Pruning Courgette Plants

DavidAC

Is it normal for a female flower to wilt and die after less than a day? Do male flowers last longer? If each only last one day it does not seem to give much chance of having a male and female flower at the same time.

toadhall

I just stick them in the ground and let them get on with it, I dont worry about flowers or dead bits, but they just keep on growing

DavidAC

How can you tell if the Courgette plants have been pollinated?

starstella

First time grower here.Can anyone tell me how to support them.The garden centre said to make a tripod over them.I did this yesterday and one of the stalks has broken off this morning.Am I doing it wrong?.I also woke up at 3am, dreaming of slugs eating them all.I had to get up and check them.How mad is that?:rotfl:

organic_wanabe

Please don't throw the flowers away - either steam (or deep fry) them or give them to a vegetarian friend. I used to throw mine away until I saw them being sold for £1 each at a Foodie Festival! I have already given a friend about 7 flowers. However, my generosity has not been rewarded, unfortunately. I have about 4 males and the courgettes (a yellow type plant) have not grown more than a few centimetres. Think I'll go back to the green variety next year.

Enterprise_1701C

starstella wrote: »

First time grower here.Can anyone tell me how to support them.The garden centre said to make a tripod over them.I did this yesterday and one of the stalks has broken off this morning.Am I doing it wrong?.I also woke up at 3am, dreaming of slugs eating them all.I had to get up and check them.How mad is that?:rotfl:

I have never supported courgettes - I just let them roam along the ground! Maybe that is why I found one bigger than the biggest marrow I have ever seen under a load of leaves a couple of years ago when I was clearing the garden! I have them in the same garden as my runners and both of them take off incredibly, but I am beginning to regret planting 9 plants - even the ones I left in the seed tray are now producing little courgettes!

Incidentally, you are right about the slugs - they love courgettes in my garden!