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Toxic Courgette Plant!
pandgwindsor
Posts: 1
in Fruit & veg
Hi there ... I wonder if you can help.
I grew 4 courgette plants from seeds (using a reputable supplier of seeds: Thompson & Morgan) and we have had great results from 3 of the plants. But the fourth, which looks identical in health and condition to the others has been a serious problem! The courgette fruits which look perfectly OK to eat, once cooked resulted in meals spoilt for all members of the family as well as friends of the family ...with relatives and friends suffering from food poisoning and complaints of vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrheoa, etc. We subsequently tested each the courgettes from each of the 4 plants and we found one plant where the courgettes were bitter/metallic and extremely unpleasant to taste. The courgette plant has since been dug out and disposed of. We also understand that for some people, food poisoning suffered proved fatal! This problem with some courgette plants (which can also affect cucumbers and melons) is to our complete surprise, not an uncommon one - but to myself (a gardener with some 50 years experience) and to my elderly parents it is the first time we have heard of it and we were wondering whether this problem should have greater publicity.
I'm led to believe that the cause of the toxicity (for what are normally toxin free plants) is that on rare occasions, the courgette plant can back mutate and it then regains a natural ability to produce toxic levels of cucurbitacins.
Other than testing (tasting) each courgette plant for toxicity once the courgettes have been cut from the plant ... is there any other way we can prevent courgette plants from developing this condition in the first place?
Your help in this matter to spread the message on this problem and for making the wider community check their courgettes before cooking them would be most appreciated.
Best Regards
Philip John Windsor
I grew 4 courgette plants from seeds (using a reputable supplier of seeds: Thompson & Morgan) and we have had great results from 3 of the plants. But the fourth, which looks identical in health and condition to the others has been a serious problem! The courgette fruits which look perfectly OK to eat, once cooked resulted in meals spoilt for all members of the family as well as friends of the family ...with relatives and friends suffering from food poisoning and complaints of vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrheoa, etc. We subsequently tested each the courgettes from each of the 4 plants and we found one plant where the courgettes were bitter/metallic and extremely unpleasant to taste. The courgette plant has since been dug out and disposed of. We also understand that for some people, food poisoning suffered proved fatal! This problem with some courgette plants (which can also affect cucumbers and melons) is to our complete surprise, not an uncommon one - but to myself (a gardener with some 50 years experience) and to my elderly parents it is the first time we have heard of it and we were wondering whether this problem should have greater publicity.
I'm led to believe that the cause of the toxicity (for what are normally toxin free plants) is that on rare occasions, the courgette plant can back mutate and it then regains a natural ability to produce toxic levels of cucurbitacins.
Other than testing (tasting) each courgette plant for toxicity once the courgettes have been cut from the plant ... is there any other way we can prevent courgette plants from developing this condition in the first place?
Your help in this matter to spread the message on this problem and for making the wider community check their courgettes before cooking them would be most appreciated.
Best Regards
Philip John Windsor
0
Posts
Not T&M but Mr.Forthergills
https://www.mr-fothergills.co.uk/Product-Recall-MRF/#.Xw2KaCj0laQ
Billericay - Essex
Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1043488/poisonous-courgette-warning/p1
For sure the message should be spread widely. I would never in a million years have thought veg plants grown from seed from major manufacturers could produce a toxic fruit.
We have five courgette plants this year, all checked and given the OK, fortunately.
Perhaps this problem is more widespread this year and maybe the public should be made aware?
Happy growing
Faye