Courgette Seedings

[HKCambridge]

I have some courgette seedlings which are about 2 weeks old, with 2-3 leaves each. Their leaves appear to be too heavy to be supported by the stem: is this usual for plants so young? It seems a bit silly to prop up a seedling, but if they can't support their own weight is that what I should do?

[mikk100]

I'm finding that with my butternut squash seedlings. the stems seem a bit pathetic but the leaves are massive. My courgettes haven't come up yet so I can't say the same about those....i'm just leaving them for the moment to see what happens, it does seem daft to prop them up, we'd have to use little match sticks!

[madderbat]

Hi HK and Mikk, nice to meet you.
I wonder if they are a bit early and getting leggy? I only started some last week and they haven't germinated yet. I think they need long hours daylight, but other grapes will probably put me right on this in a bit.
Hope you get comfy here, see you around.

[pigletwillie]

Some courgette and most squash trail along the ground and do not grow straight up, hence are naturally "floppy". Having said that some of the varieties can be trained upwards over trellis and other supports but do need tieing in and supporting.

[Alice]

Hello HKCambridge and welcome to the Vine. Courgettes don't grow on stiff stems but flop and trail - so just let them do it. That's why they take up so much space. Hope you have a great gardening year. What else are you growing.

[Flummery]

The only one of this family I've got sown so far is a marrow called 'long green' - it's standing up nice and straight so far - and 'twas free! I don't usually sow squash and courgettes until mid April round here. Even so, although strong, they often sprawl rather than grow stiff and erect. The nature of the beast!

[HKCambridge]

Hello HKCambridge and welcome to the Vine. Courgettes don't grow on stiff stems but flop and trail - so just let them do it. That's why they take up so much space. Hope you have a great gardening year. What else are you growing.

I've got some tomatoes and chillis from seed, and some raspberries bought as canes. This is my first year growing things, so there's a lot to learn quickly.

I've had basil and coriander plants before, but it's hardly the same!

[johnty greentoes]

The only one of this family I've got sown so far is a marrow called 'long green' - it's standing up nice and straight so far - and 'twas free! I don't usually sow squash and courgettes until mid April round here. Even so, although strong, they often sprawl rather than grow stiff and erect. The nature of the beast!

The vocab is so ... turgid I was wondering if Flum was pulling an April Fool.

[Flummery]

The vocab is so ... turgid I was wondering if Flum was pulling an April Fool.

Not at all! Turgid's me middle name!

[Sazzle]

Floppy courgettes

I'm glad you asked that question - I'm new to growing "stuff" too and wondered why my courgette plants had gone "floppy!"

I bought a greenhouse fo 15quid on trade-it and already it is stuffed with seedlings - courgettes and sunflowers being the big successes , as well as some 4 inch tall beans, peas and mange touts - bit worried about the maggot thing there - fingers crossed!

The tomato and pepper plants are looking skinny and small though - have I planted too early?

Secondly, how many plants do you put in and how many canes etc for peas and mange touts/beans etc...?

S.

[rustylady]

Courgettes etc need warmth to germinate, but once they are through you should reduce the heat. They should then grow at the right pace for the stem. If they do get leggy you can transplant into a slightly bigger pot, and put the seedling into the compost so that the lowest leaves are just above the surface of the compost. These plants (and tomatoes) have the ability to produce new roots from the portions of the stem which are below compost level (just make sure the compost isn't so wet that the plants rot)

[peter67]

Peter

My courgette seedlings are sprouting 2 leaves, these are turning yellow and are limp and look dead. This has happened several times over the last month. Any body got any idea why this is happening. thanks. peter.

[rustylady]

Peter, when courgettes germinate they first produce two leaves. From between these two leaves come the true leaves. Once the true leaves get going the first two leaves yellow and die. This is not a problem as long as the plant is producing more leaves.

[Jimmy]

I put sticks and old broken canes between the stems to stop the wind moving them about so much.
Jimmy