courgette plant probs

**Claralara** · 06-07-2010, 05:00 PM

They look to my like they are ready to pick! If they are about 6 inches long you can pick them. If not, then I'm not sure. Good luck.

**Capsid** · 06-07-2010, 05:03 PM

Some of the early courgettes will tend to wither and drop off. I think this is due to a small plant having to support a large fruit when the roots aren't big enough to absorb enough water. Yours don't look so bad IMO. Watering is the key. Mine are planted in the ground and I can't water them every day and they take a while to hold on to their fruit as a consequence.

I think you will need a bigger pot as the plant gets bigger and a weekly feed wouldn't go amiss

**Claralara** · 06-07-2010, 05:07 PM

Mark, do you know if some of the leaves can be cut from the plants to encourage the fruit? I grew some courgettes last year in a tub and they did really well but stayed contained. This year I have planted them in the ground and they are HUGE. I was thinking about trimming some of the leaves but don't know if this is the right thing to do. Do you have any advice please?

**Capsid** · 06-07-2010, 05:16 PM

Originally posted by Claralara View Post

Mark, do you know if some of the leaves can be cut from the plants to encourage the fruit? I grew some courgettes last year in a tub and they did really well but stayed contained. This year I have planted them in the ground and they are HUGE. I was thinking about trimming some of the leaves but don't know if this is the right thing to do. Do you have any advice please?

Do you really need to trim the leaves? I allow plenty of space for the plants since, as you have found out, they occupy a large area. I don't need to trim leaves consequently and therefore don't know if it affects the fruit. Even if you do trim some leaves the plant extends laterally and will still occupy a lot of space, so I'm not sure it's worth it.

**gojiberry** · 07-07-2010, 11:26 AM

First piccy looks as if the courgette has not been fertilised properly hence the misshapen appearance. The two in the second picture look great and ready to pick.

Ian

**zazen999** · 07-07-2010, 11:30 AM

Flubba; pick that first one off and eat it; the next will hopefully be along soon.

Make sure they get a good weekly feed just like the tomatoes.

**toastie** · 07-07-2010, 04:27 PM

Hi the ones in the second picture look like they are ready to pick. Usually pick mine when they are about 6 - 8 inches long. Water weekly with tomorite when they have started to flower/fruit. Last year planted two plants in a raised bed and when they got extremely large did take off some of the leaves mainly to allow any water to get to the roots and the sun to ripen the fruit etc.

**Two_Sheds** · 07-07-2010, 04:40 PM

I can't see where it's withering, unless you mean the flower?

**flubba-jubba** · 07-07-2010, 10:12 PM

thanks for the replys guys

........ those nice looking ones are only 4 inches long, do you reckon i should just pick them now??

i got some more soil today so i'll get it into a bigger pot straight after work tomorrow

**moola** · 07-07-2010, 10:55 PM

A bigger pot and some tomorite etc should do the trick - you should find that they grow within a matter of days. They look like they will do well....

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