May I ask why you think you won't have an extended harvest? If you keep the vines free of pathogen carrying insects and keep the mature cukes picked on a regular basis the vine should keep producing regardless of heavy yield. Can't help if it is a heavy producer, give away what you can't use and count your blessings.

When you say they "gave up", what do you mean? The vines died back? They totally stopped producing (and if they did, did you yank them or let them die on their own)? They succumbed to disease?

Sorry I wasn't clear. My exerience is that after 5 or 6 weeks of harvest the plants would stop producing. The leaves would turn yellow, and no more flowers. Usually I yank the plants and put in a second crop. I wonder is it because I never fertilize my cukes? or I should disbud some buds?

You may be letting some of the fruit get too mature which will stop production. Fertilizing is also a good idea. The plants may not have enough nutrients to keep producing.

You said you planted 5 plants. Maybe you should succession plant them. One per week for 5 weeks would extend your harvest and spread the wealth out a little, as long as your season lasts that long.

As for this year, pickles anyone? that will extend your use of the massive harvest! I have one plant pumping out 10-12 per week and I can hardly keep up with that! 30 per week, wow! Congratulations!
Susan

I agree with Susan about planting them in succession. I've never planted cucumbers that way but that's how I plant my summer squash.
jim_6b

Damn i wish i had the problem of too many cukes! I have 4 cuke plants that were attacked by deer early in June all 4 are still alive and in various states of recovery. I was able to harvest two nice cukes this weekend to make a nice cuke salad with balsamic vinegar, olive oil and fresh garlic but i had my 7 year old daughter over this weekend and she at about 75 percent of it :( lol. Still see alot of baby cukes on the one strongest plant and the three other stunted ones are slowly making a comeback with some minor flowering. The worst of the 4 looks bad as it just a 4 inch stalk, but it does have some leaf buds so im not counting it out yet ;) Its probably not to late to go to the garden store and buy a 4 pack of cukes and plant some more. Might have to get another 4 pack of pepper plants too while im there ;)

just picked up 8 cuke plants at the local garden/nursey. They were in them little 2x2 flats and were looking a little root bound. and were all tangled up with neighboring flats, i managed to untangle em gently as possibly and payed one dollar out the door. I gave em a new home in some good soil and hope they thrive ;)

probably aint to late to seed new ones too? they grow pretty quick. Still got 10 days of July and a whole month of the dog days of august and some good warmth in sept.