Courgette ill?

[bario1]

Hi All,

My courgette plant is looking decidedly jaundiced, and it's really just a seedling. I've seen them go a bit yellow and speckly towards the end of the season, but never at this stage. I'm not panicking but I am wondering if it should come out?



Thanks.

[bearded bloke]

Looks like either a nutrient deficiency or (& more likely) is getting cold at night ?
Has it been outside long & was it hardened off before it went out ?
Are plants close-by suffering in a similar manner ?

[bario1]

That one is a 'Parador' and was planted out two weeks ago after hardening off for a week. It may have got cold at night, but the 'Defender' I planted next to it at the same time is not yellow at all.

[horticultural_hobbit]

I'd feed him, and lots; that would be my reaction.Just to help bolster. Could be the elements too.

[bario1]

Thanks HH, what would you feed him? Seaweed extract? Comfrey tea?

[horticultural_hobbit]

Either yellowin leaves would be a nutrient deficiency, so perhaps the comfrey? Last year, I planted three courgettes and marrows in a tonne of leaf mold. Went crazy! Remember though, bit of a trade off. If you feed alot to improve foliage, may not improve fruit flavour. I know that courgettes barely taste of anything anyway; but certain feeds may cause watery bland fruit.

[buddy of maidstone]

Comfrey tea,fish blood and bone is what is feed it with,my grandad always fed his tomato plants that had discoloured leaves with Epsom salts

[Potstubsdustbins]

It is hard to say at this stage but I would take precautions like making sure I have washed my hands and tools before handling any other plant.

It could be (a) lack of nutrients. (b) Verticillium wilt (not to serious). (c) Mosaic virus (disaster).

Have you had an attack of green fly?

[bario1]

I don't think It's got greenfly on, but I'll have a proper check next time i'm down there. Defender (planted next to this one, and doing fine) is meant to be Mosaic disease resistant, so that might make sense....

[Potstubsdustbins]

The reason I asked is that greenfly spread mosaic virus. So if you have not had greenfly I would suggest it may be one of the other cause's.