We just recently sliced into an grocery-store English cucumber and it too had seeds, albeit very small ones. A couple of thoughts here: We are inclined to go to the source, first: Have you inquired of your seed supplier what you should expect? And consulted the grower—not to be confused with the vendor—of the starts/seedlings? The “brand” of seedlings, if commercial (as opposed to local), would normally appear on the plant tag/stick.

Then there’s this: The proximity to other plants may be part of the problem. English cukes DO have seeds; however, they are considered “undeveloped” because they are, in the truest form, not as large as those in a conventional cucumber. The English cuke is parthenocarpic: It develops fruit without pollination. So, insects that pollinate nearby plants could also visit your cukes and alter the results. There is, according to some, a belief that English cukes do best in a greenhouse for this reason, although at least one other source suggests that you are more likely to achieve the desired produce/harvest, if you plant the cukes 115 feet or more from other cukes—or, presumably, other flowering plants. So, maybe there is something to the greenhouse idea… If that’s not feasible (understandably) perhaps row covers tightly secured over plants at a distance (not nec 155 feet) would yield a more satisfactory cuke.

We’re not sure what you’re asking, but a cucumber plant will keep producing fruit if you keep harvesting. If you stop picking the fruit when mature, the plant will slow down or shut down production.

Lack of water can cause cucumbers to become bitter and you certainly don’t want the cucumbers to get too big because that can also cause bitterness. They’re too big if the end is getting yellow.

There are several reasons why a cucumber will curl (called crooking), including pollination troubles (such as not enough pollinators, or hot weather damaging the pollen) or not enough nutrients, water, light, or adequate warmth. Pests and diseases can also cause curling or deformed cucumbers. If the fruit is blocked by an obstacle while it is developing, even a leaf, then it can curl; growing cucumbers on a trellis, so that the fruit can hang, helps to prevent this problem. Check to see if your plants are receiving ideal conditions, and look for any signs of pests and diseases. In hot weather, you might provide some shade during the hottest part of the day.  Also, if you are growing cucumbers outdoors, be sure that the variety you select is not parthenocarpic (for example, ‘Sweet Success’); these cucumber varieties do not need pollination and are best grown in the greenhouse, where there are no pollinators; if they do become pollinated, then the fruit can curl or become otherwise misshapen.

If round cucumbers are occurring on just one plant but others are normal, then your seeds are to blame. Occasionally, a hybrid seed will make it into a packet and produce unexpected results, which is probably what happened in your case. Don’t worry, though, as spherical cucumbers are essentially the same as normal ones—just a little more well-rounded!

Yes, cucumbers appreciate the warm summer temperatures and should mature in approximately six weeks under good conditions.

It is possible that the plants may grow back, if the roots are intact, especially if the plant is pampered (grown at optimum conditions and protected from extreme temperatures). But it might be safer to start again from seed, or buy transplants. Damaged plants likely will take a while to recover (if they do), delaying harvest, and they may not be as vigorous. You could keep a few, to see if they perk back up, but add new ones, too, as a precaution. Protect against animal and insect pests, such as covering seedlings with a row cover.

Damping off, a fungal disease, is a problem with young cucumber seedlings. Make sure your pots and soil are sterile and plant just a few seeds in a cup. Use room temperature water and keep the soil just moist. Watering from the bottom sometimes helps. Air circulation is also important. Keep a small fan nearby if needed. Thin seedlings if they seem to be crowded in the cup or pot. Good luck!

Hi, Ela: Thanks for this fantastic question! One thing that may be happening concerns the fact that English cucumbers are self-fruiting, not in the sense that they pollinate themselves (as self-fruiting often means), but that they don’t need pollination. For this reason, they produce only female flowers. If a bee or the wind or whatever comes along and pollinates that flower, then the resulting fruit will usually be misshapen in some way. So if your cukes are not only not straight, but also bulging or curving, etc., then you may have to take steps to prevent the flowers from being pollinated. However, if your cukes continue to be of uniform diameter as they curve, then the solution may be somewhat more straightforward: gravity. Just grow them from a trellis so that they hang down, and gravity will hopefully keep pulling them down on the straight and narrow–or at least more than they appear to be now. Thanks again, and good luck!