Sickly courgette plants

[Gillan]

This is my second year growing veg, last year I had a number of monstrous courgette plants and a fairly unrelenting diet of courgettes! This year all my courgette seedlings were looking pretty pale, they are still in pots in the cold frame - I'm going to put them out in raised beds. They all have about three proper leaves now, but aren't really growing that fast, I have fed them and these leaves are looking green now. The first oval leaves are shrivelling up and going a bit mouldy. I'm wondering if it's worth persevering and putting them in the ground or should I start again? The seeds were started in reduced peat compost then put in bigger pots of peat free, maybe this was a bad idea?

[zazen999]

Courgettes need plenty of food, mine go straight into the contents of grow bags [full of nutrients] and get a weekly feed from the start.

You don't say where you are, so it could be that they got too cold at the start. You don't say when they were sown either.

I'd pop them into soil with a good nutrient base, and feed weekly [even if it is seaweed liquid feed], and move them somewhere warmer to see if you get any progress. If not, you will might to sow another couple of seeds.

[crichmond]

The first oval leaves are shrivelling up and going a bit mouldy.

If they are going mouldy they may need a bit more ventilation during the day, on nicer days I would open the cold frame or at least wedge it open a bit with something as they do need some ventilation as none will promote mould because of moisture retention.

[taff]

the trouble with us lot is despite the fact we kow that tender veg doesn't like frost, and that frost happens until summer, or whatever passes for summer sometimes, we insist on planting early because we see other people doing it so we think we can too.
you probably sowed too early for your current plants, but they'll still probably be ok, sowing a few more isn't going to hurt, so keep the ones you've got, sow a few more too. that way, if your current stay good, result, and when your future ones come good, result...

[snohare]

You'd expect your cotyledons to shrivel up and fall off, something would be wrong if they didn't ! Sounds to me like they just need a good feed (well, they're gross feeders, aren't they ) but cold might be part of it too. I'd go with the advice you've heard so far, it's sound.

we insist on planting early because we see other people doing it so we think we can too

Taff, you hit the nail on the head, but I haven't been planting because I know how late the frosts are in my growing areas, and experience has taught me harsh lessons - nonetheless, I have been absolutely tortured with impatience and self-doubt seeing all the plants springing up in other allotments and gardens !

[gojiberry]

I put three out several weeks ago and they went pale green. To cold even with protection. They have survived and are sprouting some new greener growth so they will be alright but just put back a bit.

Ian