One plant in a hill may be healthy while others die. These are typical symptoms of the bacterial wilt disease, spread by cucumber beetles early in the season. Control the beetles when the plants are small. Burpless cucumbers are no longer considered novelties and are offered in most garden catalogs. They are mild, sweet and crisp when fresh.
Most cultivars are long and are grown on a trellis.
The first yellow flowers that appear on the plants are male flowers that provide pollen. The male flower usually drops off after blooming. The small cucumber is evident at the base of the female flower, and it should develop into an edible fruit. For proper fruit set, the pollen must be transferred from the male to the female blooms. They may be earlier and higher yielding than other varieties.