Bitter zucchini are inedible and consumption can lead to life-threatening poisoning. The right approach to the fruit can save your life and your harvest. Do your zucchini taste bitter? You can do that!
Zucchini taste bitter: are they edible?
Zucchini are one of the most popular crops in the home garden. It's all the more annoying when, after all the care and effort, the fruit tastes bitter. The plant's own ingredient cucurbitacins is responsible for the bitter taste in zucchini, pumpkins and cucumbers. It is usually found in very small amounts in all fruits of the cucurbit family. However, sometimes the toxic bitter substance can accumulate in the plants. A high concentration of cucurbitacins can lead to life-threatening poisoning. The toxic substances are not broken down during cooking, baking and grilling. Even sugar, salt or spices cannot alleviate the bitter taste - nor can they break down the toxins.
Therefore, all zucchini should be tasted before processing and disposed of immediately if it tastes bitter. The risk of poisoning is particularly high in older people because they can perceive the taste less intensely.
Why do zucchini become bitter? dryness and heat
The zucchini taste bitter, if they have a high concentration of toxic ingredients. Home-grown fruits in particular sometimes taste bitter - because certain mistakes have been made in caring for them. What causes the bitter taste?
Long periods of heat and droughtare the main reason why zucchini taste bitter. At temperatures above 26° Celsius, the toxins form more quickly. Nitrates and nitrogen fertilizer residues can also contribute to the bitter taste.
What can you do?
Drip irrigation is an effective measure against heat stress in zucchini. On the one hand, it enables precise, comprehensive application. On the other hand, the point application enables better water absorption. The soil remains moderately moist and can tolerate rainfall better. At the same time, this irrigation method prevents the formation of waterlogging and enables better absorption of irrigation water.
If you want to water your zucchini yourself in the heat, you should do this early in the morning using a watering can. Water the plants from below and very slowly so that the soil can absorb the water. At temperatures above 30° Celsius, the vegetables should be watered every two days.
Another way to keep the soil moist for longer is to put up a shade net. These shade nets filter sunlight and control solar radiation. They can be installed both outdoors and in the greenhouse.
You can also protect the soil from drying out with a layer of mulch. Straw is particularly suitable for zucchini.
Bitter zucchini: The neighboring plants are to blame
Often it is due to a planting mistake. Like all crops, zucchini also has good and bad neighbors. The bad ones include, among others, the ornamental pumpkins. If these are planted in close proximity to zucchini outdoors, crosses can occur through random pollination. These new fruits taste almost exclusively bitter and are not edible. Therefore, zucchini and pumpkins should be planted at least 3 meters apart.
What can you do? Avoid these neighboring plants
Other bad neighbors include radishes, tomatoes, potatoes and eggplants - they can activate a plant hormone. The zucchini fruits become mushy while still on the plant and are inedible after harvest.
Harvesting too late: This is how the ripening time affects the bitter substance content!
When it comes to zucchini, cucumbers and pumpkins, the right time to harvest is very important. The formation of toxins is particularly intense during the ripening period. The longer the fruit stays on the plant, the more likely the plants are to taste bitter.
Don't let zucchini grow too big
Zucchini in particular should not be allowed to grow too large. The ripening time can vary depending on the variety and the weather. With regular watering, the first fruits in the greenhouse will be ripe after about 40 days. For outdoor plants, the ripening time is around 50 days in hot and dry conditions, and 60 days in normal weather. The fruit length can vary between 14 cm and 20 cm. Never let the zucchini get too big, as they will lose their flavor, have too many seeds and often taste bitter.
After the serious harvest, you should cut off the ripe fruits regularly, ideally once every 10 days. This promotes renewed flower and fruit formation.
Zucchini taste bitter despite good care? Check the soil condition
Sometimes poor soil quality can also have a negative impact on fruit production. Certain soils can contain more toxins, which are then absorbed by the plants through irrigation water and accumulate in the fruit. Soil that is too acidic can also affect the taste.
How to store vegetables properly to avoid bitter taste
You have harvested the zucchini and the fruits are actually very aromatic and not bitter at all. Now the question arises as to how to store them correctly. To prevent the zucchini from rotting, the fruits should be stored unwashed in the refrigerator.
Once you have harvested a lot of zucchini, you can wash, peel, blanch and freeze them. This means they last longer and can be used in the future when preparing soups and dishes.
Zucchini taste bitter: the most important things summarized
Do your zucchini taste bitter? Then proceed as follows:
- Bitter zucchini are poisonous and should definitely be thrown away. All other fruits of the plant should be tasted before consumption and processing. Sort out and dispose of bitter specimens.
- In long-term heatWater plants accordingly.
- Do not delay the harvest: Large zucchini contain more bitter substances and are often poisonous.
- If nothing else works, have the soil tested in the laboratory and possibly correct the pH value.
- Store the zucchini properly after harvesting.
Zucchini are easy-care plants that bear plenty of fruit. Bitter fruits contain high amounts of a toxin and can lead to life-threatening poisoning. They should therefore definitely be disposed of. The plant itself needs more water, organic fertilizer and protection from heat and drought. Anyone who corrects their care mistakes will be rewarded with lots of edible fruits.
