Submitted photo.

Many home gardens have cucumbers ready to be picked, but as it grows close to harvesting a few problems may arise. Horticulturists with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach advise what to look for when harvesting cucumbers. The cultivars should be picked when they reach the desired size. If they will be pickled, they should be harvested when they are two to four inches long. Poorly shaped fruit are usually the result of poor pollination, which can be caused by cool, wet weather. Also, improperly applied insecticides may limit bee activity.

Cucumbers may have blossom-end rot, a disorder that occurs on tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants. It is caused by a lack of calcium developing in the fruit. Horticulturists advise watering once a week during dry weather and not over-fertilizing plants may help prevent this.

In addition, hot, dry weather in Iowa is usually responsible for bitterness in cucumbers.