If space is a problem, cucumbers climb well up trellises or fences. When the plants are trellised the fruit is easier to see and stays off the ground. Cucumbers do not like much competition, so keep the plants as weed free as possible. Good organic or synthetic mulches help keep weeds to a minimum. Pine needles or leaves work well for this and can be tilled into the garden in the fall to enhance the soil.
Cucumbers are relatively problem-free with only occasional cases of powdery mildew.
Keep the leaves dry and rotate the placement of plants from year to year. Slugs and snails like to munch the leaves and the fruit, but proper watering and removing debris and likely habitat places will reduce their numbers. The exact reason for an occasional bitter cucumber is not known. It is associated with fluctuations in water and heat stress. The bitter flavor is found right under the skin and can be minimized by peeling the cucumber.