Bitter white cucumbers

[joyceybabe]

I have grown a couple of White Wonder cucumbers this year and they are bitter and not nice to eat. One is in the greenhouse and one is outside and both are bitter even when peeled. I grew a white cucumber a few years ago and they were the same (different variety I think). Should I have been taking all the male flowers off? If so, there are literally hundreds! I also have a Crystal Apple cucumber which is wonderful and the grandchildren love them (after peeling). I won't be growing the white ones again. I do like to grow unusual veg

[Kristen]

I have grown a couple of White Wonder cucumbers this year and they are bitter and not nice to eat. One is in the greenhouse and one is outside and both are bitter even when peeled. I grew a white cucumber a few years ago and they were the same (different variety I think). Should I have been taking all the male flowers off? If so, there are literally hundreds!

AFAIK White Wonder is a Ridge cucumber, so you have to leave the male flowers on (as ridge cucumbers need pollination to set fruit)

Bitterness is usually a sign of plant stress - too little water, or nutrients, or too much heat - could that be it? Heat might be an issue in the greenhouse but I'm doubting that is a problem outside? You might find that removing the ends (as well as the skin) removes the bitterness too.

Other than that maybe choose a known "bitterness-free" variety next year I'm afraid.

[joyceybabe]

Well I don't think the plants are stressed. They are well fed and watered. Have loads of cucumbers on them just like the Crystal Apple/Lemon and they are both in the same greenhouse. I was just wondering if anyone else had grown them and what their thoughts were on them

[Scarlet]

I had the same trouble a couple of years ago and also gave some to a fellow "expert" grape who had the same problem. They really were disgusting (great fun with the kids though). I treated them like any other cucumber, I thought the same as you, take off the male flowers but they were completely smothered with them, just a really weird plant.

...I grew mine in the GH, good soil, well watered etc.

[bananamelon]

white wonder is pickling variety so that also might be issue ;but stress is most likely
issue it is harder to tell if white varieties are stressed. in none white varieties fruit turn yellow hints at stress.

[joyceybabe]

I had the same trouble a couple of years ago and also gave some to a fellow "expert" grape who had the same problem. They really were disgusting

Not just me then! I have had no trouble with other varieties of cucumber. I wouldn't want to eat them even pickled. A bitterness like bolted lettuce. Oh well. Not wasting any more growing space on them next year. Now to find a nice cucumber (without the prickles of the crystal lemon!)

[Scarlet]

If something is that easily stressed it's not worth growing. I stick to the piccolino types and the boring plain green ones. They get more use in my house. I'm not keen on crystal lemon either, some people rave over them - just horses for courses really