Courgette failure :(

**smallblueplanet** · 27-04-2009, 04:51 PM

Plant them 'edge on' - so the theory goes - so that any water will run off the seed. Plenty of time to sow them, we've not started ours yet.

**davefromthechipie** · 27-04-2009, 05:06 PM

Originally posted by Raindancer411 View Post

Hi All

I brought a packet of wilkos own courgette seeds and none have germinated after 3 weeks. The packet says you can grow them from march onwards at a temperature of 15-18C. It is quite warm in our house so was wondering if it is just the seeds (I dug up a couple and they havent rotted but still look very much like when I planted them).

Before I go and pay out for some more, can anyone give me any advice...

You could try placing damp kitchen paper in a tupperware box or sandwidge bag ,placing the seeds on top and putting in your airing cupboard . You should have seeds rooting within a week
You still have loads of time left ,Goodluck

**Alice** · 27-04-2009, 05:39 PM

My courgettes came up in 2 days.
I would check that the compost is damp, put the pot in a freezer bag and clip it closed. Put is somewhere nice and warm. They should appear in a few days.
If they fail there's plenty of time to plant more. Good luck.

**vikkib** · 27-04-2009, 06:20 PM

I used courgette seeds from Wilkinsons (Astia F1) and they all germinated fairly quickly. I over watered some of my other seeds though and lost them to rot.

The freezer bag idea that Alice mentioned works a treat for me. I planted some cucumber seeds, moistened the compost, popped them in a freezer bag, tied the top and put them on a sunny window sill. They germinated in 2 or 3 days. As they are sealed they retain the moisture and I'm less tempted to over water them!

**RobintheBobin** · 27-04-2009, 07:56 PM

I sowed mine in a makeshift greenhouse - a plastic bag on the greenhouse floor (no space!) - and all though last week's super hot weather there was nothing. I bring them in last night, popped their pots into the heated propagator and 'BAM' four seeds up this morning. Typical.

RtB
x

**bustertom** · 27-04-2009, 11:03 PM

I ended up putting mine in the prop - finally got 8 out of 24! Currently in the conservatory growing like mad. Hopefully a bit more warmth will do the trick for you. Good luck.
Clare

**Topcat36** · 28-04-2009, 06:25 AM

My first attempt i got 3 out of 8 they rotted so i think i over watered, second attempt 8 out of 10 i got sick forgot about them hardly watered and hey presto, in my case i def over watered the seeds went all soggy and disgusting smelt awfull as well. All started of on a south facing windowsill.

**veggielover** · 28-04-2009, 08:25 AM

I only sowed 3 seeds....... the first one went straight into a large container under bottle cloche and took 3 weeks to show itself, the other 2 were started in the plastic trays u get cherry toms in, 2 weeks after the first one in the growhouse and came up within days, and are so much bigger than the one in the container.

**butter fingers** · 28-04-2009, 03:40 PM

Originally posted by Topcat36 View Post

My first attempt i got 3 out of 8 they rotted so i think i over watered, second attempt 8 out of 10 i got sick forgot about them hardly watered and hey presto, in my case i def over watered the seeds went all soggy and disgusting smelt awfull as well. All started of on a south facing windowsill.

i thik i have done the same. this 2nd batch i have four out of ten and are barely growing.

**maytreefrannie** · 28-04-2009, 03:50 PM

Originally posted by smallblueplanet View Post

Plant them 'edge on' - so the theory goes - so that any water will run off the seed. Plenty of time to sow them, we've not started ours yet.

I got only one germinating from 5 seeds - after a few weeks, I had a furtle* in the pot and found 3 others, nothing doing there at all. I re-sowed them, making sure to set them on their sides. They germinated and now I have four plants - all very little, but the latecomers have caught up with the first one.

*Another word I learned here on the Vine.

**Raindancer411** · 29-04-2009, 07:24 AM

After my courgette failure, I was talking to a friend on the telephone and discussing veg. She actually had success with her courgettes and has said that the plant is producing its 5th and 6th leaf, but also flowers too! Seeing as we both have never grown courgettes (and thanks to some kind person I am going to get a second chance after she has offered to send me some seeds... Thank you Kate

) Is this what happens? She said she has it in a 10cm plant pot on the window... Is this normal that they produce flowers that fast? Oh and she is actually growing the tri coloured round courgettes compared to my normal... lol...

**Demeter** · 29-04-2009, 09:11 PM

Originally posted by Raindancer411 View Post

After my courgette failure, I was talking to a friend on the telephone and discussing veg. She actually had success with her courgettes and has said that the plant is producing its 5th and 6th leaf, but also flowers too! Seeing as we both have never grown courgettes (and thanks to some kind person I am going to get a second chance after she has offered to send me some seeds... Thank you Kate

) Is this what happens? She said she has it in a 10cm plant pot on the window... Is this normal that they produce flowers that fast? Oh and she is actually growing the tri coloured round courgettes compared to my normal... lol...

I am no expert but am surprised the plant is trying to flower. Sometimes plants flower when they think they are about to die and are making a last-ditch effort to produce seed... A courgette getting its 5th and 6th leaves is probably too big for a 10cm pot so that may be why it is flowering so young? (It may also be dry? A plant that size in such a little pot will suck it dry very quickly, even apart from the lack of soil / nutrients).

If it were me I would pot it on and make sure the rootball is good and moist.
(I might even pick off the flower as there is no point in having only one or only one sex, I seem to remember cucurbits produce a few male flowers before they manage to grow a female one, it may be that your friend's flowers are male only?)

**Maximillian** · 29-04-2009, 09:16 PM

Is there something wrong with courgettes this year? I've grown them on allotment and in pots for years and never had a problem. This year struggled to get yellow courgette seeds then it took 3 attempts to get some seeds to actually grow and they're quite sluggish.

**teakdesk** · 29-04-2009, 09:54 PM

Originally posted by Maximillian View Post

Is there something wrong with courgettes this year?

No problem getting them to grow here... I even have a courgette growing when I only sowed gerkins... at least that's what happened according to the label the wife put in

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