It may simply be that your Midnight ones are more prone to pests/diseases and are generally less sturdy @chinatree22 . Mildew is often a problem with courgettes, and you'd see obvious signs of that, with white, often powdery, accumulations on the foliage. The other varieties might just be stronger and more disease resistant in that respect. It sounds as if you're doing everything right if the others are fine though. They certainly need lots of food and water, so it won't do any harm to have given them some BF&B, but it might have been better to use something like tomato food which would push them into flowering/fruiting. Have you had any flowers/fruits on them?
Clay soil is ideal for these sorts of plants as it's full of nutrients, especially when amended - which is what you've done. In a pot they do need a bit more help, but if all three plants are behaving the same way, it does sound more to do with the variety.
If you can post a photo, that would help with any further advice or suggestions.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Thank you @Fairygirl. I have decided to dispose of these plants. One of my Black Beauty has now started doing the same. I've still got plenty of other ones doing well, so its ok. I've decided to sow a couple more Midnight courgette seeds. I know its too late for them to fruit, but more of a test to see if these do the same. If they do I'll dispose of the remaining seeds. I've not had any more fruit from the affected plants so they're not a loss. Here's a photo of one of the leaves. Its a good job I sowed far too many seeds in the first place 🤣. Once again, thank you for your help 😊
As long as you've got a crop, there can't be too much wrong. It does seem odd if you're getting the same problem whether it's in a pot or the ground, and now another variety being affected. I can't tell from your pic if that's a pest/disease, but it doesn't look like the foliage just getting 'done'. It tends to just fade and gradually get spent in the usual way, but I remove the old foliage once it gets a bit manky, so it's hard for me to be sure. I wonder if anyone else can determine if that's just 'normal' damage though.
Have you got flowers and fruits forming on all the ones you have left?
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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It sounds as if you're doing everything right if the others are fine though. They certainly need lots of food and water, so it won't do any harm to have given them some BF&B, but it might have been better to use something like tomato food which would push them into flowering/fruiting. Have you had any flowers/fruits on them?
Clay soil is ideal for these sorts of plants as it's full of nutrients, especially when amended - which is what you've done. In a pot they do need a bit more help, but if all three plants are behaving the same way, it does sound more to do with the variety.
If you can post a photo, that would help with any further advice or suggestions.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I've decided to sow a couple more Midnight courgette seeds. I know its too late for them to fruit, but more of a test to see if these do the same. If they do I'll dispose of the remaining seeds.
I've not had any more fruit from the affected plants so they're not a loss. Here's a photo of one of the leaves.
Once again, thank you for your help 😊
I can't tell from your pic if that's a pest/disease, but it doesn't look like the foliage just getting 'done'. It tends to just fade and gradually get spent in the usual way, but I remove the old foliage once it gets a bit manky, so it's hard for me to be sure.
I wonder if anyone else can determine if that's just 'normal' damage though.
Have you got flowers and fruits forming on all the ones you have left?
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...