[stevej]

Can anyone help me? I have just taken on a new allotment, spent many hours digging and removing weeds and have started planting. After three to four weeks I have lost a courgette and a cucumber plant. They don't seem to have any signs of rot but have only one or two roots growing out of the bottom of the stem. Slowly the leaves have died off and I just don't know what is causing it. When digging the plot in one area I found some brown headed maggot looking grubs, could they be eating the roots? I didn't see any where these plants were growing though. Any suggestions gratefully accepted. 

[Annen]

Have you had them out in the garden for three or four weeks? If so it might have been a bit cold for them even under a cloche.  But most cucurbits tend to die at the slightest excuse, for no apparent reason  .  There is still time to sow some more they usually germinate quite readily.

[DD.]

I agree. If they've been out that long, they were put out too soon. The cooler spring has negated the advantage of being down south.

Welcome to the forums, by the way. I shall move this post to GYO, where it is more appropriate, please pop back to the welcome forum to introduce yourself.

[sunshineband]

Brown headed maggot looking grubs sound as though they would eat plant roots, even if they were not responsible for the demise of your courgettes etc, so best to dispose of them I reckon 

[stevej]

Thanks for the replies, I squashed all of the grubs I came across while digging, I have sown more seeds ready to put out again so hopefully these will survive.

[surbie100]

How big are the grubs? I've taken a new plot and am digging out the bindweed, but as I am doing it I have so far found about 10 stag beetle larvae, all carefully relocated into the woodchip path by our hives. 

[Snoop]

Any chance your grubs could be these? (Picture of grubs at bottom of page)

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=234

[oldgrunge]

Your brown headed maggots sound like vine weevil larvae - they eat plant roots! They seem to love my fuchsias especially.