What causes bitterness in cucumbers?
Bitterness in cucumbers is caused by cucurbitacins. Cucurbitacins are compounds normally found in the leaves, stems and roots of the cucumber plant. The cucurbitacins spread from the vegetative parts of the plant into the cucumber fruit when the plants are under stress. Hot, dry conditions are usually responsible for bitterness in cucumbers in Iowa.
Bitterness does not accumulate uniformly in the cucumber fruit. Cucurbitacins are usually concentrated at the stem end of the fruit. They also accumulate in and just under the skin of the cucumber. Bitter cucumbers can sometimes be salvaged by cutting off the stem end and peeling the remainder of the fruit.
Cucumber varieties differ in their tendency to be bitter. Varieties that usually experience few problems with bitter fruit include Sweet Slice, Sweet Success and Marketmore 76.
Watering cucumber plants once a week during hot, dry weather may also be helpful.
When is the best time to seed a new lawn?
Mid-August to mid-September is the best time to establish a lawn from seed in Iowa. Late summer planting has several advantages over spring seeding. The seeds of cool-season grasses germinate quickly in the warm soil of late summer. Once the seeds germinate, the warm days and cool nights of early fall promote rapid turf growth. Also, there will be less competition from weeds as few weed seeds germinate in late summer and early fall.
How do you harvest, dry and store onions?
Harvest onions when the majority of the tops have fallen over. Carefully pull or dig the onions with their tops on and cure (dry) them thoroughly in a warm, well-ventilated area for 2 to 3 weeks until the outer layers (scales) become dry and papery. Then cut off the tops about 1 inch above the bulbs. Place the onions in mesh bags, old nylon stockings, or wire baskets and store them in a cool (32-40°F), dry location. The storage life of onions is determined by the variety and storage conditions. Good keepers, such as Copra, that are dried and stored properly should keep for several months.
What are these beetles doing in my house?
For the last few weeks many of us have been finding strawberry root weevils wandering around our houses. This is a very common insect and is found throughout Iowa. Adult strawberry root weevils are brown-to-black and about 1/3-inch long. They have a pear- or light bulb-shaped body and long elbowed antennae.
Strawberry root weevil larvae live in the soil and feed on the roots of strawberry plants, evergreen trees and shrubs. In mid-summer, the adults emerge from the soil. They feed on plant foliage but cause no significant damage to the plants. They would go unnoticed except that large numbers regularly wander into houses by mistake as "accidental invaders." These are not damaging to the house or furnishings. They do not harm people or pets, and are a nuisance only by their presence.
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