Why are my courgettes dying?

[eskymo]

I've had no luck with my courgettes lately. The first batch I planted this year sprouted and looked really healthy. I potted onto bigger pots and all was fine then all the new leaves started shrivelling. The plants all died soon after. The same happened to my butternut squash plants too - all dead.

I did a second sowing of courgettes last month and the first true leaves have started appearing now and like before all the main leaves have started shrivelling. I don't think I've over watered them so I don't k ow what going on.

Any advice?

[SarzWix]

How big a pot are you potting them up to? When I do anything from the squash family, I go up pot sizes in tiny, tiny increments as I've lost so many by jumping to too big a pot. They really seem to like being a bit confined. Also, I soak them in the original pot, and then don't water them after potting up for at least a day, preferably longer, so they aren't sat in wet compost that the roots aren't big enough to suck up... If you know/do all that then....?! Try a different batch of compost?

[eskymo]

Maybe it's the size if my pots. I won't pot this lot on and just leave them in the original pots they were planted in, but the leaves are already wrinkling so I'm worried I'm going to lose this batch as well.

[taff]

and they're indoors and not outside?

[eskymo]

Yes I planted them in pots in the greenhouse and they've not been outside at all yet. If they survive I'll be hardening them off and planting them up at the allotment.

[Two_Sheds]

I think you might be a bit too early. I've only just sown mine, and I'm much further south than you

[jacob]

Hmm. I'm going to be picking my first courgettes today from pots in a greenhouse in Fife, so I don't think it's too early. I've not got a good explanation though.

[womble]

Something must be going wrong. Mmmm, have you grown them before without any problems? Or is this your first year.

[womble]

Hmm. I'm going to be picking my first courgettes today from pots in a greenhouse in Fife, so I don't think it's too early. I've not got a good explanation though.

Heated greenhouse?

[rustylady]

What size pots do you sow them in Eskymo?

[eskymo]

Image Link to flickr not working on iPod so here's the actual link
Courgettes dying again!

This is a pic of my courgettes this morning. I don't have a heated greenhouse and I started them off in a small 4xplanter which you can see in the image. Should I leave them in this or transplant them? They look like they're going to die

[Incy]

Eskymo, your link says I don't have permission to view so I can't see your pictures.

[WendyC]

Just tried the link too. Glad it wasn't just me!

[rustylady]

I can't see them either, same problem as Incy.

[jacob]

Heated greenhouse?

Nope, unheated.