Courgette wilting (with pictures)

[Gemmalaveen]

One of my courgette plants is wilting in the sun - it has been doing this for the past few days. It's fine the next morning but by midday it starts to wilt. All my other courgettes located in exactly the same place are doing fine, even the much younger plants. The variety is Safari and it was planted out two weeks ago (covered in fleece overnight until temperatures were higher). I don't think water is the issue - it has had exactly the same amount as the healthy plant next to it and the soil is moist.

Any views on whether I should pull it out and plant another, or shall I give it a few more days and see if it improves. I am just wondering whether a plant that is struggling now is going to give me all the delicious courgettes I want from it?

I inserted an upside-down water bottle with bottom cut off a few days ago to aide watering and I am wondering if this might be the problem... did I stick it in too deep and expose a root (is that even possible?)... help please!

[taff]

It's just the shock of outside, and putting out new roots and being really really really hot...Give it a week or so to throw out some more roots.

[rustylady]

You really don't need water bottles in pots, but I don't think that is the problem. Try and shade it for a couple of days.

[Florence Fennel]

I think it's still trying to establish itself, give it a bit longer.

[growyourowngrub]

Im currently growing 10 courgettes in flower buckets. and id say you probably dont need the water bottle,as someone else suggested. i grow mine from seed and transplanted they did wilt for maybe half a day but after that they have been coming on strong since.. give them a few days they should perk up.

[Potstubsdustbins]

Happening to a lot of plants this year, I think do to the weather. The tops have grown in April looking for some sun at the expense of the root system, now the roots are struggling to support the top growth. I would slow down a little on the watering, only water as the plant needs it not as a routine. This should give the root system a chance to establish itself if it can. Otherwise its the compost bin.

Colin

[horticultural_hobbit]

That all makes sense to me. My nine lovelies were sent out a few days ago; and had gone a bit sulky. I had a little bit of guilt, what with the hot weather. I think six out of the nine have bottles sunk next to them, so I made sure there was some liquid in those. Didn't water today, as they seemed to have perked up a little. Think the trick is to just keep an eye on them.

[Tripmeup]

I have seen courgettes in worse condition than that recover and give a very good crop..

I had one establishing itself last year when some dopey builder decided to clean a wheelbarrow being used for concrete on top of it..
Looked like a goner for a while but recovered and gave a great crop...
So stick with it for a while...

[Gemmalaveen]

Thank you all for the great advice - I will remove the plastic bottle and erect a parasol in front of it for today.

This plant happens to be my biggest courgette (by far the most leaves so far) so Colin's point about the roots not being developed enough to support the leaves makes sense.

I have about 8 plants in several different varieties so I doubt we will be without courgettes if it all goes wrong anyway!

[Sarico]

i had the same problem and i was just wondering if is normal that some leaves are shrunk... i check them and there are no aphid o greenfly ( just 2 or 3 but i don't think is a problem)...tomorrow i'm goin away for 5 days and i think i will move my plant close to the fence where they will be a bit in the shade from 2 pm...i hope my mum in law doesn't kill them....

[Maccabee]

Water the plant then mulch the soil around it with newspaper (wetted and weighted down with soil) to prevent too much water evaporating from the soil. This will help to keep the soil and the plants roots moist and make the transition less stressful for the plant.

[Bexy]

I Had a Courgette do that and after abit of investergation i saw that a slimy critter had taken a snack on the stem and it was basically the standing dead.... had to compost it.

[Gemmalaveen]

Good luck Sarico!

My runner beans are doing the same thing now... I will just give them time and sow a few more for back up.

[Sarico]

Good luck Sarico!

My runner beans are doing the same thing now... I will just give them time and sow a few more for back up.

I'm on the way home from holiday. My mum in law water them for me but just to make sure the temperature was too hot I move them in a position that they will get sun till 1pm. I hope everything is alright. Finger crossed

[SarzWix]

I nearly always sink a bottle for watering into the pot with courgettes/tomatoes/cucumbers and other thirsty veg in. It helps to get the water below the surface, and prevent moisture loss through wicking. So if you want a bottle in the pot, you have the bottle in the pot