I am gathering my first cucumbers this week and discovered by accident that those that are bitter are only bitter on one end - the other end is still sweet and good. The stem end seems to be the most bitter, and in some the bitterness goes all the way through that first bulge on the stem side.
Nearly all my cukes this week are bitter (even small ones) but I was able to salvage them by tasting both ends and cutting chunks off the stem end til I got past the bitter part. So... no whole pickles but we'll still get to have homemade pickles in chunks! I hope this will help someone else.
Tina
Don't Throw Out Bitter Cucumbers (until you taste both ends)
You're wise to salvage the good parts, Tina. Bitterness can be a temporary stress problem caused by hot dry conditions. This article says some newer varieties are less suceptible, but the heirloom variety Straight Eight has always performed well for me.
http://www.agriculture.purdue.edu/agcomm/newscolumns/archives/YGnews/2006/July/060720YG.htm
Thanks for the link, Yuska. The label on these was "Burpless" but maybe the tags were moved. I've kept them well watered but it has been very very hot here so that may be part of the deal.
Tina