[siani]

Dunno if anyone else has done this, but after planting my young courgette plants I put straw around them like you do with strawberries. I figured it would protect them from slugs and frost. Been to check on them twice since and they have been in nearly a week now, and doing very well...has anybody else tried straw around them? or am I crazy?

[grenhouse]

straw will work, i tend to use grass cuttings, also plant the courgette in a mound with a moat around it. then cover the mound in grass cuttings to keep the moisture in. Thirsty plants they are!

Steve

[peapod]

Straw worked for me too

[gardener247]

i use straw too. is it normal to only have male flowers this time of year? why isn't there any females?

[viettaclark]

I usually get males only first, then females only, then both together and ....chocks away....!!!
This year I've had a few of each to start and may have babies already. Could be different seed, could be the cold.

[digalotty]

best get my skates on ive not planted courgette yet

[Jamie Butterworth]

Is it the male flowers or the female flowers that produce the courgette, and how do I tell the differance?

[DD.]

Think you need a talk about the birds and the bees, Jamie. It's the female, readily identified by a small courgette behind the flower:

[Jamie Butterworth]

Thanks DD, do it is pretty easy to spot Do you leave them both on or take the male ones off? Sorry if these are silly questions

[DD.]

Leave them both on!

Pollination is essential for courgettes.

[mumofstig]

the new courgettes do not need pollination to produce fruit........seed is a bit more expensive, like the all female cucumbers, but worth it I thought for some early ones in the greenhouse  

Plus I was using the £5 voucher they sent 

[Half a plot man]

Just a quick one on these, I'm about to plant my first plants (started at home in pots). How much watering do they need as I can't get to the plot every day??? 

[Nikkithefoot]

As much water as you can give them, certainly until they have fully settled in. They are thirsty little blighters and will help to produce more courgettes too

[kermit]

gees, I sowed mine about 4 weeks ago and they're only just showing.  Wish they would hurry up, i luuurve courgettes...