Courgette split stem issue

I thought my Courgette was growing well and super healthy but on further inspection I’ve noticed the main stem has split my first time gardening and growing food, looked online and I don’t think it’s pests, maybe the excessive rain we have had? Is there a way I can fix the issue? Would be a shame to lose it!

 

Looks beautiful to me. Can’t see a problem.

 

If the main stem was damaged enough to cause a problem, the whole plant would have died off so it looks as if it's OK. You might need to support the plant when it gets bigger, if it's weight pulls it down over the side of the pot. They naturally seem to want to sprawl on the ground.

 

Over the years we have had this often and it's never caused any known issues... I agree the plant looks great, especially considering the weather we have had.

 

Okay…. So I’m not even sure how this is holding on now???? It’s on a thread! Is there anything I can do or just admit defeat and hope I can harvest my first and only courgette before it dies? The plant itself looks healthy still, loads of flowers

 

Give it lots of water and pray.

 

Something similar has happened to one of my cucumbers. I wrapped a sticking plaster around the stem, tied the stem to bamboo and it seems fine, the tip is growing away and flowering.

The stems are hollow so it looks a lot worse than it really is.

 

I've just noticed one of my melons has a split stem also.
I do wonder if it's to do with the excess moisture and low temperatures.

 

I think something has been munching on that.

 

Been searching online for the past hour, the most common advice is to build soil up around the stem and the support with canes, can only give it a try…. Thoughts?

 

I used to push short sticks in around newly planted marrows to stop the wind rocking the roots in the early stages.

 

I have built up some compost around the stem, pop some canes in and a little string, certainly not moving around no more, I think that was the issue in the first place… lesson well and truly learned! I won’t give up though!

I already have a back up plant which is only half the size and in a smaller planter, kind of wanted to see how they both turned out. I’ve now popped canes into the smaller plant too, with a couple of smaller sticks to keep in place until it grows a little bigger

 

I used to put the sticks at an angle, so that they were close to the main stem, but not penetrating the roots, the idea being you use the sticks as something for the leaf stalks to push against in windy weather and stopping the stem twisting.

 

So courgette with the stem issue is still thriving and has plenty more blooms, although I have spotted a couple of ants this morning, will this be an issue?

I’m also wondering if I should prune it at all? One of the leaves is starting to look a bit ropey.