Potato & courgette questions

kimmee

Hi all

I'm in a quandry about what to do about my potatoes - I've been growing them in potato grow-bags and they have done brilliantly. A couple of them have flowered but they haven't wilted and in 2 weeks time I'm going away for over 2 weeks. My DS2 will keep them well watered but suppose they just keel over while I'm away? Should I cut the foliage back before I go? Will they be ok if he just waters them every day? Help please for a real newbie at potato growing!!!

Now for the courgettes - I have two plants and have had loads of flowers but they have all been male, no females to be seen - the plants have been flowering for at least 2/3 weeks. Is this normal?

Thanks for any thoughts/advice

frazzbo

I'm growing potatoes for the first time too this year and really don't know what I'm doing, but I can tell you that my leaves wilted a few weeks back and I haven't cut them off or anything. I've just continued to water them, and harvested a few potatoes as well. So I think by leaving them for 2 weeks you (probably/hopefully) won't do them any harm, in fact they might just grow bigger in that time. I'm not really in any rush to pull mine up completely, even though the foliage is looking very sorry for itself.

I can't make any comments on the courgettes as mine have only just started to flower in the last week or so.

Yorkie1

Both will be fine.

Potatoes will store until lifting, even if the foliage has died down. I wouldn't bother cutting it off before going on holiday - particularly if the variety is a maincrop one. Have you had a rummage to see whether there are any spuds worth taking out and eating before going?

It is normal to have male courgette flowers before female courgette flowers, the plant will sort itself out eventually and have both at once and then you won't be able to stop it!

kimmee

Thank you both - you have set my mind at rest

I haven't rummaged about in the potatoes cos I'm scared I'm just going to find marble sized pots :rotfl: and I'm in enough of a tizz as it is - don't need anything else to worry about!!! As long as my son remembers to water everything (and he will have written strict instructions!) they should all be fine, and my mum will come in a couple of times when I'm away to help herself to any veg thats going

lolly5648

Yorkie1 wrote: »

It is normal to have male courgette flowers before female courgette flowers, the plant will sort itself out eventually and have both at once and then you won't be able to stop it!

I wish! I bought 2 courgette plants last year and all the flowers were male. Didn't get a single courgette.

I have grown three from seed this year and so far have had two courgettes from 1 plant with a couple more on the way. The other two plants haven't produced flowers yet. Because they are arriving one at a time I am eating them raw in salads like a cucumber.

kimmee

lolly5648 wrote: »

I wish! I bought 2 courgette plants last year and all the flowers were male. Didn't get a single courgette.

I have grown three from seed this year and so far have had two courgettes from 1 plant with a couple more on the way. The other two plants haven't produced flowers yet. Because they are arriving one at a time I am eating them raw in salads like a cucumber.

Oh dear - so it does happen Oh well, I'll just have to wait and see then...... (thanks lolly)