Give Courgettes time, epecially if they got a late start or a check. I live in the north east and grow the golden/yellow ones and although they only started cropping a couple of weeks ago, they have "accelerated" this last week. Going soggy at the ends suggests too much overhead moisture. Having said all that, my problem is with butternut squash - runners in excess of 3m (10ft in old money) but only getting male flowers. What is the secret to success for getting winter squash to fruit?
My winter squash have managed to produce female flowers but there isn't a lot of them. It seems to be quite common problem this year. Several of the baby squashes have also turned brown and I cut them off and tossed them. I think these were not pollinated in time but I think that I will still end up with around 7 winter sqashes come harvest time.
I also overhead water every morning the leaves and cut off ruthlessly any leaves that show even a hint of disease. So far so good as last year my summer squash was covered in powdery mildew by July.
My summer squash is doing very well this year and have been cropping heavily. Next year I am going to try growing the trailing ones upside down from the brick garden walls as they take up too much room in the garden and it seems to be easier to let them hand down than trying to grow them up a support.
I have never done anything on a blog before, so not sure if I'm getting this right. I have a question. I have an arum lily. How do I look after this properly over the winter? (I live in South Devon). Thank you.
Sandra, Great idea to grow trailing vars over a structure - looks fab and works well, but don't forget that if the wall has any foundations at all then it will have a significantly drying effect on the soil, and squash do like their moisture! PG
Not long ago on the Gardener's World programme there was an article about butternut squashes and i would like to know the ingrediates they put into the squash and then put it into the ground. Can you or anyone else please help me find this information.
I'm afraid I didn't see the GW programme, but there's nothing magic needed - just small plants planted out after the last frosts in to a sunny spot, with a soil packed full of organic matter and well fed too. Keep the plants moist and protect with fleece in the first few weeks if night temperatures plummet. Mulch with well rotted manure and ensure they don't suffer drought stress, so that you get plenty of female flowers....and so plenty of those delicious fruits.
And no need for a grenhouse to grow courgettes - the plants, like squash, need to go out once all risk of frosts is over, but that's the only protection they need.
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Anyone know what went wrong?
I also overhead water every morning the leaves and cut off ruthlessly any leaves that show even a hint of disease. So far so good as last year my summer squash was covered in powdery mildew by July.
My summer squash is doing very well this year and have been cropping heavily. Next year I am going to try growing the trailing ones upside down from the brick garden walls as they take up too much room in the garden and it seems to be easier to let them hand down than trying to grow them up a support.
Great idea to grow trailing vars over a structure - looks fab and works well, but don't forget that if the wall has any foundations at all then it will have a significantly drying effect on the soil, and squash do like their moisture!
PG
Thank you.
And no need for a grenhouse to grow courgettes - the plants, like squash, need to go out once all risk of frosts is over, but that's the only protection they need.