Courgettes - what am I doing wrong?

For the second year in a row, my courgettes don't seem to be doing too well. At first, they were vigorous and happy looking, and I have had a couple of decent sized fruits - however, over the past couple of weeks, they have became less and less 'happy' looking.

Since the start, the leaves have had that white spotted mottled thing going on, which I believed was a trait of courgettes? Anyway a day or so ago, the cucumbers that were sat behind them also started to take on wee white spots, and that worried me (thinking mildew) - so, today I whipped off all the dead and dying leaves, a couple of young fruits that were looking distinctly 'blossom end rotty' and then I shoved some canes in and tied them up a bit to stop them hanging over the edge of their pots. I have moved them away from the cucumbers (they are now up on a shelf at the back of the greenhouse), and fed them some tomato food to see if they perk up a bit - however, I am wondering if I should give them a boost with something else? Maybe chicken manure pellets, growmore or even bonemeal?

I've had a general shift around in the greenhouse, and cut off any foliage that was yellowed or dying, and moved all sorts about - hopefully this will increase air flow and stop stuff getting too 'sticky', but if there is anything else that can be suggested, please fire away!

 

The ones I am growing are called 'Patio Star' and are said to be compact plants; I left them in the greenhouse purely because they were a non-starter outdoors last year, and the greenhouse at the start they romped away, which is more than they did last year.

I could bring them outside, if it would help, but I am concerned that they wouldn't stand up to winds as they aren't all that stable? Pollination isn't an issue as the double doors and four opening windows are permanently open - I am rarely in here without the company of bees busying themselves (and bashing their heads off the glass repeatedly )

I'll give them some growmore tomorrow, as its balanced NPK (7% each I think)

Cheers

 

Mine definitely aren't as happy as yours @OxfordNick; I didn't get round to feeding them today, so really must do them tomorrow. Think I will try a mix of growmore and hit.

 

I'm thinking of giving milk a shot with my courgettes and cucumbers today; the cucumbers seem to have stalled a bit too, for whatever reason.

 

I sprayed all my cucumbers and courgettes with milk solution today, and the results were pretty much instant - they all look considerably healthier. There were a few leaves that were simply past it, so they were cut off and disposed of.

I also spread some hit on top of the pots which will hopefully give a bit of a boost.

What is the science behind the milk solution treatment?

 

Half milk, half water. I am pretty sure it was @Kristen that advised it when I had a mildew problem last year.