[A Reyt Tayty]

The mystery cuke from ALDI is going great guns again. One cuke in particular is weird though. It's much thicker than the others. When I sliced it open, the seeds are really big when compared to the others I've had. Do the odd cucumber on a plant to this to give themselves a better chance of germination (stronger seeds)? I've saved some anyway ready for next year. Nothing ventured.

[JayG]

My guess is that it has cross-pollinated with another cucumber - the plants you grow from the seeds next year might produce fruit better or worse than what you already have, although that's possible anyway given that you don't know anything about the genetic provenance of your mystery cuke either!

It's impossible to know in advance - I wouldn't be putting too much faith in them although it could be an interesting experiment. 

[A Reyt Tayty]

No one else within quarter of a mile growing cukes.

[mumofstig]

did you just allow that one to get riper before it was cut?

[8doubles]

Plant breeders have spent years making cuc`s less seedy so keeping seed from one that is reverting back to "natural"may be a step in the wrong direction !

[JayG]

Cukes (and other cucurbits) need a separation of at least half a mile to "guarantee" no cross-pollination will take place, and even that's not a money-back guarantee! 

Mum could be right - leave another one to grow to the same size, although you still won't be 100% sure that one's not been cross pollinated too! 

[A Reyt Tayty]

This particular cuke began by setting off really thick at the end furthest from the plant. The rest never really caught up. Others which were more "normal" were of a uniform girth all the way through their growth. Now I have some growing really thick at the end nearest the plant and filling out towards the end as they mature. None are as thick as the cuke I'm talking about. The seeds in all the "normal" cukes are really tiny and would be difficult to save, the seeds in this cuke are at least 1cm long, 1/2 cm wide at widest point, but are fairly flat.