Honestly, we could use a solid 2" - 4" soaking rain over the course of 24 hours. The hit or miss stuff thus summer hasn't done much to assuage our dry conditions.
Yes. If you put cucumbers in now and they're on a warm side of the house, you'll get a round or two. We don't have cool autumns anymore so you should be good.
I don't think people realize how lucky we are to be average temps with a 597dm ridge over us. We're dodging freight trains here weather wise this year.