siorapwil, why do you want to cut off the leaves? The leaves of the plants are the powerhouses. If you cut them off the plant will not thrive. By all means cut off tired, dying leaves, but leave the other leaves alone!.
GrowmoreMoe, female courgettes look like little courgettes just behind the flower. There are always more male flowers before there are female ones.
latestarter, the beetroot will sort themselves out. Well, they usually do. Most seed packets give too great a depth for seed planting I find.
