[Growster...]

I always fall for the bit in the books, where they say plant two seeds, and then chuck out the weakest when you pot on.

Being a bit sentimental, I still give the out-chuckers a chance, and they often finish up in a better state than the big chaps!

Or I give them to the daughters!

[Robster]

I am with Shokky here.  Mine were sowed late march and already in 9 inch pots and on the floor of the green house.  They will go out in May under plastic bell cloches.  I will sow a couple more for insurance purposes in May as well

[Grubbypaws]

The great courgette experiment has started!

I have brutally composted the 6 giants that had keeled over.

Three of the remaining I have put in 1.1L pots and three in 2L pots

I will also start some off anew in 4 weeks time.

I will tell you how they fare.

PS Kristen your photo hits the spot!!!

[Flump]

I have done the same,started  Courgettes off too soon...too keen.I am putting them out tomorrow and will let you know if they survive!!

[Yorkie]

I have done the same,started  Courgettes off too soon...too keen.I am putting them out tomorrow and will let you know if they survive!!

They almost certainly won't survive if they will be unprotected.  They are not frost hardy and will at best sulk with the cold overnight temperatures, and at worst be killed by the frost 

[cooperman]

 
it always pays to wait - practice restraint! I know its hard!!

[Grubbypaws]

Next year I will definitely wait longer Cooperman.

Trouble is I am finding hard to kill them, hence the experiment. I think that there is enough 'hope' from Shokky and Robster to make the effort worth while. I haven't put them outside though; they are in a sunny bit of my kitchen (I dont have a greenhouse).

My concern however is that even if they survive to adulthood they will have been too pampered and therefore wont be very productive.

[mumofstig]

IF they manage to survive they will fruit like crazy........they always do 

[slow_worm]

Its always tempting to get an early start - like I have with my sweetcorn!  But hey nothing wrong with pushing the boundaries to see what you can get away with.  I grew runners in wigwams covered in plastic to start in April (a few years ago) - worked a treat!  Loads of beans!!
Just be prepared for failure.

[Grubbypaws]

Thank you. If I do get away with it there will be more courgette angst; what to do with twice as many courgettes as usual!!!!
 

[slow_worm]

Chocolate & Zuccini (courgette) cake

[snowdrops]

For the last couple of years I've sowed mine in to peat pots & then potted on in to flower buckets with the bottoms knocked out(same as my toms) & then out onto the plot when guaranteed frost free. This seems to have sorted the check in growth problem that I always seemed to encounter.

[GreenOwl]

Thank you. If I do get away with it there will be more courgette angst; what to do with twice as many courgettes as usual!!!!
 

Well I was gonna say you really don't need 15 plants anyway.  2 is fine for a family of four.  I grow 3 plants and freeze the extras for winter soups.

[seanandde]

May I please ask here rather than start another courgette thread... I have some which made an appearance 3 days ago which are in 3" peat pots.  Just (huge!) seed leaves still and they're still very squat, but one or two roots are making a bid for freedom onto the table they're sat on in our lean to.  Should I repot them into something bigger now or leave them be and plant them out in May?

Thanks

[mumofstig]

If you read the posts above you will see that they need bigger pots