What could be eating your courgettes?

Several pests and diseases can damage or consume courgette plants, affecting their growth and fruit production. Here are some common culprits:

Pests:

1. Aphids: Small, soft-bodied insects that feed on plant sap, causing leaves to curl and turn yellow.

2. Cucumber beetles: These beetles and their larvae (worms) can chew on leaves, buds, and stems, creating holes and causing damage.

3. Squash bugs: These bugs suck the sap from plants, leading to wilting and yellowing of leaves.

4. Spider mites: Tiny pests that weave webs on the undersides of leaves, causing stippling and yellowing.

5. Thrips: Small, slender insects that scrape the surface of leaves, creating silvery streaks and weakening the plant.

6. Whiteflies: Tiny, white insects that swarm around the plant and feed on the sap, weakening the plant and potentially transmitting diseases.

Diseases:

1. Blossom end rot: A physiological disorder caused by calcium deficiency, leading to dark, sunken spots on the blossom end of the fruit.

2. Downy mildew: A fungal disease that results in yellow or brown spots on the leaves, which eventually wilt and die.

3. Fusarium wilt: A fungal disease that causes yellowing and wilting of the entire plant, starting from the bottom.

4. Powdery mildew: A fungal disease that forms a white, powdery growth on leaves, affecting their ability to photosynthesize.

5. Cucumber mosaic virus: A viral disease transmitted by aphids and other insects, causing mosaic patterns of yellow and green on the leaves.

By monitoring your courgette plants for these pests and diseases and taking appropriate control measures, you can protect your crop and ensure a healthy harvest.