Cucumbers

Plant four to five seeds per foot in rows spaced about 36 inches apart.  Untrellised rows may need to be spaced as much as 4 feet apart.  When plants are 4 to 5 inches high and before they begin to run, thin the plants to 24 inches apart in a row. 

For the flowers to develop into fruit, pollen must be carried by insects from the male flowers to the female flowers, the ones with the small "pickle" behind the bloom.  Poor set is common during rainly weather when pollinating insects are inactive.  Spray insecticides in the late afternoon to avoid harming insect populations necesary for pollination. 

Fruits may be used from the time they are 11/2 to 2 inches long until they begin to turn yellow. This period is approximately 10 to 12 days for any one fruit.  It is important to remove cucumbers before they turn yellow so that plants continue producing.  If the fruits are picked early, plants bear a large number of cucumbers;  if harvest is delayed until fruits are large, yields are lower.