Cucumber support (Bush Champion )

[thesnapman44]

Can anyone tell me the best way to let my cucumber plant grow? It is a bush variety (not vine), and as the stem has grown upwards, I have been tying it to the stake. However, it has suddenly grown away from the middle, and the thick stem is now growing like a branch on a tree (but with a lot more haste !!!). I have tried gently bending it back to the stake in the middle, but I fear it may snap if I go too far with it. There is also a lot of flowers on the plant, but as young as the plant is (3 months), would they all be male flowers?

[applestar]

Do you have one of those useless-for-tomato cages? If you have a bigger one like 48" or 54" they work well for many container grown plants. Tie it to the railing so it won't tip over.

[thesnapman44]

Thank you applestar.