Patridge bantam chicken poorly foot?

[Rhapsody]

Mine are! They grow about 3 in long then go black and slimy. They are in greenhouse watered every 3 days and fed tomato plant food. What ails them?

[Lesley]

I don't know Rhapsody - I've been having a problem with the ones in the polygreenhouse this year - the outside ones are OK.

[Chicken Licken]

pick em early and feed them to the chooks - mine love them!!

[chickenanne]

It sounds like the humidity is affecting them, perhaps? can you move them outside /open the vents in the greenhouse more?

It's probably pretty hot for courgettes in the greenhouse too - I think the problem might be heat and humidity.

IMO every day with tomato feed is too much, maybe twice a week (but water with plain water the other days).

If they're growing to 3" at least you know there's no problem with them being pollinated.

[Tara.F]

actually...pollination is probably the problem

 

the plant itself (especially if it's so well fed) can support some fruit growth but then it rots off before growing to full size.

if the rot begins at the flower end this is likely the cause.

Make sure you open the door each day to let bugs in and perhaps put something tempting to bees inside.....some sweetpeas if you have them,or a pollen rich potplant.

[chickenanne]

I thought that they would only grow a couple of inches at most before rotting if they weren't pollinated?

I know some people advocate hand pollinating, but this always seems like a faff to me.

[Rhapsody]

actually...pollination is probably the problem

 

the plant itself (especially if it's so well fed) can support some fruit growth but then it rots off before growing to full size.

if the rot begins at the flower end this is likely the cause.

Make sure you open the door each day to let bugs in and perhaps put something tempting to bees inside.....some sweetpeas if you have them,or a pollen rich potplant.

 

By crikey I think thats it! They grow a bit then rot from the flower. Cant leave the door open cos of marauding chooks, can I pollinate with a paintbrush?

[Christian]

I have quite a few male flowers on mine Rhapsody, so just pull off a male stem, remove the petals and dab each female flower a few times.

 

It worked for me last year

[Rhapsody]

How do you sex a flower?

[redhotchick]

I am having exactly this problem too. I didn't realise I would have to hand pollinate. Thanks for starting this thread, and for the great advice.

BTW you can tell a male flower because it doesn't have a mini courgette waiting to grow behind it. It just has an ordinary stem.

[chickencam]

We have a trellis panel that sits against the door to keep both chooks and cats out of the greenhouse but let in air and insects. Just sits against the door with a prop holding it in place.

[Valkyrie]

Here you go Rhapsody:

 

A couple of female ones and a sneaky courgette to pick

 

 

A male one

 

 

Hope this helps anyone else too.

[chickencam]

Are your courgettes in the ground or in pots?

 

I have some in the ground which are growing well but those in pots are not thriving and the fruit is rotting off. I don't think that despite regular watering and feeding they are getting enough nutrients.

[Louise]

Apparently a rabbits tail is the best for hand pollinating - if a bit grisly