Bitter pickles! :(

Holachicka

Deeply Rooted
Joined
May 25, 2010
Messages
172
Reaction score
39
Points
156
Location
Folsom, CA
My pickling cucumbers turned out bitter, but I didn't know until I made pickles with some of them. Will the bitterness fade over time or do I have to throw them out?

What causes the cucumbers to become bitter?

*sigh* I'm so dissapointed. :(
 

vfem

Garden Addicted
Joined
Aug 10, 2008
Messages
7,516
Reaction score
39
Points
242
Location
Fuquay, NC
The cukes themselves could have been bitter before they were pickled. It happens often with pickles. The bitterness usually starts in the skin.
 

Holachicka

Deeply Rooted
Joined
May 25, 2010
Messages
172
Reaction score
39
Points
156
Location
Folsom, CA
Yes, I'm sure it was the cucumbers. Do you know why they get bitter? watering schedule, too small, too big? And what about letting them sit for a while, would the bitterness mellow out, or do I have to throw the batch out?
 

Holachicka

Deeply Rooted
Joined
May 25, 2010
Messages
172
Reaction score
39
Points
156
Location
Folsom, CA
So I finally opened the last jar, sitting in the cupboard for the last 5 months... NOT BITTER!!! it appears that over time the bitterness has faded with the pickling juices! hooray! Sorry to bring back and old post :/ , but I thought this may help others in this next season. :D
 

Kim_NC

Attractive To Bees
Joined
Apr 15, 2010
Messages
208
Reaction score
1
Points
64
Location
Mt Airy, NC, zone 7a
Glad your pickles turned out alright.

The most coomon causes of bitter cucumbers are:

Too hot One of the most common reasons is heat stress. If a plant is stressed due to heat, it can start producing bitter cucumbers.

Uneven watering Another possibility is alternating periods of drought and overwatering.

Temperature fluctuations Dramatic temperature fluctuations from one extreme to another over an extended period of time, can cause bitter cucumbers.

Heredity There's a recessive gene that causes some cucumber plants to produce bitter fruit.
 

PhoenixAngel429

Leafing Out
Joined
May 5, 2011
Messages
18
Reaction score
0
Points
22
Holachicka said:
My pickling cucumbers turned out bitter, but I didn't know until I made pickles with some of them. Will the bitterness fade over time or do I have to throw them out?

What causes the cucumbers to become bitter?

*sigh* I'm so dissapointed. :(
Vingear would make it more potent over time, so if you can't take it, I would.
 

Latest posts

Top