Courgette and tomato problems!

[SingleMumAndProud]

Hi. I am on year 1 of vegetable growing.

• Some of my tomato plants are still tiny with some very small green fruit on, shall I just give up on these? I have others that are producing well and the small ones don't look anywhere near as healthy? Just wondering if I should just chuck them all and make the space?

• My courgette plants have now turned all white? And the actual courgettes are rotting before they become ripe? TBH I already have had so many nice courgettes off it I am not too worried if they are off to the compost bin?

Any ideas on both of these? Thank yoU!

I wouldn't chuck the tomatoes, if we get a run of good weather then they may come right. Are you feeding? I am picking red (outdoors) tomatoes and waiting on squillions of green ones so I'm banking on a late sunny spell too.

The mould is likely botrytis and I think you'd be as well to chuck them. It's the blooming weather .

Tippychoocks - do I chuck the whole plants? And is it OK to put them in the compost bin?

Thank you for your reply!

I wouldn't compost but only because I've read not to - I compost everything. Green bin it praps? Or burn. Whichever mould it is, it can spread in wet warm weather.

And yes, I would get rid of whole plants but if you think you are due for a dry spell, you could just cut away the affected parts and wait to see. That might work combined with dry weather as it would let more air in.

Meant to say, any of the Powdery Mildews or mould problems do spread so be careful if your courgette plants are jammed up against other plants or in a greenhouse. Watch roses in particular, I've had a bad year for mildew . Still, it's sunny today

Courgettes white leaves likely to be powdery mildew, which mine get eventually every year. it really isn't a big issue. If the plants are still producing even if they are rotting then just make sure you have cut all the rotted courgettes off, cut off the oldest/worst/whitest leaves, give them a little feed if you are so inclined.

The rotting is because the courgettes aren't getting pollinated - it's getting a bit late and while it was wet the insects weren't about. You could make sure they are pollinated yourself if you have male and female flowers (rub them together. Try not to snigger) or you can hope the weather is kind and the bees will do it for you.

Thank you!

Could the fact the leaves are so big and bushy, be stopping the bees getting to the flowers? The flowers are sort of tucked underneath now? Should I be cutting leaves off or anything?

Sorry to sound dumb!