I have 2 cucumber plants that I bought when they were flowering. The vine and leaves look healthy but once the flowers start to wilt the little fruit (which look so healthy until this point) go yellow, shrivel and drop off. The plant only has female flowers as far as I can see - not having grown cucumbers before - I am unsure as to whether I am supposed to try and pollinate them. They are indoors at the moment. Any advice gratefully appreciated!
cucumbers are an outside crop. If you have a monoecious variety, then yes you may need to hand pollinate. I would suggest you put it in the garden where the root system can grow. otherwise you, most likely, won't be able to get anything off of it because the current root system will never be able to support the fruit production. The plant keeps aborting its fruit due to, either the size of the plant or the size of the root system. Many times you will also find the first flowers don't develop into fruit. Hope this helps.
I agree ! Put them outside. The need at least 8 to 10 sq. feet running room as well as plenty of room for roots to grow. Without insect pollination you have to hand pollinate or it will keep aborting fruit.