Even if you are a professional and know what you are doing in the garden, you will find challenges.  Mr. Chatama had to prepare for several challenges when he started his English cucumber project.  There are several pests constantly seeking to make their life on or in your plants and vegetables.  In the case of the cucumber, there are four types of insects that are especially dangerous.

These are the Fruit Fly, the White Fly, the Cucumber Beetle, and Red Spider Mites.  All these insects attack the plant by laying eggs in it like the Fruit Fly, sucking the plant sap, and causing foliage damage like the White Fly, the adult Cucumber Beatle will feed on the flowering plant but lay the eggs in the soil and the larva will feed on the roots and stems of the plant.  Finally, the Red Spider Mites will attack the plant causing leaf yellowing, necrosis, and defoliation that interfere with plant photosynthesis.

There are several ways to combat these pests.  Early detection and preventions are most important.  Attached are links to each of the pests for more detailed information. 

https://www.plantwise.org/knowledgebank/factsheetforfarmers/20147801454#:~:text=Fruit%20fly%20is%20the%20most,the%20fruits%20cannot%20be%20eaten.

https://www.gardendesign.com/how-to/whitefly.html#:~:text=Despite%20its%20name%2C%20whitefly%20is,a%20host%20of%20other%20problems.

https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/cucumber-beetles#:~:text=Striped%20cucumber%20beetles%20can%20carry,weed%20hosts%20or%20infected%20cucurbits.

https://vegcropshotline.org/article/watch-for-two-spotted-spider-mites-on-high-tunnel-cucumbers/#:~:text=The%20mites%20cause%20leaf%20yellowing,the%20rind%20(Figure%201).

Diseases can also cause severe damage to the crop.   It mostly occurs in hot and humid weather conditions.  There are mainly three kinds of diseases that attack the cucumber.  Downy Mildew mostly occurs late in the growing season and is mainly restricted to the leaves.  Powdery mildew is mainly caused by the fungus Podosphaera xanthii, it attacks the leaves and gives them pale yellow spots.  Finally, Anthracnose of cucurbits, caused by Colletotrichum orbiculare, is a serious disease of cucurbit crops in warm, rainy summers. Lesions can form on seedlings, leaves, petioles, stems, and fruits.  More details regarding causes and management are provided in the links below.

https://www.vegetables.bayer.com/au/en-au/resources/growing-tips/agronomic-spotlights/managing-downy-mildew-in-cucumbers.html#:~:text=Downy%20mildew%20of%20cucumber%20is,plant%20debris%20in%20most%20areas.

https://extension.umn.edu/disease-management/powdery-mildew-cucurbits#:~:text=Powdery%20mildew%2C%20mainly%20caused%20by,and%20easily%20spread%20the%20disease. https://ag.umass.edu/vegetable/fact-sheets/cucurbits-anthracnose