[seanandde]

Guilty of skim reading

Thanks, will do that.  Just wasn't sure as I've not grown much from seed up intil now (and never any veg) and I'd read not to transplant until the first set of true leaves... but I'm now thinking that applies to 'mass' sown seedlings and not these indivudally sown giants

[simonwatson]

I've made the same mistake too. I'm going to pot a couple up in 10L pots to get an early harvest. The smallest ones will go in the unheated greenhouse to slow down. It's the compost bin for the others.

I've done the same with the pumpkins and butternut squash too. The butternut is so slow growing I might get away with it. Don't think so with the pumpkins though.

[mumofstig]

A friend gave me some butternuts she had germinated, they went into the cold greenhouse and promptly died

Apart from 1 courgette that's in the greenhouse under extra poly at night (It will stay there for early courgettes, hopefully  :blink:)..........I've not sown any yet 

[Grubbypaws]

My courgette plants are beginning to flower!!

 

[aelf]

me too! I have 4 baby courgettes that will be ready by the weekend 

YIPPEE! 

[kiaweeze]

'How exciting'  I noticed tiny beginnings of courgettes on mine this morning....no flowers jet, but will not be long!!!!

 

[Grubbypaws]

My experiment has been thwarted by gail force winds breaking the stems 

[Grubbypaws]

mmm now I have managed to have a good look (I didnt want to take down their protective netting in the gale force winds) the stems aren't actually broken just sort of split but the plants still seem to be growing.

Should I leave them alone or are they doomed?

I have just planted out my second wave of courgette plants so will not be going without.

[Yorkie]

I'd leave them in, they may well have enough stem to allow food and water up and down it without the plant dying.

[Grubbypaws]

Thank you Yorkie.
My old faithful gardening book advises giving courgettes a bit of a hard time to make them work harder 'plants under stress will always flower and fruit more prolifically'. With the start in life these guys have had I expect to be inundated!

[Rangerkris]

My experiment has been thwarted by gail force winds breaking the stems 

I am sitting here wondering about mine at the plot too, they should be kind of sheltered with this wind direction.

[DD.]

My experiment has been thwarted by gail force winds breaking the stems 

This Gail has a lot to answer for. 

[Grubbypaws]

Thursday is the first day where the Met office forecast hasn't got anything in the wind 'gust' column. Everything in my garden is as batten down as possible so it is just a case of waiting it out I guess 

The netting I put out to protect my courgettes from the frost has played an unexpected role this year and acted as a wind break. I am not taking it down yet.

[Christine]

My courgettes are staying at home for another few days. I've started a second batch due to the sudden change in weather from pleasant to permanent gale making it not worth planting them out for another few days. Assuming that another few days sees calmer weather  :blink:

[JayG]

My courgettes, squashes, sweet corn, runner beans and outdoor tomatoes are still in the greenhouse (waiting with varying degrees of patience!) 

It's not that cold outside but not that warm either, and the added risk of damage from the strong winds and wind-chill means they'll just have to lump it for a bit longer............