Kitchen Garden Forum

Is anyone else getting brown rotting from the end of courgettes? Is it the wet? I just take them off as soon as I notice them.

Hi Jane

I pick mine small so the flower is still attached (and open). If I leave them to get bigger without removing the flower, the flower is dead and rotting and causing the end of the courgettes to rot. This rarely happens when it's sunny but seems to be just about 100% in all this rain.

Dear Jane E, i think as Chantal says it is a lot to do with the rain, but also this often happens when the plants are being stressed at an early stage of their lives. This year i think it is being caused because of the plants sitting in soaking wet soil, at also not the warmest of soils.

Some of my plants did this, but once they finally got over that initial start, they are now growing and cropping well.
It does help to cut any courgettes off as soon as you see them if the plants are struggling.

Hi Jane,
I feel the main reason that you get rotting at the blossom end is that they have failed to get fertilized. I feel that you must play the part.
JB.