Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Green Courgettes going yellow

MikeOxgreenMikeOxgreen Posts: 812
in Problem solving


Would anyone know why that is happening? 
It's getting a bit cold at night, down to 10'c, is it that maybe?
There are 2 or 3 on each plant, the others grow fine.
«1

Posts

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited July 2022
    Those have not been pollinated so failed to develop. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • scrogginscroggin Posts: 437
    Agree with @Dovefromabove, this often happens early in the season, shouldn't be a problem ☺️
  • ShepherdsBarnShepherdsBarn Posts: 401
    Our courgettes look just the same; but, after watching Sarah Raven's you tube videos about growing them, I thought that they were ready to pick as she suggests harvesting them when they are young and tender - the length of your thumb (i.e. the tip to the start of your wrist). Mine have easily been this size ... but very thin. 🤷🏼‍♀️
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    You need a companion plant that attracts bees or hover flies. 
    Whatever suits your climate.   I have a border of geraniums around one of my plots. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • MikeOxgreenMikeOxgreen Posts: 812
    scroggin said:
    Agree with @Dovefromabove, this often happens early in the season, shouldn't be a problem ☺️
    It is a problem, i've thrown loads away and continue to do so.

  • MikeOxgreenMikeOxgreen Posts: 812
    I think the issue i'm having is the flowers aren't open at the same time or for long enough! Maybe i'll need to pay more attention and try some manual pollination if at all possible.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    Whereabouts are the plants?  Are they outside or in a poly tunnel?
    What’s the weather been like … has it been wet/windy or have there been plenty of pollinating insects around?

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • MikeOxgreenMikeOxgreen Posts: 812
    Dovefromabove said:
    Whereabouts are the plants?  Are they outside or in a poly tunnel?
    What’s the weather been like … has it been wet/windy or have there been plenty of pollinating insects around?
    Inside the PT. Weather? Well, this is the UK  :# Plenty of wind though, that's the norm up here.
    We do get bees, but I wouldn't have thought many. Haha, you just got me thinking, we don't get wasps up here and I never realised.
    Usually plenty of insects in the PT, but usually fly type things. Any butterflies I help back out.
    I did find a male and female flower open together this morning so stuck my finger in them both, I think that's the way forward from now on?
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Use a paint brush to gently brush one male  then flower brush the female.  That’s what I used to do.  
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • scrogginscroggin Posts: 437
    MikeOxgreen said:
    Dovefromabove said:
    Whereabouts are the plants?  Are they outside or in a poly tunnel?
    What’s the weather been like … has it been wet/windy or have there been plenty of pollinating insects around?
    Inside the PT. Weather? Well, this is the UK  :# Plenty of wind though, that's the norm up here.
    We do get bees, but I wouldn't have thought many. Haha, you just got me thinking, we don't get wasps up here and I never realised.
    Usually plenty of insects in the PT, but usually fly type things. Any butterflies I help back out.
    I did find a male and female flower open together this morning so stuck my finger in them both, I think that's the way forward from now on?
    How far north are you? I've always found that courgettes do better outside and planted direct in the soil. I didn't realise you were growing in a polytunnel, as previously mentioned a small paintbrush is a good tool for aiding pollination.
Sign In or Register to comment.