Courgette Query

[MollyDoodle]

In a fit of enthusiasm I planted my courgette seeds in mid March in pots in my kitchen and they now resemble triffids, they are in 3" pots still and are about 12" high! My query is that they have put out a lot of flower heads which are currently about the size of grapes, do I leave them on or should I pick them off to allow the plant to put more energy into growing?

I am hoping to keep them in the current pots, due to space, until I can start hardening them off next month (lesson learned next year I shall plant my seeds a month later!)

Thanks

[Scarlet]

I think they are fruiting because they are stressed - they obviously need bigger pots. To be honest I haven't even started mind yet.

[rustylady]

They are flowering because they are stressed (exactly as Scarlet said). A three inch pot is far too small for them after a month of growth, they need to be put into 5 inch pots asap. Now the weather is better you can stand them outside during the day too.

[MollyDoodle]

Thanks I will repot them today, should I leave the flower buds on or take them off and allow the plant to put it's energy into growing?

[Scarlet]

I would take them off and let the plant grow a bit first. It should slow down a bit if you can stand it outside as RL advised

[rustylady]

Take them off, you don't want the plants to waste their energy.

[MollyDoodle]

Thanks everyone, really appreciate the advice. Finding the grow your own stuff all new to me, but loving learning!

[lolly2012]

Think I will sow mine tomorrow. Had a glut of them last year must make mental note not to sow so many must admit thought they made great muffins.

[out in the cold]

Is it too late to start from seed?

Noted that local Hom@base were selling off their plugs of courgettes last week.

Also, having never tried growing them myself, how many should I sow? They take up around 2 to 3 ft dont they? It is only KCN and myself that will b eating them and although I like courgettes, I don't want to eat them every second night. Will one plant be enough?

[alldigging]

Is it too late to start from seed?

NO.

Not too late at all.

[rustylady]

Going to sow mine today, so no OITC not too late at all.

I would plant at least two plants, there's loads of things you can do with courgettes. This is one of my favourite recipes http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...tes_21316.html

[out in the cold]

Thanks folks

[Hazel at the Hill]

Also, having never tried growing them myself, how many should I sow? They take up around 2 to 3 ft dont they? It is only KCN and myself that will b eating them and although I like courgettes, I don't want to eat them every second night. Will one plant be enough?

Yes - I grow two plants each year, a green and a yellow courgette - and that really is plenty. I mean, PLENTY.

I love courgettes, but those two plants keep me in courgettes for all meals each day from the middle of August to the end of October. And that's even in a bad year, like last year.

[veggiechicken]

Don't listen to them ^^^^ I started about 60 courgettes and squashes last year in 3 batches - most of them were destroyed by slugs so I had to keep resowing. Ended up with about 2 edible courgettes and a few squashes My worst year ever - and I Lurve courgettes

[horticultural_hobbit]

Won't say how many I've sown. But there are yellow ones, green ones, big ones, small ones. Even one with stripes.

This time last year, mine were growing like triffids and starting to flower as they sat inside. Have delayed sowing this year, due to space constraints. Plan to move out in a few weeks-if they have baby leaves plus one-and cover with pop bottle cloche. When I did plant out last may, rain induced carnage ensued.

The year before last. We have four courgette a week, from one plant. Ah, fond memories.