Have you ever eaten a courgette raw? Did you know that courgettes can be yellow or that you can bake with them in the same way as when making carrot cake? There is more potassium in a courgette than in a banana. In the US they are known as ‘zucchini’ which was always a source of confusion and mild irritation for me until I realised that the word was taken from the Italian word for squash, zucca. I now find that in actual fact I don’t know why we call it a courgette as it really is actually a type of squash. But these are my issues and I digress.
Why it is good to grow courgettes
It is very, very easy to learn how to grow courgettes and for me they are one of the most satisfying vegetables to have on the veg plot. They are big, plants with bright flowers, big bold leaves which are almost exotic and they will add big structure and impact to the garden. Did you notice that I used the word ‘big’ a few times there? I’m just going to say it one more time in case you missed my point – BIG.
I am just making sure you that know you will need to have space for courgettes to grow in your garden, around a metre between plants. A happy courgette plant will put out long tendrils which will climb up trellisses, drift out of pots and over raised beds and cover pathways remarkably quickly. They also have big appetites therefore you will need to put them into a nutrient rich soil or compost and plan to feed them if possible.
Courgettes in short
Sow:
- Beginning of April – Beginning of June
- Best sown indoors into 6cm modules or 6-9cm pots.
- Sow seeds with their thin side down rather than on their flat side to avoid rot.
Grow:
- Plants up to 10cm indoors and harden them off before planting them out in May- June.
- Distance: Leave 90cm-1m between plants
- Grow in growbags, pots and containers, in the ground or in raised beds which contain plenty of manure and/or compost
Growing in pots and containers:
Growing courgettes in pots and containers is easy and a delight. The flowers are highly decorative and look beautiful sprawling over the patio or even on a balcony.
- Choose a container or growbag at least 45cm wide per plant, leaving room for the plant to spill over the edge.
Needs:
- Feed every 2 weeks with a high potash liquid fertiliser once the fruits begin to form
Harvest:
- When fruits are 10-12cm long.
- Pick fruits and check plants regularly. Courgettes are good at hiding under leaves and you will have the wonderful sudden discovery of a huge ballooning marrow-sized fruit if you leave your courgettes to grow!
Pests and Diseases:
- Slugs will target flowers and fruits
- Powdery Mildew
- Cucumber Mosaic Virus
Varieties to start with:
- Nero di Milano – Smooth skinned dark green courgette with tiny light flecks
- Piccolo – Round fruits perfect for stuffing and growing with children
- Safari – Bright green striped courgette which looks great sliced
- Sunstripe – Attractive yellow and white striped courgette
- Gold Rush – Smaller plants with crunchy golden fruits, delicious raw
