Watering and feeding courgettes

Last post 23-04-2012 9:30 PM by Simon . 4 replies.

• 22/04/2012 11:17 AM

  Simon Location: Chichester Joined on: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 49

  Reply | Contact I have some baby courgette plants which I will plant out as soon as the frosts depart. I have seen courgettes grown with a length of plastic pipe which directly feeds the roots. It seems a good idea, as they are thirsty plants and the big leaves tend to deflect water away. Does anyone have any thoughts as to whether this trick with a pipe is worthwhile? If so, what depth should the pipe go to? And would it be OK to use fertiliser made from comfrey leaves in this way? Any other hints re a good courgette crop would of course be gratefully received!

• 23/04/2012 06:50 PM	In reply to
  Digger Location: Northern UK Joined on: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 5,230	Reply | Contact I've used the pipe method to feed my courgettes and cucumbers for many a time .it does well for meI don't know about the comfrey leaves thing as i don't use that formula, I use dilute maxicrop straight down the pipe and it works fine digger Sage of the fells

• 23/04/2012 07:53 PM	In reply to
  Simon Location: Chichester Joined on: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 49	Reply | Contact Many thanks digger. How long should the pipe be? i.e. how far down do the courgette roots go?

• 23/04/2012 08:15 PM

  In reply to

  Digger Location: Northern UK Joined on: 18 Jul 2005 Posts: 5,230

  Reply | Contact In theory you can grow them well enough in a gro bag but, I make a mound of well rotted horse manure mixed withgro bag at 80 20 respectively. the mound is about two feet in diameter and 18 inches high I make a hole in the top after i've flattened it a little then I push the pipe into the mound so the bottom of the pipe where the feed comes out is dircetly underneath the root ball of the plant. The roots are quite web like and will spread a little to seek out nutrients etc.. I go to these lengths because I grow for exhibition so really if you're just growing for the kitchen the mound need not be so big, I also keep my plants either in the polytunnelor under a cloche. hope this helps. digger Sage of the fells

• 23/04/2012 09:30 PM	In reply to
  Simon Location: Chichester Joined on: 08 Jul 2008 Posts: 49	Reply | Contact It does indeed help - many thanks for the helpful detail. I'll try the "mound" method for one of the plants, picking often to see if I can produce lots of small fruits. Still too early for planting out, though, even here near the South Coast. We get ground frost on clear mornings. Best of luck with yours, and thanks again.