Courgette failure :(

[Demeter]

I've got 8 little plants of Gold Rush from 8 seeds sown, all growing well and healthy. Early days yet, but nothing has gone wrong yet!!

[Raindancer411]

Next time I talk to my friend I will ask her if they appear to be male or female flowers. Could it just be that the plant has to develop the flowers so they start them earlier?

As the plant is only 5th or 6th leaves tall, should she actually take these flowers off? Am going to try and call her tonight

[divvy]

Well , I have posted loads of threads about the trouble I have had trying to get seeds to sprout this year . I had trouble with my tomato's , but then they started ok . Then with my cucumbers , 12 sown and only one came up . Warm windowsill with aga on in the kitchen , 21-23 degs . Cling film covered. I still only have one . It's 4 inches high with second leaves , but still no sign of the rest . Now it's the courgettes . "2 seeds planted 2 weeks ago and nothing . I also have had a furtle around and yes , the seeds are there , just the same as when I planted them . That goes for the cucumbers too .All planted on their sides pointed end down , see, I do listen to what you lot say .

[WeeGarden]

Is there something wrong with courgettes this year? I've grown them on allotment and in pots for years and never had a problem. This year struggled to get yellow courgette seeds then it took 3 attempts to get some seeds to actually grow and they're quite sluggish.

I wonder? I sowed some green and yellow courgette seeds on 8th April. The green ones are on their first set of true leave, but the yellow ones (Jemma F1) haven't made an appearance. I've given up and them and thrown a few more seeds in some water tonight. Will see what happens.

[mythyme]

had old seed-don't even know the variety, planted direct onto the plot 3 weeks ago, have had frost wet etc and then blow me yesterday noticed 4 seed leaves emerging

[Topcat36]

Mine are all doing fine now repotted the 2nd batch yesterday, going to put them outside for some sunshine now.

[vikkib]

Next time I talk to my friend I will ask her if they appear to be male or female flowers. Could it just be that the plant has to develop the flowers so they start them earlier?

As the plant is only 5th or 6th leaves tall, should she actually take these flowers off? Am going to try and call her tonight

I was wondering about this too! My courgettes are at about 5 or 6 leaves and have little buds appearing. Not sure if I should be taking them off or not. No idea if they are male or female!

[Demeter]

My courgettes are doing it too - they are now up to the 5/6 leaf stage and most have little buds forming, some have quite a lot! They are still very tiny but I'm pretty confident that they are male flowers as there is no sign of an embryonic courgette behind them (and I would expect to be able to tell as I'm growing a yellow variety!!) Haven't bothered taking the flowers off, as I'm now beginning to harden them off and they'll probably be out in the ground after another week or so (fingers crossed, but the May is out in Gloucester!!)

[HayleyB]

I was late last year with sowing gettes (mid May) and had millions (or so it seemed) so get 'em started

[Jenegade]

I was wondering about this too! My courgettes are at about 5 or 6 leaves and have little buds appearing. Not sure if I should be taking them off or not. No idea if they are male or female!

Mine are doing that too! They only have 2 true leaves showing, the 3rd about to open up! I thought it was a bit early to be showing flower buds...

[Raindancer411]

Phew, glad its not just my friends then... She is going to just leave them and see what happens.

[shirlthegirl43]

The first flowers will be male ones. I read somewhere that you can deep fry them and they are delicious - not sure if you coat them with a light batter first though.

[taff]

I only put mine in about a week and a half ago, when the first one showed up, i took the plastci off and that seemed to have encouraged the rest to pop up.
They were all sown in an unheated greenhouse then put in a plastic bag.

[growingkasbar]

Hi All

I brought a packet of wilkos own courgette seeds and none have germinated after 3 weeks. The packet says you can grow them from march onwards at a temperature of 15-18C. It is quite warm in our house so was wondering if it is just the seeds (I dug up a couple and they havent rotted but still look very much like when I planted them).

Before I go and pay out for some more, can anyone give me any advice...

I too brought wilkos own courgette seeds mine are the black beauty variety. I planted them over a week ago and nothing so far when i lifted a little of the soil they looked no different. Maybe it is the seeds and not us. Everything else i have grown seems to have flourished accept for these. I may unearth them and plant them side ways and try placing them in a warmer spot to see if that has any effect.

[Raindancer411]

Well I hope that they do do something for you Growingkasbar