Stunted courgettes

[glaw5]

Hi, wondering if anyone can help.
I started my courgette plants off indoors, then hardened off and transplanted out after the last of the cold weather a few weeks back. However compared to my butternut squash plant, the courgette plants haven't really got going. They've also both gone a lighter shade of green.
It's the second year in a row I've had this problem and last year I only got a couple of small courgettes.
The year before someone had given me two plants and they cropped like mad.
Just wondering if it's something I'm doing wrong or if I can do something to help.
Thanks,
Gareth

[rustylady]

Do they have enough water? It's been very dry here in East Anglia, and they are thirsty plants. A liquid feed might help too.

[gojiberry]

Sometimes difficult to identify what has gone wrong with plants and all you can do is identify how you looked after them and try a different approach next year. I have three separate patched of courgettes on the lottie, all plants have been treated the same but two plants on one of the patches just doesn't want to play ball. They do like to be well watered but a waterlogged plant will be susceptible to root rot.

Ian

[Two_Sheds]

Mine aren't really taking off yet either: they've variously got pale or crispy leaves, but they'll pick up. We've had a week of very cold northerly winds, which are chilling & also dehydrating everything

[womble]

I have this problem with courgettes, last two years have been bad. It does seem to start from when they germinate, get a courgette off to a flying start and they are much happier.

This year I've got 7 plants, as I hoped at least a couple would do well, now they are all doing well, which is just blinking typical, in about a weeks time I'm going to have courgettes coming out of my ears

In conclusion, sow many plants, start them off well and put them out at the right time, lots of space needed too, made that mistake before.

[Topcat36]

Last year no problems, this year had to start a new lot of. first lot just died :/ . Now i have about 8 plants and hoping they crop well as i eat a lot of them.

[glaw5]

Thanks for all your replies. I've been watering them every night when there hasn't been rain and given them a couple of sessions of liquid feed as well as adding a bit of a compost mulch.
Think I'll just have to plant a lot more next year and hope for some quality amongst the quantity. Just seems strange this has happened two years in a row after such good ones first time round. Guess that's the frustrations of gardening eh!

[Two_Sheds]

I've been watering them every night

No need. Once a week, if you've not had rain, is enough

[glaw5]

Oh really? Thought they liked a lot of water? Or is that only when the veg start to forum regularly?

[binley100]

Oh really? Thought they liked a lot of water? Or is that only when the veg start to forum regularly?

What..... they have their own vine ?

I'll get me coat.........

[glaw5]

Taaaaaaaaaaaaaaxi for Binley!

[Two_Sheds]

No, they don't need tons of water.

I went and had a closer look at mine: the ones in open ground are showing signs of stress (leaves a bit yellow & battered) but the ones I've planted amongst the taller broad beans are looking good, and growing well.

Conclusion: they don't like this fierce north wind we've had all week