[fatbelly]

Planting all my Squashes and outdoor Cues on the plot this morning.

I originally sowed mine on the 25th April during that glorious weather to plant but around 2nd May. Then May was one of the coldest and windiest I can remember here in North Cheshire resulting in all 10 plants dying.

So 2 weeks ago I re sowed and they have been hardened off for the past week, so in they go today.

Already posted this on here but I will NOT be sowing so early next year regardless of the weather, it will be a Mid May sowing for me followed by a period of hardening off.

[Endymion]

im in southampton [-], had no frosts here,plants are fine,,

We're not far from you, a bit to the left and down a bit. There was a frost last week, and night time temps at ground level are still hovering around 5C so we're being careful. 

Of course, that thermometer could be wrong, but the central heating thermostat seems to agree with it. 

[AndyRVTR]

My courgettes have been out for a week or two and had 4 of them with dinner last night...mmmmmm

[peapod]

My courgettes have been out for a week or two and had 4 of them with dinner last night...mmmmmm

and 4 tomorrow night,and the night after and the night after and the night after ..................

[AndyRVTR]

no no no Peapod.... freeze freeze freeze 

[peapod]

or just dont grow the devil things - they nearly lost me all my friends 

[Ice]

they nearly lost me all my friends 

If they don't appreciate courgettes then they are not true friends.   Actually, I did notice people avoiding me a few times.  Was it my deodorant or was it the bag of courgettes?  Hmmmmm.

[peapod]

When your neighbours see you getting out of the van (with a full carrier bag and a hopeful smile) and shut their curtains....... you know its not smelly armpits

[fatbelly]

When your neighbours see you getting out of the van (with a full carrier bag and a hopeful smile) and shut their curtains....... you know its not smelly armpits

Classic     

[jolly jen]

My courgettes have been out for a week or two and had 4 of them with dinner last night...mmmmmm

im south east...checked them all at the weekend and are growing well.,

i havent had my central heating on for months now,,
ive had 12 strawberry punnets in one week,,,,so been busy making jam,

[shokkyy]

I'm getting really fed up with my courgettes. I sowed them last week in March and planted them out last week in April. They're big healthy plants and they've had loads of flowers, but not one has turned into a courgette. I've never had this happen before.

[JayG]

Did you have both female and male flowers showing at the same time (not necessarily on the same plant?)

If you did it must be a pollination issue (time to get the little paintbrush out!)

[shokkyy]

No, it's just an endless stream of male flowers.

[DD.]

I'm not saying it is this, but I'm wondering if it's due to cold nights & stress. When stressed even F1 all female cucumbers can produce male flowers.

You may have got away with it in previous years, but in my opinion the end of April is early for putting out courgettes, mine have only just been sown by then.

[shokkyy]

But if the plants were stressed, surely they wouldn't be growing on so well, would they? All leaves are a good healthy dark green, no signs of stunted growth or pale leaves or that kind of thing. It's a puzzler.

I am actually wondering a bit about the topsoil, because this is a new veggie bed that I'm using for the first time this year, topped up with a good layer of bought in topsoil. The imported soil is very black and fibrous and it's drying out very fast, though I am watering it, as well as feeding with BFB. I think the garden centre I bought it from called it composted topsoil.