I eagerly await the year’s first courgettes, my impatience to start cropping always leads me to plant out too early, stalling the crop. This year I’ve held back waiting until the end of the month. During May I’ve potted on the young courgette plants twice, preventing them from becoming pot bound. I last did this a week ago and was amazed to see the root development in this time. There are other advantages to planting courgettes out late, whilst clearing the raised bed ready for planting I discovered over 50 slugs (they were all divided in two!), waiting a few extra weeks the plants stems develop and thicken giving a little extra slug protection.
Courgettes finally ready to go out
The prepared raised bed
A weeks worth of roots!
I’ve installed a watering system with a spur to each thirsty courgette plant. I have also made a bowl like ring of earth around each plant to keep the water directly on the plants roots.
Planted courgettes with watering system installed
Hopefully this year’s extra care and attention will reward us with early bumper crops.
Planting the courgettes out when they’re larger should also help them stand up to slug attacks. Well, that’s my theory anyway.