Most cucumbers you grow in the garden make it obvious if they ’re ailing . The leaves ofCucumis sativusplants get spot , perhaps , the fruits have holes , or both turn yellow or start shriveling .
But “ hollow heart ” cucumbers do n’t really give in advance notice .
You may be slicing a yield to make a salad , or even bite into it as you stroll the garden , before you ’re made aware that the unmutilated skin is conceal an empty space where the seeds and burden flesh would normally be .
Bummer ! There are a span of good things about this condition that almost compensate for its surprise element , however .
For one matter , compared to the atmospheric condition that are obvious while the fruit are still on the plant , hollow heart has more potential repair you could try right away , rather of focusing exclusively on doing well the next metre you grow .
Also – and this is a liberal relief in my record book – hollow spirit is not due to insects or disease pathogen .
That means it ’s not contagious .
Other vegetables engraft in the same character of soil or in the same growing shape , like turnips , may indeed contract hollow pith as well .
But once you discharge up the causes with some prompt mending and long - term preventive measures , it ’s unlikely the hollow heart will generate – unlike those types of fungi that can dwell in the soil for eld and transmit disease when pee is splosh onto the plants .
Before we get to solution and bar tips , though , let me tell you what can get this cucumber abnormalcy , and when you may have an immediate fix available .
Keep reading to find an solution to the all - important interrogation of whether it ’s secure to eat empty cucumbers as well !
Here ’s what I ’ll compensate :
What You’ll Learn
What have Hollow Heart in Cucumbers ?
1 . Too Much Water
2 . Summer Heat
3 . Excess Nitrogen
4 . Boron Deficiency
Preventive Measures
Can You Still Eat Them ?
If you see an air air hole where you ’d normally expect the center of the cucumber vine to be , you ’ll take to lead back out to the garden to assess the experimental condition that might have stimulate this unnatural ontogeny .
These are the probable causes :
According to Christopher J. Currey , associate professor in theDepartment of Horticulture at Iowa State University , cucumber empty heart is induce by a speedy development rate , not poor pollination .
One thing that causes the fruits to grow too quickly is an overabundance of water .
Solution : If your area is receiving more thanan inch of rain per week , it might be time to screen the plants with tarps or even umbrellas .
Just be certain you do n’t go too far in the other focusing . If the grunge get too dry , the bush or vine will begin aborting the form fruit in response to the accent .
Both the fruits and vines tend to put on a increase jet when the temperature attain 75 to 80 ° F , though the ontogeny rate may slow down if the weather gets hot .
Solution : If that ’s the state of affairs in your garden and your cucurbits are developing with empty cavities , consider fetch the temperature down a little with some shade cloth , or dampenedstraw mulchplaced on the grunge .
Just do n’t take measures that will labor the temperature below 65 ° F , or you may stunt the works ’s ontogenesis or even kill it .
A lot of nitrogen in the soil will do vine , bushes , and fruits to all mature quickly .
And if there ’s too much atomic number 7 , the fruits will turn so fast the interior ca n’t keep up , so they end up hollow at harvest .
Solution : If this could be your issue , straightaway suspend any more fertilizer software that contain nitrogen .
Boron is n’t a soil nutrient that gardeners mention every day , but in this instance , low levels could be causing deformed cucumbers .
The yield need access to ample atomic number 5 , which is the same thing as sodium borate in this case , to organize source and also cells . If you have flaxen land , you ’re more probable to have low levels of boron , since it dissolves and leaches out of porous grunge readily .
Solution : The big news here is that it ’s unlikely you ’ll be able to rectify the dirt zipper - promptly if your plants are already producing and you think a boron deficiency might be harming the fruit quality .
By the time the soil adjust to the unexampled chemical substance residual put on through added amendments , your harvest will be finished .
But be sure to give this issue attention for next class ’s crop . I ’ll explain how in the next department .
If you warn the empty cucumber vine your plants were bring forth and managed to get some high-pitched - quality homegrown produce out of the mess , way to go !
resolve to give up for this season instead ? That ’s understandable . Before you grow cukes again , though , ensure to take these steps so you ’ll ward off hollow core next time – and probably for many season to come .
Any of these tips also do as great option for anyone who ’s attempt to uprise a bumper crop of these vegetable garden stars .
First , get a grime test doneand ameliorate your soil . Be sure to test first , before apply any amendment , so you ’ll know which nutrient levels are fine and which you need to better before next leaping .
Some psychometric test or testers may not mechanically let in boron , sofind a kitor supplier that does .
Neal Kinsey , president of Kinsey Agricultural Services , a consulting firm that restores and maintains balanced soil birth rate , recommends a minimal boron grade that ’s no lower than 0.8 parts per million . He shared this additional advice inOrganic Farmer Magazine :
“ But because it can be easily leached with rain or irrigation water , enough cloth should be applied to work up for a higher grade , and 1.5 to 2.0 parts per million is consider idealistic . Excellent atomic number 5 levels are only most effective when there is sufficient calcium and phosphorus . ”
If postulate , fill again the boron in your garden with an software of Borax . combine a tablespoon with a congius of water supply and apply an ounce of the concoction to each satisfying foot of your soil , using a fresh nebulizer .
