My Courgette flowers keep wilting - why???

[SunnyD]

I planted four Courgette plants out two weeks ago (Zucchini variety), and a few of the existing flowers died, which I thought was due to the move (they were in large-ish newspaper pots that I planted straight into the ground).

But now it seems that every new flower comes out fine, and then sort of curls up and wilts

Alos, one of the plants has an edible size courgette, but as the flower has wilted I don't know if I should eat it or bin it

I've attached some pics below - can anybody help? It's my first year growing anything and I'm utterly clueless!

[Alice]

Hello SunnyD, your courgettes are just fine and looking good. The male flowers just appear and wither, they are there to fertilise the female flowers. The female flowers are the ones with the courgettes behind them, and once the courgettes are on their way they just wither and fall off. If they don't fall off I give them a gentle twist to help them or the end of the fruit gets a bit rotten.
You've got a lovely courgette there ready for eating. Enjoy.

[SunnyD]

Hello SunnyD, your courgettes are just fine and looking good. The male flowers just appear and wither, they are there to fertilise the female flowers. The female flowers are the ones with the courgettes behind them, and once the courgettes are on their way they just wither and fall off. If they don't fall off I give them a gentle twist to help them or the end of the fruit gets a bit rotten.
You've got a lovely courgette there ready for eating. Enjoy.

I'm so chuffed with that response I could cry (because you've made me so happy ) Hurrah - I've produced my first edible thing ever

Thank you so much!! I will now attempt to stop being paranoid

[TEB]

Must congratulate you on your patience - I would have eaten that courgette yesterday

[SunnyD]

Must congratulate you on your patience - I would have eaten that courgette yesterday

If I hadn't thought it might be diseased I would have done.

Tonight's the night <evil laugh>

[Headfry]

Well done SunnyD
Enjoy

[SunnyD]

Well done SunnyD
Enjoy

Ta! I'm now so proud of myself it's ridiculous - as a 27 year old girl I really should be more restrained

[Headfry]

No... don't change, we all here on the vine understand.
I got my bees yesterday and am telling everyone today
so excited! enjoy your moments like this! remember though to save a little of the good feeling for a rainy day!

[shirlthegirl43]

Ta! I'm now so proud of myself it's ridiculous - as a 27 year old girl I really should be more restrained

Congratulations!! Why on earth should you be restrained? Just wait till you have eaten something you grew from a seed - wonderful feeling. I am totally fascinated with my 9 tomato plants all grown from seed this year - and I don't even eat tomatoes!!

[SunnyD]

Just wait till you have eaten something you grew from a seed - wonderful feeling.

That would be my courgette later then though knowing my luck I'll burn it

I am totally fascinated with my 9 tomato plants all grown from seed this year - and I don't even eat tomatoes!!

I'm fascinated with everything I've got growing - my plants are nicknamed 'the kids' and my other half thinks I'm barmy

I can't believe that they all came from little seeds either, fab isn't it?

[Flummery]

Certainly is fab. I ate my first 3 courgettes yesterday (with help from the other half!) and they weren't very big - but there will be more. It's the excitement of the first fruits isn't it?

[moggssue]

Now I'm suffering from courgette envy as well as potato envy .... hope you enjoyed your baby shirl?

[madderbat]

Well done, I'm jealous...
My courgettes haven't flowered yet, but I'm really thrilled that they are still alive!!!
Aint it wonderful.

[sweetcorn]

Know how you feel, SunnyD. We have 4 YES FOUR ripened strawberries in our greenhouse, and have been planning over breakfast when during today we will eat them. Have decided to wait till the sun breaks through and warms them up. So totally understand your courgette related joy.

[davidwales]

courgetts

hi all was wondering what you can feed courgetts with