Hi
My hubby and I are new to the forum. We are waiting for an allotment and currently doing the best we can with a garden like the north face of the Eiger and some containers.
I planted golden courgettes for the first time this year and the first lot germinated fine but then simply dropped dead one after the other. I tried a different variety (still golden. Gold Rush I think) and they seemed to be doing fine but the fruit gets to around 2ins long and goes brown and squishy.
I have taken off some of the very big, prolific leaves and have lifted the plant stems up and tied them to canes in case they are too damp. I have also put in some watering tubes to keep the water off the soil surface.
anyone any futher ideas please?
Bozzer
Sorry to hear about your courgette traumas. I've faced something similar with my squashes this year.
Are they rotting from the blossom end? I'm no expert, but I think it could be blossom end rot if they are. If so I think that has something to do with over or under watering??
Hopefully someone who knows a bit more will come along and offer some wisdom!!
:)
Sorry - forgot to say WELCOME to A4A!!
xx
Thanks. I seemed to think I'd heard of blossom rot somewhere. Yeh, it starts at the blossom end and works backwards. I thought maybe they had got too damp under all that leaf. Theres loads more baby fruit so I'd like to know if I can rescue them.
If it's blossom end rot I think it relates to intermittent watering, so the plant can't absorb nutrients when the soil is over/under watered.
I believe (but again, I am no expert, so hopefully someone else will either confirm or shoot me down!) that provided you water the plants consistently and not excessively from now on the issue should resolve and future courgettes should be OK.
Don't quote me on that though!!
??? ???
It could be blossom end rot, they usually appear to start to grow without problem than about halfway they start to go.
On the other hand, squash really dislike damp and dull places so it well could be the location.
Be careful taking off too many leaves as the plant will weaken and be more susceptible to problems.
Having said all that, it has not been a really good year for squash generally, the nights have been too cold and many people who don't normally have problems are having them this year.
You will probably find you get mildew earler than usual due to the damp too so be ready for that.
Next year you might consider growing your squash up a trellis, there is a climbing courgette and many of the smaller winter squash will grow up.
I managed a few years ago on a patio with little sun by planting in a very large pot which was on a set of wheels and we used to change it's place if we could during the day. A real pain but we managed it.
Welcome to A4A, and good luck with your squash, they are my passion and hobby so I do wish you well and I hope you get your lottie soon.
XX Jeannine
Jeannine (who unlike me is an expert) beat me to it , but I spent so long typing this that I just had to post most of it anyhow!
As an erratic waterer I've seen my fair share of BER in tomatoes and provided the plants start getting regular treatment the new fruits will be fine. BER isn;t a threat to the plant itself. Just pick off any fruit as soon as the symtom appears so that the plant doesn't waste energy growing a duff fruit.
BER can also be caused by calcium deficiency and I think the RHS recommend adding a bit of calcium nitrate when watering if the case seems particularly severe.
Pretty sure this all applies to courgettes / marrows. If the main stem and stalks aren'lt showing any discolouration there is every chance they will improve.
As you are on a sloping site is it possible that a lot of nutrients have been leached out of the soil or are you terraced? Courgettes are greedy feeders.
Welcome to the site :)
Thanks Jeannine and Barnowl. It may well be the position then. its not the best site in the garden but I am very limited. The steepest bit is now a rockery but Hubby made me some raised beds. Unfortunately they don't get a great deal of sun. I put the courgettes in the sunnier bed but it might not be enough. Hopefully I will have an allotment by next year and these two beds can go back to being my herb beds. :)
Jeannine,
You mention climbing courgettes and I bought a pack from T&M this year.
The first 6 of 17 failed to germinate , the second 5 and the next 3 and the last 3 as well.
they were all sown as I have sown for 40 years and I am very disappointed.
Cougr
Courg.ettes and all squashes are vey unpredictable yet so wonderful when all goes well.
Welcome to the site Bozzer...
Is the problem not just a lack of fertilisation of the female flowers?
:-\
Don't think so Saddad because the fruit start to grow and fill out and then, just as I start to wonder if they are big enough to try, they go off from the flower end.
They are loaded with tiny fruit so I'm going to keep them raised up on the canes and try to take in what the others have said about feeding and consistency in watering and see what happens. Of course if its down to the light factor were stuffed until we can get as better plot!
I was told that to remove the old flower as soon as the fruit has set does sometimes help!
Mine are doing alright so far but not anything like last years!
Old Bird
I have sown the climbing courgette which is new to me, I had excellent germination, I was unsure about this one. I actually think it is a vine courgette rather than a bush which they usually are.I think T and M have found a marketing gimmick but I am prepared to trial it. They do seem slow compared to all the others I am growing though.XX Jeannine