Aldi Cucumber Story: The Joke Behind the Random Lonely Cucumber Pictures

The lone cucumber of Aldi joke is one of the baffling jokes among Aldi Fans. Yes, the Aldi cucumber story is as bizarre and random as it sounds.

Not many grocery stores have a fan base, but Aldi does! In fact, the ALDI Aisle of Shame Community on Facebook currently has more than 1.4 MILLION members.

First, Aldi shoppers will randomly find a single lone cucumber at Aldi. The "cucumbers of Aldi" are left in a shopping cart, randomly placed within the store, or left outside of the Aldi building.

Then Aldi Facebook community members will upload a picture to the Facebook group discussion board of a random and lonely cucumber they spotted during their store visit. Tickled Aldi fans will post comments on the lonely cucumber picture or click on the laughing emoji.

A few brave commenters will chime in asking for the story behind the lonely Aldi cucumber photos. The problem is, it seems that no one knows exactly how the Aldi cucumber joke started.

So what is the story of the Aldi lone cucumber? No one knows exactly. The lone cucumbers of Aldi just seem to happen. The cucumber story seems to be a joke without a beginning or really any meaning.

The Aldi cucumber story that went viral in May 2022

The mysterious Aldi cucumber story has been around since at least 2021, but the Aldi cucumber joke went viral when a Facebook group member posted her cheeky experience with a lone cucumber in May of 2022. She is now known colloquially as "The Cucumber Lady."

Facebook post that says:
Officially my weirdest Aldi experience... just took a cucumber into the stall with me and having already unloaded the cart, it's just me and a lonely cucumber walking out of a public restroom together. — The Cucumber Lady of Aldi

Officially my weirdest Aldi experience...

As I was returning my cart a woman said "I'll take that." {NOT AT ALL UNUSUAL}... however

T R A D I T I O N A L L Y - This engagement is followed by the offering of a quarter, which did not happen Maybe she didn't know... anyway, I proceed back into the store to use the restroom because never in my adult life have a made it thru an Aldi shopping adventure without having to pee {yay for hydration}

As I'm walking to the my cart beneficiary chases me down to let me know I've forgotten a

How thoughtful, right?

It doesn't occur to me until I'm about to leave the restroom that I just took a into the stall with me and having already unloaded the cart, it's just me and a lonely cucumber walking out of a public restroom together.

I guess I have to find a new Aldi since I'm clearly never going to show my face here again
- Sarah S.

What does the lone cucumber of Aldi mean?

Veteran Aldi fans try to explain how the cucumber joke started. More confusion seems to occur. A Reddit thread titled "Aldi cucumber?" tries to find the answer to the joke. One user suggested the cucumbers help scare away cats from lounging in the shopping carts.

reddit thread "Are you sure the cucumbers aren't just to scare cats out of the carts?" — Are you sure the cucumbers aren't just to scare cats out of the carts?
u/TyneeDalit

Another Reddit user suggested that finding a lone cucumber may be rooted in a German tradition of hiding a green pickle on Christmas trees.

Reddit thread, "... my first thought was something about Germans and pickles, which are really just baby cukes, right?" — ... my first thought was something about Germans and pickles, which are really just baby cukes, right?
u/blackberrybunny

Aldi Cucumber on TikTok

On January 18, 2021, TikTok user @matthewlesky posted a TikTok video about the Aldi cucumbers being left randomly on ledges outside of Aldi. The TikTok user notes that the cucumbers being left outside of Aldi are "... mostly English cucumbers, but I guess it's not specific... like WHY?"

@matthewlesky
#greenscreen have you seen this?? #cucumber #Aldi #Alditiktok #illuminati #aisleofshame #conspiracy
♬ Buss It - Erica Banks

One commenter seems to have the most logical and best explanation for lone cucumber sightings at Aldi:

Comment from TikTok that says, "They're consistently left in the cart because they blend in so well with the cart. Probably just the next person finding it and then it gets awkward." — 1/18/2021 - They're consistently left in the cart because they blend in so well with the cart.
Probably just the next person finding it and then it gets awkward.

Pictures of Lonely Aldi Cucumbers

Other Aldi fans have shared their run-ins with a lone cucumber placed on a shopping cart, ledge, or on the ground.

single plastic wrapped English cucumber sitting on top of Aldi shopping carts — 6/6/2022 - I saw a random cucumber today. I don't remember the meaning, but it brought a smile to my face.
- Lorelei H.

lonely cucumber sitting on top of Aldi shopping carts — 1/18/2021 - Spotted today. I see you AOS peeps.
Edit to add: I did not place this cucumber. I found this cucumber. I don't know the meaning. I took the pic because I saw similar posts on here yesterday. Cucumber was left for the next guy.
- Deborah S.

single wrapped English cucumber on outside ledge of Aldi — 1/15/2021 - Found my first lonely cucumber has this become a new insiders Aldi joke? Or are people just setting it down while putting their cart up and forgetting it?
- Tiffany M.

single cucumber sitting on ground next to walkway — 3/16/2021 - It’s happening again. A rogue cucumber outside my Aldi today.
- Kirsten R.

single cucumber on ledge inside of Aldi — 8/30/2021 - My first Aldi cucumber sighting… 8/30/21 9:10am Columbia, MO
- Kelly R.

The Karens of the internet world like to wag their fingers by interjecting in the group comment section that too many cucumbers are being wasted by perpetuating the Aldi cucumber joke.

Comment from Facebook that says, "So now we put cucumbers everywhere being wasteful?... " — So now we put cucumbers everywhere being wasteful?...

Yet, at the end of the day, no one exactly knows how the Aldi lone cucumber joke started - or when it will end. At the very least, the lone cucumbers of Aldi bring smiles to thousands of people who have a weird obsession with the long, green vegetable known as a cucumber.