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12:14 am
2nd Grader
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Wed 16-Feb-11
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I tried to grow courgettes last year but had little success. I only have a very small area but love courgettes so planted 3 plants raised from seed. One was devoured, eaten away in a very short time by I don't know what. One plant gave me 2 courgettes and the other none at all. I'm wondering if it is worthwhile growing again. The seed was grown indoors and planted out 3 feet apart when they had 4 true leaves. My soil is neutral and they were planted in half sun half shade. Any clues as to what went wrong?
4:18 am
Knowledegable
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Mon 20-Sep-10
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Try full sun next time, and keep them watered but not soggy. Side dress with a little aged compost after they start blooming. and add a bit more compost every couple weeks. But not too much, or you will have lots of leaves and no courgettes! Oh, they don't like to get chilled. They won't grow if it's too cold. You're on your own on whatever's chomping on them though, could be lots of different culprits!
4:32 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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I cover my courgette plants with plastic bottles with the bottoms cut off until I am absolutely sure they are not going to get chilled and if they outgrow those and it is likely to be cold I put a fleece over them. Here in Latvia they grown them on mounds of weeds.
8:06 pm
Expert
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Sat 21-Aug-10
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Mine gave up when the early warm summer weather turned to cold and wet. I tried covering them with plastic sheet against the worst of the wind and rain but to no avail. All I could do was pick the fruit immediately after flowering, else they would start to rot. The plants struggled on for a while but it was just too cold and wet for them. This year I'm trying a weather resistant variety and keeping everything crossed.
Never assume anything - except an occasional air of intelligence.
10:30 pm
Councillor
Wed 30-Dec-09
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I grow my courgettes in potato planters full of home made compost - I find they need plenty of space and do very badly in anything smaller than a 15-16 inch pot. Last year I started with about 6 plants and ended up with 2 which were prolific croppers, 1 which gave a couple of courgettes then died, while the others didn't get that far.
Visit my blog for food, drink, photography and hamsters.
10:35 pm
Supreme Being
Thu 24-Sep-09
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I seem to have great success with courgettes, but I must admit they are in the polytunnel until there is no more risk of frost. By then they are decent sized plants. Then I plant them out either in large pots or in the raised beds and basically ignore them apart from watering if required.
Old teachers never die, they just lose their class
4:49 pm
Expert
New members
Sat 21-Aug-10
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What variety do you grow Danuta? I've been growing All Green Bush, and they do great up till the longest day, then the weather turns and they decide summer is over and give up. This year I'm trying Parthenon.
Never assume anything - except an occasional air of intelligence.
5:53 pm
Supreme Being
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Sun 30-Jan-11
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Last year we had 3 green courgette plants (can't remember variety, but it was a common one) and 2 yellow ones, think they were Parador. They cropped heavily ("courgette cake anyone? No? More soup? Oh well, can't say as I blame you, we're more or less sick of the stuff too! Erm, how about taking home a jar of pickled courgettes...please!!" - convos between ourselves and any/all visitors last year 
) - the yellow ones not quite as prolific as the green, but much nicer tasting, i.m.o. So this year we've decided to only grow 1 or 2 green plants, but 3 or 4 yellow ones.
learning to love veg…..except celery :-O
6:13 pm
Supreme Being
Thu 24-Sep-09
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hi Ruth. Gosh, the only that I remember the name of is Ferenze and I am growing them again this year. I've grown them for the past two years. I am also trying one called El Greco, a yellow one called Soleil FI and one called Summer Ball. I adore courgettes. Hope that helps. 
Old teachers never die, they just lose their class
6:33 pm
Expert
New members
Sat 21-Aug-10
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Thats a point, I used to grow yellow ones... why did I stop doing that? I have no idea. Now, where can I squeeze in another plant or two.... 
Never assume anything - except an occasional air of intelligence.
9:59 pm
Supreme Being
New members
Tue 22-Sep-09
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I've not planted any courgettes yet, did plant some cucumbers and gherkins, but still no show, even in a nice warm bedroom window
10:00 pm
Councillor
Wed 30-Dec-09
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danast said:
I bought some of the summer ball courgette/pumpkins (pumpgette? courgkin?) to try this year. I thought they looked interesting. I've still got some normal courgettes to plant too, not sure what type they are but they were from the BBC 'dig in' seeds from last year.
Visit my blog for food, drink, photography and hamsters.
10:09 pm
Moderators
Tue 22-Sep-09
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My Dig In cougetttes produced only male flowers...
I'll try that again!
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