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Is something eating my courgettes?

*Astrantia**Astrantia* Posts: 307
in Plants
So I’ve decided to try growing courgettes this year. After planting 15 seeds with them all germinating then a mouse eating all but 2 plants I’ve planted these in a trough as I don’t have any borders that I could put them in. They’ve done well so far and as you can see have flowers but then they fall off & leave stalks ☹️
or is it slugs or snails eating them?

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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes  :)
    However, some of those flowers will develop and grow courgettes because it depends on whether the flowers are male or female.

    Having scratched my hands many times on the stems and foliage, I thought those would be good deterrents around my dahlias, which are slug magnets. I actually watched one eating the stem... :|
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Both of those flowers are males,  they’ve just dropped off, like some human species,  useless.😀 (only some I add) 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    ..and when they're fed up with the stems and foliage - they start any of the small ones they come across...


    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • *Astrantia**Astrantia* Posts: 307
    😩. Ok thanks for the replies, well I’ll persevere with them the leaves look nice ! 
    How do I know what’s a male & what’s a female flower? 
  • Penny_ForthemPenny_Forthem Posts: 455
    The female flowers have mini courgettes behind them.
    Beautiful North Wales - hiraeth
  • *Astrantia**Astrantia* Posts: 307
    Ok thanks that makes sense. If I actually get any courgettes 1 I’ll be happy & 2 I’ll post some pictures !
  • *Astrantia**Astrantia* Posts: 307
    Couple more developing but all still the size of my finger, am I being impatient? Should they be bigger by now?
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Mine are at exactly the same stage as yours Astranita.  Plenty of time,  once they get started they grow quickly.   I’ve only just got females on the plants. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • *Astrantia**Astrantia* Posts: 307
    Hi Lyn, thanks for the reply & I am being impatient! Feel better now knowing they are obviously quite normal for this time of year. I was wondering if lack of sunlight was slowing them down it’s been so dull & rainy these last weeks.
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Problem with this type of plant,  you can’t get them out as early as some other veg,  they like heat, so it’s a long wait for them to produce,  I planted out 2 marrow plant last week,  now the weathers turned like autumn I’m not sure if they’ll be any good,  it’s nothing to do with light,  but the do like heat. 
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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