When I grew cues, I would eat them when they were a lot smaller than that and they were great.

They are grow outside & have no idea if female or male. Its my 1st year of really growing things other than toms & radish. I will have to use a different variety next year & don't let them get too big before harvesting them.

thanks all. will have a look out for Burpless seeds. Any other good varietys recomended will be most welcome.

The female flowers have a tiny cucumber behind them, the male just has a stalk, the male are best removed, if they are allowed to stay the cucumber can taste bitter.
As said there are all female varieties that are easier to grow.
I like the small varieties rather than the long ones and pick them when quite small as they are much sweeter, yours looks a bit big, are they supposed to be speckled like that?
I had an infestation of red spider mite once......

Thanks pamg. Yes there very large & that is one of the smaller ones in the pic.