[AlistairMcLennan]

Have been growing Courgettes outside this year, the leaves appear to be totally massive so the plant has flopped over onto the soil.

Should I stake them & tie it up or should I just leave them?  Not had that many courgettes this year from them, too many have not pollinated :-(

Ta

[JayG]

I just put a short cane in at an angle to stop the plant rocking too much in the wind which can damage or even break the stem (they usually prop themselves up when they get bigger - possibly depends on how many leaves it's lost or you've take off.) 

[compostqueen]

They are very hardy so don't need growing indoors

[Growster...]

I'd give them some space about now, as the stems will have gone quite a long way, and even the smallest tweak will upset the little roots they actually spring from.

They're probably set in their ways now, so just take care when cutting the fruit, and let them roam for the last few weeks, because if you try to alter their run of the mill, they'll almost certainly break off at the bottom of the stem.

Feed 'em too, as they like some liquid manure about now, and you'll be surprised at the quantity of fruit after even a few days!

[DD.]

They are very hardy so don't need growing indoors

I don't quite understand. No one mentioned growing inside and courgettes are in no way very hardy!

[Kirpi]

The original poster says he has been growing Courgettes outside this year - implies that in previous years these have been grown inside.

They may not be cold hardy but otherwise they are pretty robust.

Let them romp where they want this time of year and yes - give them a good long drink of comfrey and nettle tea and those last flowers will reward you with a final harvest.

[gavinjconway]

Mine turned into vine creepers this year and I have had loads of them... freezer is full ready for soup making..

[DD.]

They may not be cold hardy but otherwise they are pretty robust.

"Very hardy" when used to refer to plants means they'll take just about any temperature the weather can throw at them. You cannot call them this and in the same breath say they are not cold hardy!

[Kirpi]

 :blink:  Not sure I know what you're on about really. I didn't say they were "cold hardy".

[DD.]

What is there that's difficult to understand when it comes to calling courgettes "very hardy" and then then saying they won't stand the cold?

It's a simple contradiction in terms.

[stompy]

There was no mention of winter/cold hardiness DD.

Something can be hardy in respect of heat, wind, drought!

Just i miss understanding i think! 

[DD.]

Look up the defintion of a hardy plant. The first thing it will say is to the effect of that it's a plant that is adapted for winter temperatures.

[Kirpi]

Thanks Stompy - exactly.

DD you are quite right but I believe I said they were "pretty robust" not that they were "hardy".

What I meant was the plant doesn't need to be cossetted inside a greenhouse and, once established, looks after itself with regard to slug damage, soil preference, needing or not needing to be mulched etc.

I could mention that courgettes are an excellent candidate for planting in a lasagne bed, but I don't think I'll bother on this occasion. 

  .....

[AlistairMcLennan]

Opps, seems my post has caused a little bit of a stir :-)

To clarify, when I said Outdoors this year, I meant that I had them in the greenhouse last year where as now they are in a raised bed.

I will just leave them alone now. Will probably given them more space next year. I also read that some people grow them in Truggs/Big Pots so they have plenty space to grow?

Ta

[shokkyy]

Does depend on the variety as well. Some grow along the ground like a vine, and they can get very big indeed. Others grow as a more compact bush shape, and they take up a lot less space.