New and excited!

[Gail35]

Hi, I am Gail, 35 years old, I have 4 children.

I have made a decision that I would love to start growing my own veg and fruit(with the rising costs in the supermarkets etc) and came across this lovely forum. You are all so clever. I've bought a few plants and some seeds but that's about it. I plan to have a vegetable plot in the garden. No doubt I will be asking for lots of advice. Still trying to work it if my courgette plant is healthy or not

[seasprout]

Howdy.

Hello Gail35, welcome to the Vine.

When you get a mo, put where you are in the world in your profile, it helps when people give advice, and you can gloat if you live somewhere lovley.

[Chillimad]

Welcome Gail, I am also new here and the Guys and Galls know their taties from their carrots, verry informative group.. well worth hanging around..

[Gail35]

Thanks for the welcome guys.
Just updated my profile, thanks for the tip!

Not gloating here lol

[shirlthegirl43]

Hi and welcome to the vine Gail. Is your courgette nice and green and 'perky' looking?

[Cloud]

Welcome Gail35.Its bloomin good on ere!

[Chillimad]

Is your courgette nice and green and 'perky' looking?

Mine is,,

[Gail35]

It is looking ok but one of the leaves has a tear and looks like it has rotted-sorry I don't know the terminology
There are a couple of tube like bits sticking out which have turned browny yellow on the ends.
I've tried googling courgettes to see if it is ok or not but I am at a total loss.

[shirlthegirl43]

Tube like bits sound like leaves that have been munched off by slugs or snails or broken by weather damage. These will go yellow then brown. Don't worry too much about them so long as the main growth is nice and bright green.

[shirlthegirl43]

Mine is,,

Good for you, so is mine

[Gail35]

Tube like bits sound like leaves that have been munched off by slugs or snails or broken by weather damage. These will go yellow then brown. Don't worry too much about them so long as the main growth is nice and bright green.

Thanks!

It is bright green.

Can I just ask a question re planting it.

It is currently in it's bought state - in a small pot. Where should I plant it so it can keep growing?
I haven't prepared the ground for planting anything yet and I was wondering if I could put it into a larger pot. I read here that the B&Q buckets are good for these.

[shirlthegirl43]

My courgette is growing in a 10 litre florist bucket - just remember to drill some drainage holes (or buy a big flowerpot) so it doesn't drown if we get wet weather. Put some broken crockery or gravel or stones over the bottom of the pot (again to aid the drainage) and fill with multi purpose compost till a couple of inches from the top. Make a 'dip' the size of the pot the courgette is in then put your hand over the top of the old pot, fingers either side of the stem, turn the lot over and pat the bottom of the pot till the plant comes out. Gently settle the root ball into the dip you made and then firm the new compost round the root ball. Add more compost if needed to bring soil level with what is on the root ball.

Hope that helps (and makes sense)

[Gail35]

My courgette is growing in a 10 litre florist bucket - just remember to drill some drainage holes (or buy a big flowerpot) so it doesn't drown if we get wet weather. Put some broken crockery or gravel or stones over the bottom of the pot (again to aid the drainage) and fill with multi purpose compost till a couple of inches from the top. Make a 'dip' the size of the pot the courgette is in then put your hand over the top of the old pot, fingers either side of the stem, turn the lot over and pat the bottom of the pot till the plant comes out. Gently settle the root ball into the dip you made and then firm the new compost round the root ball. Add more compost if needed to bring soil level with what is on the root ball.

Hope that helps (and makes sense)

Thanks so much, that helps a lot.

Could I do the same with a pepper? Sorry for all the questions

[shirlthegirl43]

Pretty much but it depends on the size of the pot the pepper is in now. It is usual with peppers and tomatoes and suchlike to pot them up one size when roots are showing out of the bottom of the current pot. However, when tomatoes start to flower you should plant them in their final position - either a big pot, a growbag, or in garden soil. Peppers will usually be quite happy in about a 7 or 8 inch pot.

[Gail35]

Pretty much but it depends on the size of the pot the pepper is in now. It is usual with peppers and tomatoes and suchlike to pot them up one size when roots are showing out of the bottom of the current pot. However, when tomatoes start to flower you should plant them in their final position - either a big pot, a growbag, or in garden soil. Peppers will usually be quite happy in about a 7 or 8 inch pot.

Thanks again for the advice, it is much appreciated.

It's in a pot and growing very nicely. Will tranfer to a larger pot tomorrow.