Q. Our cucumbers are small and misshapen -- some are curled into a "C" -- and the flavor is bitter. Why is this happening, and is there anything we can do to improve the crop?
- O. Z., Lancaster, CA
A. "The curling could be due to poor pollination or physical damage to the young cucumber. Cucumber fruits are composed of three interior segments or locules. For the cucumber to grow straight, all the seeds in each locule need to be properly pollinated. If one of the locules doesn't develop normally (because of improper pollination or physical damage to the fruit while it's still young) and the other two continue growing, then the cucumber will be curled. Growing cucumbers on the ground can also cause curling. Young cucumbers are growing so fast that if a stem or stick gets in the way, the fruit is forced to grow around it. Trellis your cucumber plants to avoid this problem.
Bitterness is often related to water stress. Cucumbers grow quickly once pollinated. If there is any water stress during this period of rapid growth, they will tend to taste bitter. To avoid stress, water the plants deeply once or twice a week, letting the water soak at least six inches deep into the soil, and mulch with hay or straw to conserve moisture."
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Q. I plant bush cucumbers and the plants do well up until they start to bear cucumbers. Then they start and wilt and die. Any idea why?
- M. R., Punxsutawney, PA
A. "If you feel you have given your plants all the conditions for good growing -- plenty of sunlight, water, and nutrients, and a rich soil with neutral pH -- then the wilting is likely caused by a disease called bacterial wilt. The disease is spread by cucumber beetles as they feed. To test for bacteria, cut a wilted stem near the base of the plant and squeeze out the sap -- look for a milky white substance. Touch the tip of a knife to the ooze, and if, as you withdraw the knife, it pulls out in a fine thread, the plants have a bacterial infection. There is no chemical control for this type of wilt; the best bet is to control the beetles, or better yet, grow resistant varieties.
Also, borers can invade the stems, causing plants to wilt. If borers are the culprit, you'll find small holes and sawdust-like grass on the vines near the soil line.
If your cucumber beetle problem is severe, you might consider growing your cucumbers under "all-season" lightweight fabric row covers to exclude the pest insects. If you choose to use row covers, also choose cucumber varieties that do not require pollination to set fruit. Otherwise, you'll have to pollinate the flowers with a small artist's paintbrush."
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