i was given a cucumber and it tasted very bitter, when i asked the gardener why, he said ive given you a male?

No such thing. What he meant was that the fruit had been pollenated by a male flower on the cucumber plant. This makes them bitter. If you grow them then buy a female only type, no problem that way, except the disgusting taste of any cucumber!

hee hee Owdboggy now now , one mans meat and all that , . . .. I luv em , I grow F1 something or other ones and the fruit from them tastes great , a guy years ago was talking about getting bitter fruit on cucumber plants and said that he used cheap lemonade to water them a couple of weeks before picking them and this sweetened them up , I have no idea if he was telling the truth or a load of manure. Any thoughts anyone?