Why Are My Cucumbers White & Solutions To Fix Them
About the Author: Jeremy Starke
I've been growing vegetables since I was 12 — over 30 years in the dirt. I share what actually works in my own Zone 6b garden, and what I wish someone had told me when I started.
Zone 6b · North Carolina · Gardening since age 12We love to grow cucumbers here at the Green Thumb Gardener house. My daughter is always looking to pick the best cucumbers once they are ripe.
Once when my daughter went to harvest a few cucumber fruits she planted, she came upon a white cucumber and asked me why are my cucumbers white and are they safe to eat.
As an experienced gardener & lover of cukes, I knew there were a few possibilities that it could be which I'll share with you.
Possible Reasons Why Cucumbers Turn White
Cucumber fruit turns white for various causes, including common cucumber diseases like powdery mildew and Pythium fruit rot. Other common cucumber plant problems such as excessive moisture and blanching can also cause cucumbers to turn white.
Cucumber seeds develop quickly as long as they receive plenty of moisture and warmth. Cucumbers grow fairly quickly and ripen within six weeks in warm soil.
However, there are times that you planted green cucumbers and ended up with white cucumbers instead of their usual pale green color.
Before we go any further, it's worth noting that many varieties of cucumber on the market today have been developed to yield white fruit. Cucumis sativus or white wonder is one example of a white cucumber variety.
These white cucumber varieties are remarkably similar to green types In texture and flavor. However, if the cucumber type you planted is the green variety but becomes white, you have a problem.
Excessive Moisture | Overwatered Cucumbers
Cucumbers require consistent watering and need at least 1 inch of water per week. However, if you overwater, you may have some affected plants.
Excessive moisture erodes soil nutrients, resulting in white cucumbers. In addition, due to overwatering, cucumber plants are unable to obtain appropriate nutrients from the soil. For example, excessive watering leaches phosphorus.
Cucumbers turn pale or white when they have nutrient deficiency. They lack nutrients such as phosphorous, which are required for normal development.
Blanching | Cukes Need To Tan Too
Cucumbers require a lot of direct sunlight for their proper development. It needs enough sunlight hours for both the cucumber leaves and fruit.
Because of the enlarged leaves of cucumber plants, the entire fruit is often shaded. The lush foliage from other plants also causes blanching, resulting in a pale white color.
If your cucumbers have blanched due to a lack of light, all you need to do is allow some sunlight in.
Powdery Mildew
Powdery mildew is more common in gardens with poor air circulation and excessive humidity. This problem starts on the fruit's upper surface, and the cucumbers may appear to be dusted with flour and have white spots.
It will then spread progressively across the entire fruit and make the cucumbers turn white.
Having adequate air circulation and installing a drip irrigation system will helps keep the leaves from excessive moisture which spread powdery mildew.
A baking soda solution is also a good way to eradicate powdery mildew.
Blanched Cucumbers
Blanching can be remedied in several ways. The simplest option is to cut the leaves back somewhat to allow for more sunlight and air circulation.
However, if they are trimmed too much, they may become sun-scalded. Instead, you can trim down some of the weaker plants or remove a few huge leaves to allow more light in.
You must place the plants in areas where they will receive adequate sunshine. To do this, train your cucumbers to grow up in poles or trellis.
Try to make sure they are not too close together so they can get adequate direct sunshine. That is not to say that your plants do not require shade; they do.
Cucumber Plant Diseases
Powdery mildew and pythium fruit rot can be controlled with a fungicide. However, utilizing chemicals has its own set of health risks.
Other alternatives, such as allowing appropriate plant spacing for good air circulation, are available. Another approach is to plant cucumbers in well-drained soil or to use drip irrigation to reduce humidity.
Final Thoughts
Cucumber cultivation can be enjoyable and straightforward. It also offers numerous health advantages and contains antioxidants, like flavonoids and tannins, which may lower the risk of chronic disease.
However, we must be vigilant and mindful of problems that threaten cucumber plants, such as cucumbers becoming white.
With care and attention, you will undoubtedly have a good yield. Have a bountiful harvest and happy picking.
Meet Jeremy Starke
I've been growing vegetables since I was 12 — over 30 years in the dirt. I share what actually works in my own Zone 6b garden, and what I wish someone had told me when I started.
Zone 6b · North Carolina · Gardening since age 12 Read My Story →Frequently Asked Questions
Why are my cucumbers yellow-white?
Cucumbers turn yellow when they grow overripe. Then, the green color fades, resulting in yellowing pigment. But, they can also be caused by fluctuating temperatures, overwatering, and the use of wrong fertilizers.
