Hollow cucumbers are a fairly common problem that summer residents have to deal with when harvesting from their own “plantations”.
In theory, such fruits are edible. However, it is not recommended to use them for pickling - as a rule, such cucumbers have a slightly bitter taste.
Let's try to figure out what causes the empty center in cucumbers.
Environmental conditions
The most likely reason is heat and drought, since the optimal conditions for cucumber growth are constant moderate moisture.
The conclusion is this: during periods of drought, pay special attention to watering your cucumber beds, and when planting, adhere to the recommended distance between plants.
Excess Nitrogen/Low Boron
If there is too much nitrogen in the soil, the fruits will grow too quickly, and the inside of the cucumber will not always keep up with the growth of the outside. The solution is to reduce the amount of fertilizer applied.
If you suspect that the problem may be due to a boron deficiency, try spraying the foliage with a boric acid solution made from 0.5 teaspoon of boron per 1 gallon of water.
Inadequate pollination
Agronomists believe that the cause of hollow cucumbers, watermelons, and squash crops is a lack of seed initiation. In simple terms, your growing cucumbers are probably not being pollinated properly or the seeds are dying during development.
Genetics
Check cucumber seed packages carefully - some varieties are more prone to hollow-center fruits than others.
