[shay]

Grown Courgttes before and been fairly lucky, but this year they seem to be struggling. Healthy enough to plant out, watered, but half of them look like they ae shrinking instead of spreading. Some of the leaves are a brownish colour so not sure if its just a case of the very hot weather we have recently had. Where as before they have been a lot larger before being subjected to the sun.

Everything else is looking good, but alongside spuds, courgettes are my favourite grower so its wiped the smile off my face.

Is there a chance that with milder weather it can regrow? Anything else I could do to give them a boost?

[mumofstig]

I think like the other threads about courgettes we've had recently, that you have just started too early, the days have been warm but it's been cold at night of late. courgettes love the warm days but  hate the cold.
IMO best thing to do is start again, by the time the new plants are ready frosts should have finished.

[paintedlady]

Did you harden them off before planting - you've planted them outside just a little too early even for Staines?  And were they protected during the night against possible frost?  It could be a bit of wind or sun scorch, maybe got a bit too dry, or possibly over watered at some point?  Maybe it needs a bit of a boost (possibly used up all the nutrients in the soil?)  Sometimes when a courgette starts to struggle before it really gets going, it might be wise to sow some fresh seed -  later sowings quickly catch up and probably do better as the weather improves and gets warmer.

[Gardeningguru]

Too me and as has been alluded too, it just sounds like you have planeted them out too early.  Its a huge "shock" to a plant to go from a lovely warm windowsill, or glass house to be thrown into a cold soil, in cold outdoor conditions.

You should try to "harden" them first for at least a week, by leaving them outdoors during the days, and overnighting them indoors.  After this they should be ok to plant outdoors when the majority of the frost risk has passed.

So long as their not knackered completely, they will pickup, although the yield might be affected ultimately because of this stress caused now.  I would seed up, a few replacements just in case.

[shay]

Slap on my wrists.

Greenhouse here I come. Thanks guys.