[Ice]

[mumofstig]

If your courgettes aren't setting properly then obviously the bees are not doing the job are they?

They may be there, but they're not doing what you want them to do! or you would have courgettes by now.

[JayG]

I always pollinate my squashes by hand because although I seem to have a reasonable number of bees and hoverflies they don't seem that keen to crawl around inside my particular squash flowers, and I hate to see nice females going to waste. 

An unpollinated fruit will initially start to grow but will eventually rot off (how quickly depends on how wet the conditions are.)

[hubballi]

Ok, point taken. I shall have a go at that.

[sunshineband]

Well I do hope it works for you -- it does for me 

[hubballi]

No, it hasn't worked ALL fruits are still rotting. Still not a single successful fruit in all the plants. Pots, in the ground, different compost 

[sunshineband]

Do you keep soaking them well?

[hubballi]

I water every day to keep moist.

[sunshineband]

I would suggest you keep the leaves and fruit dry and just water the soil

[hubballi]

Yes, that's what I do. The leaves are very yellow. I did feed with liquid chicken manure a while back so they should be greener. They are in deep pots in good B and Q compost (though I fail to see the great benefits of this brand from all my results this year)

[mumofstig]

The thing about growing in compost is that it has completely run out of nutrients after 6 weeks growing. so containers need regular weekly feeding with a liquid feed or regular dosing with slow release fertiliser like Growmore or Blood Fish and Bone.
The occasional feed just won't be enough for things to grow well.

[annieandjeremy]

I tried growing courgettes in the greenhouse with no success but now I have an allotment I grow them there and have more fruit than I know what to do with.  I haven't had problems with cucumbers in the greenhouse but I do keep the door and windows open during the day.

[Aunt Sally]

Yes, that's what I do. The leaves are very yellow. I did feed with liquid chicken manure a while back so they should be greener. They are in deep pots in good B and Q compost (though I fail to see the great benefits of this brand from all my results this year)

What size are the pots ?

[1st time veg grower]

No, it hasn't worked ALL fruits are still rotting. Still not a single successful fruit in all the plants. Pots, in the ground, different compost 

Sometimes even when I hand pollinate it doesn't work, the fruit still rots off and sometimes even after its got quite big. I blamed it last year on the nasty weather (up here - whilst the rest of the country baked) but the same has happened this year too.

Was giving up on pumpkins/squash this year too but have seen today two fruit appear to have set, without my assistance, as I haven't had time this week, and its been a damp week. I am now wondering if the plant aborts the first few fruits, pollinated or not, as it knows it isn't big enough to get all the energy it needs to feed the fruit. My pumpkins have had a real growth spurt this week so may now be big enough to support the growing fruit. Its probably a completely incorrect theory, but what I guess I'm saying is don't give up, things may come right yet!

[LivvyW]

I like that theory 1st timer.