.
Renata
on Jul 21, 2016
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I am not sure but I think it is a burpless cuke. I have grown them 2 years for pickles and bread and butter ones. I mix them with onions .they are great?
Kay
on Sep 06, 2016
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My money is on this being an English cucumber.... thin skin, delicious taste
Bjb13976470
on Nov 05, 2016
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