Courgette plants wilting

[Bill Door]

I started courgettes, squash, cucumbers and gherkins at the same time.  After germination i pricked them out into 3cm modules.  The courgettes grew but died back after showing the first shoot.  All the other plants have survived.  all had the same treatment.  I did wonder if it was too cold for them.  They were outside during the day but in a mini green house over night.

I have started more courgettes and they have grown really well and are close to the point when the others died off.  They did not shrivel up but when from green to yellow then died standing.  Any ideas anyone.

Bill

P.S. i have had the odd one die before but not all together.

[Bill Door]

[caroline7758]

I think cold is the most likely explanation- we have had some very cold nights- even frost, maybe? Hopefully they should be ok now. I had two butternut squash die off while all the courgettes were ok so maybe it depends on the variety as well.

[Vinlander]

3cm is very tight for a plant that can produce a pair of seed leaves twice that wide, especially as they seem to double in size every few days (am I exaggerating?).

I'm mean about propagator space but I never use less than 6cm for a courgette or less than 8cm for the bigger seeds of squash/pumpkin.

Cheers.

[Tee Gee]

I agree with Vinlander

I use 25mm plug trays to germinate my courgettes and other of that family as a space saver, but as soon as the cotyledons appear I transplant them into 3"-4" pots until planting out time.

Even then I sometimes struggle to keep them from becoming pot bound, particularly on a late/cold season like this year!

That is why I tend to sow them very late in the season i.e. to try and eliminate this problem.

[brownthumb2015]

 I know this threads about plants dying off and sorry to hi jack it but is it too late to sow pumpkins etc as ive spare ground ive cleaned up and thought about growing some for the grandkids

[johhnyco15]

I know this threads about plants dying off and sorry to hi jack it but is it too late to sow pumpkins etc as I've spare ground I've cleaned up and thought about growing some for the grandkids

no you can sow pumpkins now i would sow a small type perfect for Halloween something like jacko lantern as its smaller than the heavy weights it will ripen quicker hope this helps

[Digeroo]

I think of a minimum of 8c for courgettes and squashes etc. 

How about your compost, some batches can be a problem.  I lost a batch one year. 

I agree about the size, I put mine into 500 ml yoghurt pots.  If you plant outside they need protection.  I recommend plastic bottles, straw bales and/or planting below ground level in a trench or a pit. 

Pumpkins sown now tend to grow very fast.  Suggest enough plants for one each plus a spare or two.  Fewer pumpkins per plant will ripen quicker.

[Paulh]

I had two butternut squash die off while all the courgettes were ok so maybe it depends on the variety as well.


That's interesting. I sowed all my squashes at the same time in the same compost in the same modules. Only the butternut squashes did badly.