Grow Your Own: Courgettes

Lesson 4: Courgette Problems

The Curse of the Slug
Your number one enemy in the battle to produce top-class courgettes is likely to be the dreaded slug. If you don't want to use chemicals to discourage these pests (and surely the whole point of growing your own is to enjoy chemical-free veggies), then there are some organic methods you can use. Cloches made from cut-down plastic drinks bottles are a good way of protecting young plants. Slug don't like copper, so copper rings are a good deterrent. You can also buy adhesive copper tape to stick around containers and raised beds. Try spreading soot, sand or ash around your plants. Gritty materials impede the slugs' production of the slime they need to get around.

Biological Warfare
Increasing numbers of gardeners are reporting success against slugs after introducing nematodes into the soil. These microscopic organisms are supplied in powder form. Mix with water and add the liquid to your vegetable patch. A normal application should keep the area free of slugs for around six weeks.

Aphid Attack
Cucumber Mosaic Virus, spread by aphids, is another danger. Remove any aphids from your courgette plants immediately, rubbing them off by hand or blasting them away with a stream of water. Grow marigolds near courgettes. Marigolds attract hoverflies and hoverflies love to eat aphids. Some courgette varieties have been developed with a resistance to Cucumber Mosaic Virus. The F1 Hybrid "Defender" is just such a variety. It's a good cropper, too, so it's an ideal courgette for beginners.