I have grown courgettes from seed indoors but now that I am planting them out, they are breaking off at the stem. They are in a sheltered area and I’ve also put down slug repellent, and bed is covered by nets so it’s not birds or animals. I don’t know what is causing this. I have four more to plant which are hardening off, but want to make sure I don’t lose these ones.
If the stems are eaten, it might be cut-worms, fat brown grubs, which you will find just below the soil surface, close to the stem, and can remove.
Or the stems may have been brittle and wind broke, in which case there would be no eating damage.
Harden off the remaining plants well and sow a few seeds for a late crop.