Courgette trouble

[newbiegrower09]

Hi there

I am new to growing my own veg but so far have managed some rhubard and spinach and my sprouts are looking good.. unfortunaltely i'm not fairing so well on my courgettes and squash..

My first courgette did appear which was fantastic (i even took a picture which i showed to friends at a dinner party last week - funnily enough not everyone was quite as enthusiastic as me!!) anyhoo since then the flower has closed up and the courgette seems to have lost some of its colour - does this mean it is dying??

the beautiful flowers are just coming out on my other plants and i would really appreciate any advice that anyone could give me that would give these ones a better chance..

sorry if that was a bit long winded - im new to this too..

thanks

lainey

oh p.s. if i want to pick the flowers to eat them would it affect the growing of the small courgette that is left behind??

[perkin]

Hi newbiegrower - firstly welcome to the vine!

I first grew courgettes last year and found that the first couple of fruits died back after looking like they were doing well. It seems to be that the plants need to establish themselves a bit more, get stronger and build up steam - and then they're off! You'll have so many courgettes you won't know what to do with them all! I think I had 3 or 4 little ones die off before they really got going.

Good luck!

[taskey]

i have just found one of my yellow courgetts has gone a bit brown and mushy at the end. the flower fell off in my hand (honest!!!). do i remove the 'bad' courgette or let it carry on?

Thanks

Tracy

[jacob]

Sounds like they haven't been pollinated. If this happens they little courgette gives up and dies. Are they inside or out? If outside don't worry -- another will be along soon enough and its not uncommon, especially for the first flowers, for them not to set. If it's inside, you will probably have to do the pollination yourself, that is, transfer some pollen from a male flower to the female. Purest might say use a paintbrush, I use my fingers!

[taskey]

they are in a plastic greenhouse at night then moved out on a morning (if it is nice). i did have a go at doing it myself with my finger but cant remember which female i did it on oh well will just have to keep putting them outside and see how it goes. i have a few more growing at different stages (not plants i only have 2 plants, but lots of yellow fat pods on) and this was one of the smallest

thanks anyway

Tracy

[magz.mccarthy]

Try leaving them outside for good if you like. They are hungry and thirsty plants and will get much more water and feed from the ground outside if it's well manured. It's warm enough for them now that they won't suffer, especially if they've been hardened off as you say.

It will also free up space in your greenhouse for other things that prefer more heat - aubergines, melons...

[pdblake]

I find that the first few courgettes on a plant do often go a bit awry but once the first few are out of the way they start setting properly.

[taskey]

the problem is i still have them in buckets. i have not got round to digging my patch in the garden yet. will they be ok in the buckets long term??

Tracy

[sdgtiger]

Got 3 of mine in pots and they are doing just as well as the ones in the patch. As long as they are well watered and fed then with the amount they produce you will be sick of them soon.

[sewer rat]

i have just found one of my yellow courgetts has gone a bit brown and mushy at the end. the flower fell off in my hand (honest!!!). do i remove the 'bad' courgette or let it carry on?

Thanks

Tracy

Remove the fruit that has started to rot - this is quite common and is very similar to blossom end rot that you see in tomatoes.

[taskey]

brill - will go and remove it now .

Thanks again

Tracy