Why did my cues fail this year?

Molly Bloom

With the warmer summer I was hoping for a bumper crop of cucumbers. Fat chance. They germinated well and produced strong plants. I potted them up in the greenhouse (fresh general purpose compost), stopped the tips at about 10" and, once the flowers came, I kept them fed and watered. In spite of producing copious flowers (they were Bono so didn't need any flower removal) 3 of the plants didn't produce a sausage (nor a cucumber). The 4th produced just 2, one of which withered at 3" long. What did I do wrong? I noticed there were not many insects in my greenhouse this year, so perhaps that was it? Any suggestions for next year would be gratefully received.

purplerallim

I never nip the top of my cucumber. This year like you had early flowers, then with the onset of really hot weather the flowers slowed down for a month or two but the plant kept on growing. Now have a bumper crop of cues but from the top of the plant, which has needed lots of support as quite long. Next year just let it grow and support it's growth, best of luck.

ZeroZero1

What bad luck. I had a good crop this year, twenty or so from three plants. I think you might have it right about insects, did you have the greenhouse door open. I did this on summer nights. I grew a delicious variety with a heavenly scent called Pipernex and another called telegraph - FYI.
I also noticed a dirth of insects until late summer. 

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/17/where-have-insects-gone-climate-change-population-decline

Sad for you!

Pete.8

I've been lucky with cucumbers.
Only my 2nd year, but I've had 258 from my 1 plant (Cucino) in a 22L pot (25% rotted manure, 60% mpc, 15% perlite - roughly) in the g/house.
I used the stiff type of clematis netting to allow it to scramble up to the eaves then across the width of the g/house.
Fed it weekly with miracle grow and gave it seaweed extract every 10 days. I leave doors and windows open as much as possible. It's at the far end of the g/h where it is most humid. I didn't pinch the top out, but did cut some lower sideshoots back.
Poor thing is knackered now, but still the occasional one appearing
At it's peak mid-july  -

purplerallim

I only saw hoverfly in my greenhouse, but the windows were open all summer. I have two each of cucumber and mini cucumber plants, have had 18 cucumbers( they seem very big this year) and 23 minis with a good few of each yet to come. I did see the odd bumble bee early on but only around the tomato plants. This has been an odd growing year.

raisingirl

I think they like heat but not sun. Mine have been a bit stop-start this year - good early on, almost completely stopped fruiting late July early August. The small round type cues are suddenly coming on well now, just in the last week or two, as it's got less sunny but is still mild. 

Molly Bloom

Thanks to everyone for the useful comments & tips. I'm eaten up with envy of Pete8's cues hanging like chandeliers! Maybe I can achieve that effect myself someday.

Pete.8

The 1st time I grew one (last year) I trained it up a cane. It done very well (probably 100ish cue's) then the whole plant slid down the cane and that was the end of it.
I haven't done anything special to it this year, just as I describe above. The clematis netting has worked very well. I understand that the ordinary soluble miracle grow plant food is better suited to cue's than tomato feed as it has a little more nitrogen which helps.
When it was producing masses, I fed it every 3-4 days and it needed a gallon of water both morning and evening.
I'll be growing Cucino again next year for sure.
It's almost dead now, but I did just pick one for my tuna sarnie.
Best of luck for next year!

Molly Bloom

Thanks for that, Pete, I was going to ask about watering (I think I kept mine a bit too thirsty this year).

BLT

Lets be honest it has been rather hot..Trying times for any grower of fruit n' veg.  I too grew Cues but at least I did get a crop. My problem was donated plants and did not know what variety they were..Mine succumbed to downy mildew, probably due to having to water late afternoon when it had cooled off a little..  Those shrivelled up ones sound like they suffered Blossom End Rot..

Next year try a Self pollinating type like Femina, plenty of fruit..

I am in awe of the photo posted up of their cue crop..Wow amazing..  Good luck I think I am going to grow Melons next year lol.

Jolly Gary the Gardener

I grow my cucumbers outside and have had many good years except this year.In the beginning had 2 smaller than usual cucumbers then the hot weather hit and the plants slowed down and the leafs went and died off.Still had small growth but that was it.Kept them watered and now the weather is cooler they have really started to grow back. Have many new cucumbers on  my plants now. Same with my runner beans they dont like sustained dry hot weather but now they are fine.
As for insects if you use self pollinating plants (F1) then lack of insects wont effect them
Happy Gardening
Jolly G