[bb_odiham]

I'm wondering if, firstly, anyone can identify that these are actually my courgettes growing - I'm assuming the first leaves when sprouting are round? - and secondly, what's eating them?



I planted seeds directly into soil about 2 weeks ago and so I'm happy they've started growing - it seems something else is happy too!

At this rate, I don't think they'll get much further

[DD.]

Was there meant to be a photo for identification?

Yes the first leaves are rounded and it's most likely slugs.

[bb_odiham]

Hiya, yeah, isn't the photo showing up?

I would guess it may well be slugs, which leaves me to thinking I really should get prepared for slugs early this year. It's likely it's going to be another wet one. I had hundreds of slugs around the garden last year

http://img365.imageshack.us/my.php?image=courgetteslr2.jpg

[Oliveview]

I have some round fruiting courgettes growing and the fruit is getting to the size of a small golf ball and then going yellow or rotting.     We have had a lot of heavy rain lately, is that the problem does anyone think? If so nothing much I can do about the rain!  We had another heavy storm last night  
Pamela

[gobs]

If they just started fruiting, then it's quite common for them to lose the first few fruitlets.

[bb_odiham]

I've had a few more leaves nailed. Looks like I may have to write this lot off and start again, as I can't see them growing successfully when the first leaves budding are half eaten

Some home made slug/snail traps are going out tomorrow - saved up a pile of plastic bottles I'm going to cut up and use for the purpose.

As everything I'm doing is organic, I'm going for the salt water or beer trap to see if it'll at least cut down on the number of critters

[gobs]

You could try them in pots, easier slug defence.

[Brian_of_Bozeat]

Trim the bottom off of a 2Litre pop bottle and give em their own mini greenhouse, just until they get a couple more leaves and the weather warms back up.

It will keep the slugs off in the meantime too...

[DD.]

Trim the bottom off of a 2Litre pop bottle and give em their own mini greenhouse, just until they get a couple more leaves and the weather warms back up.

It will keep the slugs off in the meantime too...

I'd be wary of that - the weather has warmed up, sun is out & it's 85 F in my greenhouses with all the doors & windows open.

Courgettes are NOT a hot house plant.

[bb_odiham]

My first round of courgettes didn't survive.
I have been told to simply plant them inside to start them off, but I'm out of space on my window sill. Besides, they started growing perfectly outside and if it wasn't for the slugs, I'm sure they would've been a success.

I have planted some more, inside 2 liter bottles with the bottoms cut off - and have also planted some without a mini greenhouses.

I invested in some organic slug pellets as after reading the forum and other sources, it seems it's one of the few successful ways of slug control.

The courgettes with the mini-greenhouses I'll keep an eye on - as DD has pointed out, it can get too hot.

I could've tried some chilli's in the mini-greenhouses, but have now run out of space in my small area