courgettes

[p.penn]

I have some like that too Ock - cut them off and chuck them (not on compost). No idea what is wrong with them but the plant still produces good ones too.

Make sure they are getting enough but not too much water.

[ock]

thanks Helen

[lancashire lass]

Basically it is down to poor fertilisation Ock - I would imagine the flowers were opening when you were having deluges and cool wet weather so the insects couldn't have got round to pollinating and if they did, the pollen had probably washed away.

Fruit development coincides with seed development so if the seed are not fertile, there is no need for a plant to waste feed and energy growing a fruit that will not produce seed. It will simply rot off. Bear in mind that the squash family are not native to the British Isles, so this would not normally be a problem but with warm humid air, we tend to get a lot of moulds which can quickly spread to the rest of the plant and then it will succumb. Also, by removing it early, the plant will respond by producing more flowers (that's why harvesting courgettes regularly make them much more prolific than the marrow varieties which grow on to maturity)

Composting the undeveloped mouldy fruit is perfectly fine - it is not a disease as such. Mould spores are everywhere so composting it is not going to adversely affect future crops

[ock]

thanks I`m going to buy a big jar of bees now to spinkle on top , thanks so much Lancashire lass, you are indeed very wise

[p.penn]

LL - is it ok to compost the mildew leaves too then? I have been cutting them off and throwing them away.

[Panteg Produce]

I planted my usual two plants again this year and as usual we are overrun with the things.Will someone please remind me only to plant one plant next year !

[4pigs]

I never knew that fish ate things like this - so today i've learnt something!

I planted a couple of courgettes in between the runner beans (trying to make use of the space) and although they look happy - the courgettes have not grown to anything more than 4" and they are quite thin - so won't try this again. It must be that they dont get enough light/sun.

Jo

[ChrisG]

I was reading a book on square foot gardening and it says that courgettes need 9 squares per plant!

[fabindia]

I have about 5 courgette plants. I had a glut last year and this year will be much the same.

Found a nice recipe though for courgette curry with chickpeas, but there's a limit to who much of that we can eat. Will end up giving lots away I guess.

[ChrisG]

Do they freeze successfully?

[LittleBrownFrog]

I've seen a recipe somewhere that uses slices of courgette instead of the pasta in a lasagne - can't remember where though. Wonder if Ock's fish like lasagne

[ock]

Wonder if Ock's fish like lasagne

I bet they do

[tiameg]

Never been a fan or courgettes really - had my first ones yesterday that we grew ourselves and OMG they were great! I grate them, add salt/pepper and knob of butter and microwave 5mins. The shop bought ones produce half a dish of water - the ones we grew didn't and were really tasty. I even tried a few slices raw and it was yummy. Shop bought ones are foul raw! I'm going to be adding some raw to salads from now on :)

[fabindia]

I even tried a few slices raw and it was yummy. Shop bought ones are foul raw! I'm going to be adding some raw to salads from now on

We just use a potato peeler to peel off thin long slices on to salad.

[Mo]

I am in a giggly silly mood tonight

Pleased to hear it , I'm feeling a bit flat so eating ...so when I go to bed I will just feel FAT .

Wouldn't a bicycle pump inflate you better.