Marrow problem

[JohnN]

Many of my marrows have developed a "rot", which seems to start at the tip and one, which was quite big, looked normal apart from the tip rot, but when I picked it up my fingers went through the skin - the inside was a brown, pulpy mess. Some small ones look OK, but may develop the problem as they grow. Is this insect/slug damage or some disease? I've had slug pellets down and no sign of dead slugs.
Thanks, John N.

[Nature's Babe]

One possible cause might be too wet, John, did you plant on a mound or raised bed ? Birds might have eaten the affected slugs, and if normal slug pellets it poisons them too, I use organic slug pellets, harmlesss to birds and safe for pets and children, they're rainfast too.

http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/p ... ts_id=1821

[JohnN]

NB -
I don't think too wet, we've been having a drought apart from the last 48 hrs!
May be too dry? - I haven't watered them as often as I should. They are on 2009's compost mound (I have two compost heaps which I swap every two years).
I'm afraid I use ordinary slug pellets as I did try the organic ones but found them inferior to the standard ones. My local horticultural society doesn't stock organic pellets. Have the pellets you link to proved effective? If so I'll buy some.
Our garden is always full of birds - thrushes, blackbirds, finches, crows and a lovely woodpecker - as well as the dratted maggies, pigeons and sparrows!
Anyway, thanks for your comment NB.
Alan: 11in long by 4in dia.. Not very big, but nice eating size I find.

[alan refail]

Hi John

How big was the "quite big" one?

In immature marrows/courgettes rotting from the tip is usually a sign of non-pollination.

[Nature's Babe]

What I do John is I try and remember to lay old lettuce leaves first, laced with those slug pellets where I am going to plant the tender plants a day or two before I plant out the tender plants, and yes they are effective ... then I catch the little critters before they do any damage.
We had drought too for ages, stressed plants are more susceptible to damage and disease, I plant them through a layer of mulch which helps conserve moisture so less watering is needed, I use straw lawn clippings and dried weeds that have not seeded to mulch with, applied after a good deluge or soaking.