Growing Courgettes on Poor or Sandy Soil – Organically

This great tip for organically growing courgettes on poor or sandy soil was sent in by a reader.  It may well help with growing other greedy crops like squash or pumpkins. We’ve not tried all the tips – so if you try a tip, let us know how you got on in the comments box below.

We’re always happy to get comments, tips and even full articles for the site from gardeners: just contact me or pop your tip in on the comments box below.

Growing Courgettes on Poor or Sandy Soil – Organically

If you have poor or just sandy soil which is deficient in nutrients you will need to feed your courgettes and marrows to get a decent crop from these ‘greedy’ plants. You can do the usual mound of compost & manure or dig out a hole filled with the same etc. but you may like to give this method a try instead.

Take a cheap plastic bucket and make a series of holes all around it about 2″ from the bottom and another series of holes 4″ from the top. The holes should be about the size of a large pencil. An 8mm wood drill is ideal.

Place the bucket in a hole up to its neck and pack the soil around it. Then plant your courgettes (four would be best)in a circle around it. About a 3ft or 1M circle would be fine.

Next fill the bucket with horse manure and always water the plants by pouring it into the bucket. This will ensure that the nutrients get to work their magic.

You will almost certainly get a bumper crop. You will also have the added benefit of catching a few slugs and other pests. Unfortunately, this does not work so well on heavy clay soils or for marrows

With thanks to Henry for this tip on organically growing courgettes on poor or sandy soil

I can’t see why this tip shouldn’t benefit marrows, squashes and pumpkins. If you use it, do let us know how you get on in the comments below.

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