Courgettes - if only i had made notes

[MrsKP]

Are these good flowers or not so good flowers ?  I promise I will pay attention next time someone mentions it.  (Search facility has just gone down).

;D

[MrsKP]

[MrsKP]

OK search facility back back up, but I'm none the wiser.   ::)

Are these "bumps" or not?

Thanks muchly as ever.

;D

[OliveOil]

I think htey are bumps MrsKP- hope the male comes out soon!

[supersprout]

Yes, they are both lay-dees ;D

[MrsKP]

there's never a man round when you need one eh ?   :P

Thanks girls, I will put cans of beer by the pots.  That usually does the trick ! 

;D

[supersprout]

ROFL! Good luck kaypee :-*

[Svea]

keep an eye on them. if there are no boys, these will not be pollinated. you have to move in quick as soon as they start to rot (they will still be very small), whip them off then and fry with some butter (minus the slightly roten end bot, of course!)

yummy!

waste not, want not...

[Rosyred]

First time growing courgettes can't you just leave them to get on with it? I've got courgettes showing what do I do now?

[amphibian]

there's never a man round when you need one eh ?   :P

Thanks girls, I will put cans of beer by the pots.  That usually does the trick ! 

;D

When you grow cucumbers there never seems to be a shortage of malesâ€"tricksy things, plants.

[MrsKP]

OK, next problem ?

It was cool and overcast when I took those pics this morning, with the flowers wide open, after a scorching afternoon when I got back home, the flowers had closed again.   :o

Is this normal ?  Is that them two flowers done and dusted or will they be open again in the morning ? (OK, give me another 10 hours and I'll tell you the answer to that one) !

I'm hoping they've protected themselves against the sun and not been overheated and deeded.

This is good fun isn't it ?   ;D

[lin]

I have never bothered with wondering if I have the right mix of male and female with courgettes, I just plant them, and always get loads and loads.... at the moment, I seem to have a real mix... I am not very good with labels and never know what I am putting where!

Have started with a diary this year and am trying to write everything in it and work out where everything is, but on my courgette plot, I seem to have alsorts at the moment, but I am managing to pick two or three a day which is lovely and I have noticed that some of my "patty pan" seeds from last year that I planted have the most enormous flowers so looks like I will have a good crop of them too.

Every morning I pop over before work and get a bag of cherries, a punnet of redcurrants, a couple of courgettes and a bunch of sweet peas! Oh allotments are soooo good!

Made one big mistake .... I planted sweet peas and mange tout and sugar snap peas all in pots near each other and forgot to label, so at the moment my hanging baskets outside the front door which should be sweet smelling and pretty are hangng with peas, so I just pop out and pick a few... and on the plot where I should have peas I have flowers ... oh well!

[moonbells]

Cucurbits usually flower in the morning: if you're going to hand-pollinate, then you have to catch them early!

I had to pollinate my first butternut squash with a courgette as I had no other males about! But I don't save the seeds, so won't be a problem. This year's fruit comes true to mother plant type not the pollinator.

Having said that, the largest plant I've got is one that just appeared in the area which was my compost heap until I dug it out - so nice fertile ground. And I've no clue what it is because of the possible crossed parentage. We shall see - will be entertaining!

moonbells

[tim]

Open/shut?  Like so many flowers, that's what they do. No worry!

Men?  Maybe it's just my presence, but I have NEVER interfered with nature.

[busy_lizzie]

I have never done anything to my courgettes either.  As if by magic, I plant them out and courgettes appear on them.  I don't know if I have just been lucky, but I hope it continues again this year!  :D busy_lizzie

[moonbells]

After last years debacle on the butternut front, I'm not taking any chances...

(One small one from two original plants of which one died). This year I planted six!

moonbells

[Mrs Ava]

I have never given them a helping hand either HOWEVER this year I am growing a selection of melons, and after a VERY slow start, they are all romping away.  I am not leaving those to chance and will up before the lark to make sure mother nature has a helping hand!  ;D