Remove first courgette or not?

MKS

My courgettes don't seem to be growing - there is one that is about 2" (5cm). Is it right that this has to be removed to encourage more to grow? TIA

lbt_2

Hi

Where are you growing your courgettes? I grew some in the ground and some in tubs, and the ones in the tubs didn't come to anything - I think there wasn't enough soil to really get the plant going. I ended up with a little shrivelled one, and that's it.

The ones I grew in the ground are great - I only pick them when they are big enough.

HTH x

MKS

Thanks. I have only got two plants, both in the ground. One is in the garden and the other just inside an open greenhouse - that's the one with the 5cm courgette on. There seems to be quite a few tiny stems coming through at the bottom of the plant.

lbt_2

I'd give it a really good feed - courgettes are very greedy plants. I have used a fertiliser made from nettles but you could use a tomato fertiliser like Tomorite. Occassionally I give mine a handful of chicken manure pellets for a boost.

The only other thing I do is loads and loads of water.

Let us know how you get on xx

snowlady1

I have one plant in a pot and have had about 10 courgettes so far, I can see another 4 coming through. It seems that the best time to pick them is 4-5 ins long.

MKS

Thanks, Snowlady. Have followed lbt's advice, they are now well fed and watered. Perhaps I'm being impatient!

frazzbo

MKS wrote: »

My courgettes don't seem to be growing - there is one that is about 2" (5cm). Is it right that this has to be removed to encourage more to grow? TIA

I removed my first one at that size and then loads more quickly followed, despite there having been no sign of any others previously!

So I'd say go for it :j

heynonnynonny

Mine are in tubs and have had some quite fat ones so far!

ukbill69

I would chop it off, and then it will grow more. I chopped my first one of each plant and found this week, there is 3 on each plant growing. Cutting off will help the plant grow more, as the one not doing well might be sucking to much out of the plant.

aliasojo

I think I've left mine too long. One disappeared (no idea where it went to) and the other has ballooned and is a fat thing now. Will it grow up to be a marrow?

Orange_King

I started mine in tubs and they really didn't do very well, until I moved them into the patch and just got the first courgette at the weekend. More following by the look of it!