[Mosslane]

I have had trouble in the past with courgettes being eaten by slugs or rotting on the ground and was thinking of a way of protecting the fruit. 

Had a bit of a strange idea and wonder if anyone thinks it may work or if there could be problems.

I have 3 incinerator lids - the ones with chimneys. If I turn these upside down and sink into the soil, use the chimney as a bottomless pot to grow the plant in but the leaves and fruit would then trail into the rest of the upturned lid so keeping them off the soil.

Any thoughts?

[gillie]

Two thoughts:

Will the incinerator lids drain OK?

Will the slugs get into the lids?

[sunshineband]

Would it be less complicated to just plant them through weed suppressant fabric ? 

[JayG]

I'd be worried that all the water would be draining straight onto the stems of the plants, which might cause a different problem.

Are you sure the rotting courgettes were not simply the early or unpollinated ones which tend to form nearer the ground anyway?

[Tattyanne456]

Theres only one way to find out! Let us know how you get on

[monsta]

why not just use slug pellets and old pieces of carpet?

[zazen999]

Why don't you grow them on in bigger pots until they are bigger and more able to withstand the slugs? And mulch once planted with bark or sawdust to stop the slugs approaching?

[sunshineband]

why not just use slug pellets and old pieces of carpet?

Carpet often has horrible chemicals in its glue/dyes and so is probably best avoided near veg imho 

[Paul Plots]

Why don't you grow them on in bigger pots until they are bigger and more able to withstand the slugs? And mulch once planted with bark or sawdust to stop the slugs approaching?

This sounds worth a try...

If it were me I'd do a bit of a sprinkle with the slug bait, not over water and keep the weeds clear to help reduce hiding places for slugs. (Good weather promotes pollination so don't rush to get them planted out).

In the past I found a raised box (about 3'x4' and around 3' in height) allowed me to plant around the edge and let the fruit dangle - it made it easier to see for picking, prevented the fruit laying on the ground, kept the soil surface drier and was also easier to cover with polythene to give early plants a chance to get off to a good start. (Loads of well rotted compost underneath).

Experiment and see which method works best - something will 

[Mosslane]

Lots of interesting comments, will have to experiment. It was more prompted by coming up with uses for 3 incinerator lids. We had so much to burn from clearing the cottage and grounds that we are now on our third burner, the first 2 really worked hard but hopefully there isn't much left to burn now.

[strangerachael]

I'd say it's worth a try if you've got unemployed incinerator lids lying around!
I usually prop the plants up with bits of broken brick/large stones etc, and put slug beer traps around the plant. There are always a few rotten/squashy ones though, especially in wet weather.

[cooperman]

I usually plant the courgettes into a small mound mulch with straw and leave it at that.
I do spray with a garlic wash as well - slugs dont like that one bit.

[Jodie A]

Courgettes like to be watered around the roots but not around the stem, hence the reason why it is recommended that they are grown on mounds, with a moat surround that will get moisture to the roots; whilst draining away from the main stem.  I think the curvature of the lid would result in stem rot, nice idea though.

[strangerachael]

I think the curvature of the lid would result in stem rot, nice idea though.

Not if you watered underneath the lid rather than down into it

[Jodie A]

But rain would naturally take the course of down into the basin of the lid and possibly rot the main stem.