Im new to gardening and growing cucumbers, and I have a few questions.
I planted some cucumbers earlier this year. 2 pickle cucumber plants and 2 regular sized cucumber plants. I think the regular ones were called sweet cucumbers, or something to that tone, but I don't remember the exact name.

I planted them in rectangle plastic containers probably about two feet deep. And maybe 3-4 feet wide. They were actually drawers from those plastic dressers you can buy at wal-mart.

Anyway they have been doing ok, but I have a few questions in order to grow them better next year.

1. This is my main question. The vine tendrils have been wrapping around their own leaves and stems, creating tight little balls of leaves and flowers. Is it supposed to be this way, or should I try to keep them from tangling?

2. Will planting two different varieties next to each other cause cross pollination and deformed fruits? My cucumbers taste great, but most have ripened small and are a bit funny shaped. The pickle cucumbers grew a lot of short little balls and the regular cucumbers sometimes came to a sharp curled point and stopped growing after that.

3. Will planting them in containers like I described above stunt the plants' growth?

4. Should I pick off some young cucumbers if several start growing extremely close together?

Thank you.

2. Planting two varieties next to each other doesn't cause deformed fruit. Yes, they will cross pollinate but that doesn't affect this year's fruit, only the plants next year (if you save the seeds to plant next year). Deformed fruits goes along with number 3.

3. With planting in containers it can sometimes be difficult to provide adaquate water. Inconsitent watering is one reason for deformed cukes. Another cause is fertilizer related, which can also be a challenge to keep consistent in containers because the nutrients run out every time you water. Yet another is incomplete pollination. If the container is of the proper size and you provide the plants with the necessary water and nutrients then they shouldn't be stunted.

4. No reason to. Just pick them when you want to eat them.

Rodney