Today I want to tell you about one of the most common problems with cucumbers - bitterness. How did hurt when the harvest a lot, hard and crunchy cucumbers, but somehow bitter.
This problem occurs not only in the young, but also very experienced gardeners. Including me. Let's see what's wrong and how to prevent bitterness.
Why cucumbers begin to taste bitter?
Just want to say bitterness in cucumber is not a disease that comes "out of nowhere", as a consequence of inadequate care. Therefore, any of us can avoid this problem by simply paying enough attention to their cucumbers.
Below I will discuss the most common cause of bitterness in cucumbers.
1. Lack of moisture
Basically, there is bitterness at the lack of moisture, so it is most commonly observed in cucumber growing in the greenhouse. Plants are in the street, always get more water, even if they are covered by a film occasionally.
Be sure to timely watering cucumbers, it will reduce the chance of bitterness.
2. Lack of sunlight
Even a slight lack of sunlight can lead to bitterness. Therefore, when landing, I always think out in advance how much light the plant will receive. You need to pay attention to the following:
- How clean the glass in your greenhouse. Dust, moss, plaque and various types of garbage prevents the ingress of light. Even if it seems like glass transmit light well, just in case, wash them in the beginning of the season;
- If the cucumbers grown in greenhouses covered with film, be sure to check that it has a sufficient light transmission. It is better not to use the matte, colored and opaque materials;
- Plants should not be located in the shade too long. If a shadow falls on cucumbers more than 4 hours during the daylight hours, it is better change the landing site;
- Do not plant cucumbers are too close to each other, they will experience a lack of light.
3. Strong temperature fluctuations
In every way try to protect your cucumbers from severe temperature changes. This is especially true in August when the daytime temperature may be more than 20 degrees different from the night.
Afternoon inside the greenhouse should be no more than 28 degrees. To do this, ventilate the greenhouse, open all doors and windows.
Highly I recommend all growers to buy a thermometer. It costs quite expensive, but it helps a lot. I even saw a whole system, which shows the temperature during the day, but it costs very expensive. To me, a pensioner, is not expensive.
4. Multiple whip damage
Bitterness also appears when the plant is under severe stress. Therefore, it is important that the whip throughout the season were healthy. Even abundant pasynkovanie may lead to the fact that the cucumbers will begin a little taste bitter.
Protect the plant and do not let it break, nadlamyvayutsya and damaged.
5. micronutrient deficiencies
The lack of trace elements such as potassium or nitrogen, sooner or later will lead to the fact that the cucumbers will become bitter. Be sure to fertilize the plants nitrogen fertilizers.
What to do to not bitter cucumber?
To Cucumbers do not taste bitter, you must:
- Choose the right place to land;
- Planted so that each plant receives enough light and minerals;
- Protect from strong temperature differences;
- Protect from pests and damage;
- In time to feed the nitrogen fertilizer.
These simple rules for many years helped me to harvest delicious, hard and crunchy cucumbers.
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