Courgettes and a warning

We had courgettes for dinner.

All right so far ?

Feeling thankful I didn’t grow courgettes this year, but have not had much luck with seeds at all. I put it down to my poor gardening skills, but feel much better having read about other seed failures. Is that schadenfreude? I hope not.?

Well my golden courgette from Mr Fothergills was fine very nice in fact but a lot of people on the gardening page I m on on fb seem to be having strange things germinating a packet of seed bell peppers grew into dwarf beans and someone else’s leeks turned into petunias ???

Poor germination of courgettes here too so was really excited to see one tiny one this evening - will definitely be licking first as can’t remember where the seeds were from. Thanks Callistemon. And BlueBelle!

Flaxwoven: the odd weather conditions in early spring seem to have affected a lot of insect pollinators, many are noticeably absent or in fewer numbers and it's lead (amoung other things) to cases of courgettes and cucumbers having flowers but not setting many fruits.

Thanks Bluebelle. Had this posted to me from my son’s mother in law. My son and his in laws have all suffered a really nasty dose of food poisoning from eating bitter courgettes.

Babs758 I got lots of tomato plants from one slightly over-ripe tomato. I just chopped it up and put pieces in a pot of soil, with just a sprinkle over the top.
They are good healthy plants now. I hope that they grow some tasty fruit.

Well I ve just had my first Mr Fothergills courgette for my lunch so if you never hear from me again it’s been lovely talking to you all ?

Thanks for the warning.

Cross-fertilisation between different plants of the same species growing near each other happens naturally and frequently, Carooline If you grow sweet peppers and chilli peppers near one another, the seeds can be hybrid - giving you quite a surprise if you thought you were growing a sweet pepper from saved seed to your cooking but it turned out to be hot! That is how new varieties of plants are discovered or produced.

GM just speeds up and regulates the process by doing some test-tube artificial insemination at a cellular level, and introducing elements from other species into the mix.

Maybe these seeds are Frankinstein GM? Just a thought. Are they labelled as GM free?

My hubby has been doing the garden since retirement 6 years ago. He bought Fothergills flower seeds and 80% failed to germinate this year, so he ended up getting plug plants from the garden centre. This is the first year nothing germinated and we don't know why. He also ordered some plug plants online from Thompson & Morgan and most of them died within a few days! We keep some wild flower beds in the garden and there are very few bees this year.

I bought some seeds online from a company I thought was Dobbies, but it wasn’t!

The French beans grew into runner beans. Only one cucumber germinated. Lettuce seeds failed to grow, ditto their carrots. I complained to Dobbies and a very nice customer service person pointed out their company had two ‘b’s in their name.

Re-ordered from another company and everything flourishing. Allegedly some naughty companies ‘recycle’ leftover seeds and packaging. Allegedly

Thanks for raising this BlueBelle. Just been on another forum and lots of people complained to Mr. F about a week ago. This lead to the recall. Not all seeds in the batch will be affected so they suggest tasting the courgettes on other plants. Apparently it is extremely bitter even when cooked. The symptoms of poisoning are stomach cramps and D&V.

I tried growing spring onions from supermarket ones. Sliced off the white bulb with the roots. Wrapped in damp kitchen paper for a few days and then planted in compost. They are growing really well. Also took cuttings from some greek basil from a pot bought from Waitrose, left in water for a week whilst they rooted and then planted in compost. Now have loads! Currently trying to from coriander from seed From a seeds bought for cooking. Only three plants so far. But I have never don any of this before so it is fun finding out what works and what does not.

Lick first.

Apparently!

That’s strange, Bluebelle. My packet is just like the one GrannyLaine posted, (thank you GL),but with an H where the l is so I presume it should be all right. However, if they taste bitter I shall not eat!

This is my packet I can’t see a one anywhere

Nandalot The post above from Grannylaine clearly shows the number 5 next to the barcode . The 1 isn't next to it, it is next to the the date, so if your packet is like hers, it should be all right.

lol@etheltbags1 Unfortunately it doesn't seem to work like that P'raps the bitterness spurs them on to find some tender lettuce or something to take the bitter taste away?

BlueBelle, Elegran
This may help

My slugs should get poisoned!

A time ago I had this prob. with Fothergills Zucchini courgettes too
Even now,using shop bought ones, I take off a slice and taste test it. Cooking the fruit doesn't lesson the bitter taste either.Interesting to read that the problem's still around

The lettuce seed I bought cheap from Lidl have been amazing. I gave away seedlings as well and give them away to anyone who admires them.

The free lettuce seeds which I received from Fothergills have all germinated.
The pigeons love them.