Courgettes going downhill

[Marb67]

Well, here is another failure. Courgettes grown in square foot with soil to recommended guideline. Fed with comfrey. Leaves peppered with holes, going a weird grey colour and dying. Forming fruit soft in middle and collapsing. No flower on end that could cause this. Fruit off the ground and dry with no sign of any pest eating it.

[veggiechicken]

Maybe the flower hasn't been fertilised? This would cause the baby courgettes to shrivel and die.

[Guest]

Marb what is the variety? I have a couple of coucourzelle which are a bit pants. Look similar to your plants and I get fruit that hits 3-4inches then goes manky and shrivelly. I have had a few decent ones. I don't know why the plants would do it though

[Marb67]

I can't remember what variety just now but the fruits never seem to get very big. They don't shrivel as such, more go mushy in the centre. They look perfect on the outside.

[bearded bloke]

Hi Marb, yours look a lot better than mine, slugs ate the growing tips anyhoo back to yours, the holes in the leaves are most likely caused by small snails, the leaf damage seems to be largely on one side of the plant & looks like sun/wind burn, could that side be in a draght I wonder ?

[Bren In Pots]

Marb mine aren't doing too well either I've had 7 courgettes from 5 plants, most start to grow then fall off, I'm not giving up yet though.

[jacks10]

Have managed to produce about 5 edible courgettes bit have thrown more away. Some go too soft and squishy and yellow or brown on the tips. Firstly I had yellow leaves as was watering wrongly.
My last 2 courgettes were in fridge but again had to be thrown away as went soft as running out of recipes yo use them.

[treepixie]

I had two plants and only got about 4 courgettes, the rest are getting to about 3inches long and are just rotting, so it's in the compost bin with them, usually get loads of courgettes, marrows have not been brilliant either.

[Bigmallly]

It must be the SFG Marb, you don't seem to get on with it...............

[Containergardener]

Mine arnt doing well in tubs with this pesky weather.
Don't look for a blame /cause ..find a solution.

[lantern man]

Mine arnt doing well in tubs with this pesky weather.
Don't look for a blame /cause ..find a solution.

mine are the same, leaves dying and also a grey color,,,,,, i have got some very special horse shoe shaped cucumbers though. lol

[Zelenina]

I think it's probably downy mildew, marb. It's a common disease of cucumbers, squashes, courgettes and melons. This article has some photos that look a lot like your plants.

Downy Mildew in Cucurbits

[Penellype]

Very likely to be mildew - mine have it too. The current warm and windy weather will only make it worse I'm afraid. Poor year for courgettes etc.

[Tripmeup]

It must be the SFG Marb, you don't seem to get on with it...............

You know Mally, you may have a very serious observation here..

Marb is it possible you are being too rigid on the whole SFG idea....Maybe forget about it for a while and just concentrate on trying to grow stuff you like...

Disclaimer...Never tried the SFG idea and probably never will

[veggiechicken]

My courgettes haven't been brliliant this year either - and I have lots of plants
To me, one plant per square foot seems a bit mean on space unless you're growing a variety intended for container growing.

You need to cut off the old, yellowing leaves too. Give the plant a bit more room to breathe.