Planting out courgettes

[Normans Mum]

Hi all

Some conflicting reading later, I have planted my courgettes out. They have been staggered in a large bed and have enough room to sprawl and do "their thing". However, I'm not sure whether I've planted them correctly (if there is such a way) do they need to be planted on top of a 'hillock' or is it okay for them to just be planted into a hole as I have done...? they seem to be doing alright at my last beady eyed check. Any advice welcome from other courgette-eers.

[Loudbarker1]

I just plant them in a hole. There is a 4 litre plastic milk bottle close with the bottom chopped off that I pour water enriched with fertilizer into every week or so.

[Normans Mum]

Good idea, LB1. I will do same. ; )

[Kaiya]

How close do milk bottles need to be? Roughly I mean - I have a 4 x 12 bed for example and I've been saving up 4 pint bottles

[taff]

you put the milk bottle next to the plant, it's only for direct adding of water so you can still find the origin of the plant, and the plants need to be about a meter apart....

[Kaiya]

Ah ok - so effectively one per plant. Thanks!

[Two_Sheds]

do they need to be planted on top of a 'hillock'

That all depends on whether your soil floods or dries out. If it floods and stays boggy, plant them on a small hill.

Otherwise, plant them in a shallow bowl (they're very thirsty plants)

[growyourowngrub]

Ive planted 10 plants in buckets and growbags this year. This is my first year with the greenhouse so just a trial, not sure how its going to turn out! but they have flowers, so far so good.

[CimaDirapa]

Ive planted 10 plants in buckets and growbags this year. This is my first year with the greenhouse so just a trial, not sure how its going to turn out! but they have flowers, so far so good.

You are going to have courgettes coming out of your ears, I grow 3 plants every year and a family of 3-4 people can be fed very well just on this throughout the season.

[Florence Fennel]

I usually grow half a dozen or so and yes, usually get loads, but I had very few last year (mind you, it was a poor year for me all round). Make sure you keep up a regular watering regime, especially if they're in containers.

[singleseeder]

Last year I grew them on the plot. 5 plants gave me 40kg of courgettes ................. and yes, I am still eating ratatouille from the freezer, and pickled courgettes and courgette/lemon jelly preserve.

[Loudbarker1]

@ kaiya

you put the milk bottle next to the plant, it's only for direct adding of water so you can still find the origin of the plant, and the plants need to be about a meter apart....

Yep, this is what I do. One bottle per plant put in about 6 inches (perhaps a bit less) from the plant itself at thesame time the courgette is planted out/sown so there is no root damage by digging the hole later.

[horticultural_hobbit]

Knew I was missing a trick. Milk bottles! If only I had thought of that yesterday when I put out our recycling. I was just going to save squash and pop bottles. But since milk bottles are of an increased frequency.

I put out my triffids yesterday as my Ma told me to. Was scared that they might get nipped by the birdies, like cabbages might. Were still there today. Next mission is to sink the bottles and newspaper mulch a la Aunty Zazen.

[dotty lottie]

Hi just joined forum today, am new to allotmenting have sown courgettes in conservatory and wondering what size should I let them get to before planting out on the allotment. Also are they prone to slugs /snails as the slimy beasts seem to eat everything I grow.

[Two_Sheds]

Knew I was missing a trick. Milk bottles!

NO !

They aren't UV stable and will shatter into 1000 pieces after a season