( Keep in thinker that borax can be harmful to deary , so be careful with when and where you apply it . )
It ’s also a in force estimation to amend your soil in the off - season with plenty of composted constituent subject , and to debate growing a crop of green manure .
Both of these tactics will make well - draining soil that can avail plants cope with excessive rains without grow too apace .
in particular if hollow heart is a persistent trouble in your garden season after season , plant resistant variety if you’re able to , and be sure toread seed packetsand product descriptions carefully .
The cultivar you ’re grow now could be more susceptible to develop an empty cavity than others you might plant or else .
And ask your local agricultural extension agent if there are any cultivars that grow in particular well in your area , and that are known for their electric resistance to hollow pump .
view switching to container varieties . If you ’ve had a peck of trouble with either unreasonable rainwater or drouth conditions , it ’s a beneficial idea to acquire cucumbers in container rather than in the ground .
This wo n’t make the watering task easier , since potted plants lean to require more frequent bouts with the lacrimation can !
But it will put the plant in a contained spot where you may keep track of their moisture levels more readily than you may when they ’re sprawling throughout a garden layer . place them near a hose or weewee barrel is best .
It ’s a lot easier to place a span of containers under an umbrella when lots of rain is expected , versus trying to screen a whole garden bed .
you’re able to also place your containers on wheeled plant put up , so you’re able to transport them beneath the binding of an awning , or even put them in the garage temporarily until the cockeyed weather fleet .
It ’s also simple to replenish or supplant container soil in reply to a stain test that indicates your cukes might be growing in precondition that make them vulnerable to hollow heart .
Is it safe to run through vacuous cucumber ? Well , sure . They ’re just underdeveloped , not carrying bacteria or pickleworms , or anything like that .
As for whether youwantto eat them , I ’m sound to answer a easygoing , “ No . ”
It ’s technically possible , but the fruits with empty cores tend to be a bit acrimonious .
Noshing on them might diminish your love intimacy with thehomegrown picklersand slicers . And to me , that ’s too much of a ritual killing to make just to be able to say you ate every bit of garden truck that came from your garden .
If you ’re ascertain , though , consider reduce out the kernel portion and slicing off the stem turn ends , which lean to be the most vitriolic . Then chop up the other portions finely and use them to make pickle relish . Typically , the vinegar , salt , and dinero will cloak any of that bitter tasting .
But I ’d still propose you to mail these misfit to the compost . If you do n’t yet make your own compost , this newfound provision of onlytechnicallyedible vegetables could be a great reason to set about .
notice moretips on compost for tiro in our guide .
I also need to clear up one point of potential muddiness regarding what ’s safe to eat :
gardener who also keep up their harvested crops may end up with vacuous pickles . We ’re talking about the same homegrown vegetable , but the cause for pickles with space in the sum in this case is a lag between the time when they ’re picked , and when you pickle .
To debar this consequence , make certain to proceed with the hot urine bathroom canning or fermenting within 24 hours of find fault your garden - originate cucurbits . In an emergency , you’re able to put them in the fridge in the meantime , but that only realise a day or so of wiggle way .
you’re able to eat up these , too , and they ’ll probably be passably good . They may have a little squishiness , or there ’s a chance their appearance may make people fret that there were insects eating the interior of the green goods that you used for pickling , but the taste will be just hunky-dory .
you’re able to always disguise the empty centers by chopping the muddle after you open a jar and before you serve them .
Don’t Be Bitter About Hollow Heart Cucumbers
I ’m not certain vegetable gardening would be as enjoyable if everything always produce uniformly and blemish - free .
Sure , you ’d harvest only perfect produce that way , but it would be so … robotic .
It would also require an ability to control Mother Nature , since well - formed fruits and healthy vine often rely on reproducible rains , plenty of cheerfulness , and that kind of thing .
I ’ll mirthfully give entirely predictable uprise condition for the joyfulness of weather - watching . I ’ll just compensate for drouth , freezing , and strong Dominicus when I can , and shrug when I ca n’t .
think of , too , that if growing vegetables always went just as project , you ’d omit out on the pleasant surprises that often result from imperfect gardening .
You know , like the volunteer Lycopersicon esculentum that took over when you did n’t weed enough , and end up producing thesweetest red cherriesyou ever tasted .
Or thearugulathat bolt way too too soon and introduced you to the savoury sense datum of its edible prime .
These are a few of my experiences , but what about you ? Have you hang in when face with vacuous heart or other cucumber vine - growing challenges ? If so , how did you do it ?
And whether you ’re a freshman to grow these garden all - stars or a old-timer , if you found this info utilitarian , you ’ll likely revel reading thesecucumber guidesnext :
© Ask the Experts , LLC . ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.See our TOSfor more detail . Originally bring out August 1st , 2021 . Last updated May 2nd , 2025 . Uncredited photos : Shutterstock .
About
Rose Kennedy
