[JayG]

Red spider mite did seem an obvious candidate, but there was no other evidence of them either before, during, or since my couple of indoor cuke-less years, although who knows what this year has in store? 

[missmoneypenny]

Just to update, I sowed Masterpiece I think back in May, and have molly coddled them. To spread my bets I have 2 plants in my back yard and 2 at the 'lottie. At the 'lottie I have planted them on soil enriched with horse manure, they have plenty of space, no competition form weeds, are in full sun and I am training them up canes. I water about every other day in the currently hot weather taking care not to splash the leaves. So far so good, plenty of flowers and quite a few female ones which are starting to swell up nicely
At home they are in large pots, have had to protect them against my cat with chicken wire around the base, I feed regularly with a tomato fertilizer and also train up canes. They're not quite a s good as the lottie ones, but still developing well.