Hi,
I am a returning member who has 2 x allotments but not the world of experience needed to ensure all things go well. I have planted out some marrow, squash and courgette on one of the plots this year and all seemed to be going quite well until I visited today. I had a few fruit on the squash that looked to be doing great yesterday, I returned today to find they did not look at all healthy (grey rather than a vivid green of yesterday). On closer inspection they had a few nibbles out of them and they fell from the stalk as soon as I touched them. I need to understand what could be eating them (slug pellets all around them) so I can prevent further attack. They are not netted but can be very quickly if that's required as the marks looked like they had been nibbled .
I also have a couple of marrow plants and one of them was doing brilliantly with a lot of flowers on the centre. I noticed at least three flowers were on the floor and one of them was ready to drop. Where the flowers were seems to be cleanly cut as if by a knife?? I think I may have a mouse problem on the plot or could slugs cause this?
Any advice would be very welcome as I do not want to end up with nothing to show for the effort put in to this second allotment.
Thanks in advance for any assist
Martin