Also my first year of growing most veg, in particular cucumber. Here's what I have discovered:
OUTDOOR CUCUMBER
as per Dr. D.G.Hessayon book Fertilization is essential NEVER remove the male flowers.
Pinch out the growing tip when the plants have developed 6 or 7 leaves. Side shoots will then develop. Any shoots not bearing flowers should be pinched out at the 7th leaf (not sure what that means and how you distinguish side shoot from main stem, as mine all look smae to me).
Once the fruits have started to swell feed with liquid tomato fertilizer.
I have marketmore on the go at the mo'. Book more up to date than the older one as printed/updated 2006.
INDOOR CUCUMBER/GREENHOUSE
Remove all male flowers from Ordinary varieties - fertilized fruit is bitter.
Feed as outdoor.
Ordinary varieties = telegraph, Butchers disease resisting, and conqueror.
All female varieties include pepinex, topsy, petita, birgit, euphya and femspot (I say nothing about that name except gee)
If you want a list of outdoor ones I can give it to you I won't bore you with it now.
I have also found out let water from tap stand over night before using on cucumbers because they don't like the chlorine in water and think it helps to just water the soil not the foilage.
I seem to have done something right anyways I have one small itsy bitsy cucumber growing. One plant withered and died completely, dunno why. Four others flowering and looking healthy although smaller. Didn't put them outside until they were about 8" high and am very south.