Courgettes bolting?

[Jeremy424]

Hi, this is the 3rd year that I am growing courgettes. In the first 2 years (Parthenon and Defender F1) the plants seemed to grow to their full size and then started producing their flowers and courgettes. This year, I notice that my 15 plants (that I started off indoors and hardened off) have started to produce flowers and embryonic courgettes when the plants are still small. The variety I am using this year is Unwins Black Beauty. The only thing it said about size is to leave 1 metre between plants. Looking on the net they say this variety is 'compact'. I hope I have not chosen a so-called patio variety, which is no good for me as this is on a plot.

Q. I was wondering what I can do about this 'bolting'? So far I have been cutting off the flowers and embryonic courgettes, careful to avoid the growing tip. Will this allow the plants to grow to their full size without damaging them/harming productivity?

N.B. The weather has been terrible this year. Cold, then really strong winds (Surrey) and following advice on the net about building up the soil around them to stop wind-rock hasn't made much of a difference. They have all been visibly pushed so that they have started to grow sideways a bit, out of the mound I built for them. Other than that they seem healthy.

[darcyvuqua]

Courgette bolt that's a new one on me I'm sure one of the other more knowledgable grapes will be around soon

Sorry

[chris]

They don't bolt per se. They're a fruiting plant, but that aside this year has had a very cold spring - it's warm now, when usually the plant would be larger. Mine are showing signs of fruiting already, and are smaller than they usually are.

Regarding windrock - I stake my courgettes on my allotment, which is quite exposed.

[rustylady]

Hi Jeremy, welcome to the Vine.

I wouldn't bother cutting off the flowers and courgettes, the plants will abort them if it's not big enough to carry them.

Why did you plant them on a mound? This makes them more exposed and vulnerable to wind damage.

[Jeremy424]

Why did you plant them on a mound? This makes them more exposed and vulnerable to wind damage.

I mean that I made a circular moat for them and planted them in a little hill in the middle (not that high, only a little higher than soil level) like what I thought it illustrated in the picture in a book I have.

Thanks for the advice chris.

[chris]

Probably to act as a water bowl, I guess.. I don't really bother with that - to stop it running away if I haven't sank a bottle next to it during planting I create a wall of earth maybe 8 inches or so away, around the plant - probably a couple of inches high. I missed the part about you cutting the flowers off - as RL says, leave them - the plant will deal with them as it knows best.. plus then the pollen is available for pollinating insects etc

You can also eat the flowers, you know? Just remove the stamen, as.. it's pretty bitter ! (yaccck !)

[Jeremy424]

Oh, I ate one of them stamen and all since it looked so nice. It wasn't bitter as such, but there was this floral after-taste than lasted for about an hour.

[chris]

Quite possibly the pollen...

I was going to post "You better get your self to A&E, PRONTO!!!!" and leave it for a while before coming back to reply "only joking"... but then thought better of it as you've not been around long

[rustylady]

By the way Jeremy, could you add your location (nearest town) to your profile please? Then it will show up on your posts - where you are can affect advice given.

The idea of a moat is fine, will help with the watering. I sink a plastic bottle next to my plants to fill with water.

[daviddevantnhisspiritwife]

My earlier sowings were a bit like this and they are starting to perk up and fruit properly, though the plants are a little on the small side. I put it down to the cold start this year and perhaps a little stress on the plants through me potting on tardily (also the slugs turning up at all hours with their knives and forks does not help).

My later sowings are looking much bigger and healthier and are going to be offering fruit sooner than the others. My Tondo di Toscana are just about reaching cutting size now.

[taff]

Yup, don't worry too much, they'll sort themselves before long...