{"id":1967,"date":"2020-11-01T09:02:17","date_gmt":"2020-11-01T09:02:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gardendad.co.uk\/?p=1967"},"modified":"2020-11-02T10:45:49","modified_gmt":"2020-11-02T10:45:49","slug":"why-are-my-cucumbers-turning-yellow","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gardendad.co.uk\/why-are-my-cucumbers-turning-yellow\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Are My Cucumbers Turning Yellow?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ah, cucumbers. That gorgeous, juicy summer vegetable (is is a fruit? Or a vegetable? No one knows – and to be honest most people don\u2019t care either!) Cucumbers are such a huge part of the summer months; whether they\u2019re in salads or Pimm\u2019s or both – we love them! Growing (and also pickling<\/a>) your own cucumbers is surprisingly rewarding. You get a lot of harvest for just a few plants, and you can decide whether to enjoy them in a salad or a cocktail. But if you have grown your own cucumbers you may find yourself asking, why are my cucumbers turning yellow?<\/p>\n

Well, I’m here here to answer this for you.<\/p>\n

Types of cucumber<\/h2>\n

\"Types<\/p>\n

There are a large variety of different cucumber plants that you can buy; some are more suitable for growing indoors, some prefer the outside weather. Some are climbers; some are trailers.<\/p>\n

If you have a small space in which to grow your cucumbers, a climbing variety may work best – you can get a great yield and they won\u2019t take up as much ground space.<\/p>\n

If you have a large allotment or garden with lots of room, you may be happy with one of the sprawling, ground covering cucumbers.<\/p>\n

Whatever type of growing habitat you have, you can find a cucumber that suits it.<\/p>\n

Why are my cucumbers turning yellow<\/h2>\n

Cucumbers take between 50 and 70 days after planting to produce their best crops<\/a>. A ripe cucumber is considered to be when it is bright to dark green, a good size, with firm flesh.<\/p>\n

If you notice your cucumbers taking on a yellowy tinge, you should harvest them right away – it is a sign that they are becoming overripe.<\/p>\n

The green colour of the skin is produced by Chlorophyll, which fades from the skin as the cucumber ripens too far, so yellow cucumbers tell you that you are leaving them too long on the plant.<\/p>\n

When cucumbers start to turn yellow, they also start to taste bitter, and the seeds may have grown to unpleasant size inside, so you should always keep an eye on your plants and pick them before they change colour.<\/p>\n

If your cucumbers are still small and obviously not ripe, the yellowing can be caused by other issues. A virus, a nutrient imbalance, or overwatering, can all contribute to a change in the skin pigment of you cukes.<\/p>\n

You can, of course, buy cucumbers from cultivars that are meant to be yellow, so if you are growing this type then ignore all the above advice!<\/p>\n

Additional tips for growing cucumbers<\/h2>\n

You can choose to grow your cucumber<\/a> plants from seed<\/strong>, or buy them as small plants<\/strong> from a garden centre. Once the little plants are established, the general growing method is the same.<\/p>\n