Birds are good for the garden as they eat insects but crows may uproot new seedlings. Use a row cover to keep them out. All the plants you have chosen love warm soil and hot days, and will benefit from some Osmocote worked into the soil as recommended on the package. A mulch around the roots or the young plants will help to keep out weeds and seal in moisture. Cucumbers come in bush and also vining types, so give them plenty of room even training them over a trellis if you have the spreading or vining cucumber. Hope this helps and that you'll be enjoying wonderful salads soon. Keep growing, Marianne Binetti