If you’re a cucumber lover like us, you know there’s nothing quite like biting into a crisp, fresh cucumber straight from the vine. But what if your cucumbers start turning yellow? Is it safe to eat?
Before we answer that, here are the most common reasons why your cucumber fruit turns yellow.
Overripe Cucumbers Yellow cucumbers may be overripe cucumbers. Like any fruit or vegetable, cucumbers have their peak of ripeness and flavor.
Lack of Pollination If the male flowers aren’t producing enough pollen or the female flowers aren’t getting pollinated, the cucumber may not develop properly and can turn yellow.
Nutrient Deficiencies Cucumbers are heavy feeders and need a steady supply of nutrients to produce healthy fruit. A lack of nitrogen can cause the cucumber leaves to turn yellow.
Viral & Fungal Diseases Viral or fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew and cucumber mosaic virus, cause leaf yellowing and yellow cucumbers.
High Temperatures Although cucumbers prefer relatively high temperatures (75- 85 °F), they can become stressed in too high temperatures.
Shallow roots It can make it difficult for the plant to absorb the necessary nutrients and water, leading to cucumber turning yellow.
Nutrient imbalance Too much nitrogen can cause yellow skin in cucumbers. Providing them with the right amount of water and nutrients is important.
Poor soil fertility It can lead to nutrient deficiency in cucumber plants. Lack of nitrogen can cause cucumber fruits to become soggy and yellow.
Growing season Short summers can lead to your cucumber turning yellow due to a lack of time for the plant to fully mature and develop.
Variety Some cucumber varieties are more resistant to yellowing than others, like white cucumbers and pickling cucumbers.
In conclusion, yellow cucumbers are safe to eat but not as nutritious as green cucumbers. Also, eating cucumbers with soft spots could be a health risk.
Click on the link to learn how to prevent cucumbers from turning yellow and how to save them from fungal diseases. ⬇