[Tenhens]

Have just picked our first of the season , yuk!!     Am I right in thinking that it may be caused by irregular watering?

Grew them last year with no problems.

[tosca100]

Not sure. Mine were incredibly sweet in June, but now are only edible when small and slightly immature. We have a drought so that may not help, watering is proving to be insufficient with forty degree heats for weeks. Whatever the reason, the cucumbers are inedible if left to grow to full size.

[mumofstig]

Sometimes, if they are an all-female variety and they get stressed they do produce some male flowers and they get pollinated. Most packets will tell you if you need to remove the male flowers.

If you grow an all-female and an ordinary variety side by side the same thing happens.

[Bohobumble]

Try this?
http://food-hacks.wonderhowto.com/how-to/unexplainable-trick-removing-bitterness-from-cucumbers-0157089/

[tosca100]

There be my problem I think. We are desperately short of rain, and with these temperatures......

[Tenhens]

Have picked another cucumber and tried the suggestion from Bobobumble, much better, did not try before doing the suggestion so unable to say if the cucumber was bitter. If it was then most interesting.    Will try next one and update.

[wil4025]

I used carmen this year and I have all female and they are great. Try them next year!

[Bohobumble]

I've never tried it but I'm intrigued to see if it works!

[Tenhens]

Picked another cucumber today , bit on the portly side and not your typical cucumber shape.  Bitter to taste so tried Bohobumble's  tip , an improvement but not to the extent that I would chomp away merrily.  I think the variety was Telegraph, Mrs Tenhens got the seeds.  Last years were meant to be smooth skinned but they were on the prickly side and we suspect the seeds got mixed up somewhere along the line.

Does anyone know why or how the rubbing of the end works?