Although the cucumber is considered an unpretentious crop, it is still a very moody and delicate plant. If he doesn't like something, he gets bitterness. Today I will tell you why fruits grow bitter, what you can do with them, and how to prevent bitter taste.
Why cucumbers are bitter
A culture under the wrong conditions experiences stress and immediately reacts to it in a special way. The fruit begins to produce cucurbitacin. It is an organic toxic substance that makes the cucumber bitter.
The component is produced in leaf plates, after which it begins to spread throughout the plant. Most of all cucurbitacin accumulates in the roots. Because of this feature, the culture was previously considered poisonous and was not used as a food product. This substance is also present in sweet cucumbers, but there is much less of it.
Nowadays, cucumber is considered a very healthy vegetable. It reduces the risk of cancer and improves the functioning of the digestive system.
The main reasons for the bitter taste in cucumbers are:
- poor sandy or clayey soil;
- moisture deficiency;
- temperature drops;
- hot and dry weather.
One of the above reasons is enough for cucurbitacin to accumulate in the fruits. At risk are unripe and overripe fruits that will be used to collect seeds.
Most often, cucumbers become bitter due to unscrupulous or illiterate care, as a result of which the culture has to grow in conditions that are not suitable for it. Bitterness also appears in those fruits that have grown from the seeds of bitter cucumbers.
The timing of planting also affects the sweetness or bitterness. If they are not followed, the plant does not have time to adapt to a gradual increase in daylight hours and an increase in temperature. In this case, bitterness will certainly appear.
Ways to remove bitterness
I don't throw away cucumbers with bitterness, they can be used both for canning and for fresh salads. Bitter-giving cucurbitacin dissolves in water. It usually accumulates in the skin and comes out with juice. There are several ways to remove bitter taste.
Peel off
I always taste the cucumber before slicing the salad. If there is an unpleasant taste of bitterness, I simply peel the skin and use it as directed.
Remove bitterness by rubbing
You need to trim off the ends and cut the cucumber lengthwise. After that, connect the two halves and rub against each other until the whitish foam no longer stands out. Then rinse the halves under water.
Using salt
Cut the cucumber into small pieces and sprinkle them with salt. I leave everything for half an hour. When the juice is released, the bitterness goes away. After that, I rinse the pieces and use them to cut the salad.
What to do when salting
To remove the bitter substance from a large number of cucumbers before pickling, I soak them in water:
- I wash the fruits thoroughly.
- I put it in a large container (in a basin) and fill it with cold water.
- Every 3 hours I change the water to fresh.
- After two water changes, I try cucumbers. If the taste has improved, I turn to conservation.
- If the bitterness still remains, I change the water 2-3 more times.
If you cannot completely remove the bitter taste from vegetables, marinate them with spices. This adds piquancy to the cucumbers and masks the remaining bitterness.
How to avoid bitterness
When growing cucumbers, the release of cucurbitacin can be controlled by watering, since insufficient moisture is one of the main reasons for the appearance of bitterness. Therefore, be aware of the soil condition and water according to the weather conditions. For example, in dry, hot weather, increase the abundance and amount of watering, and reduce it in cool weather. The optimal amount of water will prevent bitterness from appearing, so it is important to ensure that the earth does not dry out.
When growing cucumbers in a greenhouse, control the humidity as well. Its lack is also the reason for the appearance of a bitter taste.
During harvesting, make sure that the bushes are not twisted. Otherwise, the supply of nutrients to the fruits will be disrupted, as a result of which they may taste bitter.
Feeding is also important. I fertilize cucumbers with potassium nitrate and complex mineral fertilizers. Top dressing increases the immunity of the crop and reduces the likelihood of stressful situations.
Read also: Let's figure out whether it is worth leaving the polycarbonate greenhouse open in winter or not.
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