Hi

[fizzywitch]

I only joined this forum a couple of days ago, but I've already found heaps of good tips and info, so thanks.

We've been dabbling with the garden on and off since we moved here almost 15 years ago - threw ourselves into it the first couple of years with some success on the veggie front, but the following year things didn't want to germinate or were eaten by slugs, mice, etc., and we felt it was too much hard work for little results. However, hubby dug over a section last year and we had a reasonable lot of courgettes (although we lost more to mildew because of the wet weather and he let some of the plants go to marrows too quickly - live and learn). Anyway, it was quite encouraging, so I decided to give it more of a go this year and bought the Grow Your Own magazine (where I spotted an ad for the new Let's Grow Veg) and we've been digging and weeding all weekend. So much still to do though, and I had to come in after an hour this morning because it was snowing on me!

Anyway, looking forward to learning much more from all the brilliant and friendly people on here, and looking forward to the weather warming up again - it's all over the place at the moment down here on the Devon/Dorset border.

[shirlthegirl43]

Hello and welcome to the vine. Digging in the snow - one way to keep cool!

[zazen999]

Hi
Welcome to the vine!

When you say mildew; all mine get mildew but we just chop the affected leaves off and leave them to grow; you usually get it [i find] when it is wet, so keeping all water off the leaves does reduce it alot. Mind you, in last year's weather there was no hope; but you can still keep them producing fruit mildew or not. The trick is to take the first few fruits off as soon as you can and not wait for them to get too big - this encourages more to set.

Anyhow, I hope you enjoy it here!

[smallblueplanet]

Hi, welcome,
well if you were encouraged by last years harvest, which was very poor for many, then you're ready to take your place amongst those of us obsessed by buying seeds and growing veggies!

[fizzywitch]

all mine get mildew but we just chop the affected leaves off and leave them to grow; you usually get it [i find] when it is wet, so keeping all water off the leaves does reduce it alot. Mind you, in last year's weather there was no hope; but you can still keep them producing fruit mildew or not. The trick is to take the first few fruits off as soon as you can and not wait for them to get too big - this encourages more to set.

Anyhow, I hope you enjoy it here!

Thanks zasen999. It was the fruit - blossom end rot more I should say, especially the yellow ones, usually just as we thought they'd be ready to cut

[zazen999]

Thanks zasen999. It was the fruit - blossom end rot more I should say, especially the yellow ones, usually just as we thought they'd be ready to cut

Dang - it's a bugger when they do that!!! The yellow ones seem especially prone don't they!!! I have been trying yellow courgettes since discovering Nigella's Happiness Soup which uses yellow courgettes, and have never grown enough to actually make a bowlful, let alone enough for us both. Make it with the green ones but it's just not the same!

Better luck this year I hope.

[sewer rat]

Hi Fizzywitch and welcome to the Vine.
Re your courgettes - the fruits are very prone to rotting in damp weather - and it usually starts when the flower gets wet as this then starts to soak the fruit. I remove all the flowers whenever I get a moment, though I still lost some fruits.
Check your plants every second day - you will be amazed you quickly the courgettes grow if you give them 4 or 5 days.
I had a fantastic crop of green courgettes last year, but I had nothing worth harvesting from the yellow variety I grew. They were in the same ground as the green variety and formed loads of fruits but these didn't grow past the size of my pinky finger before they started to rot. C'est la vie - no more yellow courgettes for me.

[momol]

Hello and welcome to the vine Fizzywitch .

[terrier]

Hi Fizzywitch, gardening in this weather is not for the feignt hearted, but when you come in from the cold, the hot toddies taste all the better When our long hot summer arrives, we'll all be complaining about the heat!

[Nicos]

Hello!!
Welcome to the Vine!

[everdream78]

Welcome!!! I, too, learnt the hard way about leaving courgettes to their own devices - took us three weeks to eat that marrow!

[mrdinkle]

We had lots of nice yellow courgettes last year, lost a few to rot where I was too late to remove the flowers when they got wet. Green ones did not do too well

Got more yellow variety seeds for this year!

[carlseawolf]

hello and welcome

[lumpyjumper]

and looking forward to the weather warming up again - it's all over the place at the moment down here on the Devon/Dorset border.

Welcome Fizzywitch what a fabulous name! Do go on the "What's in a name" thread and tell us how you chose it?

I live just over the border in East Devon, the frost this morning wasn't as bad as I'd thought it would be. Are you by the coast or more in-land?

[lainey lou]

Hello Fizzywitch! Welcome!