How to grow Courgette
Courgettes are easy to grow plants, that will give you an abundance of fruits. They are hungry plants and like to spread out so make sure you give each plant plenty of room.
Courgettes are best used fresh, but can be kept for a short while by storing them in a cool, dry place. Otherwise, they are great made into pickles and chutneys.
Courgettes are a member of the cucumber and melon family and originate from Central and South America where it has been eaten for thousands of years by native Indians, along with beans and corn. Discovered by Christopher Columbus, it was brought to the Mediterranean around 500 years ago, where varieties were improved by the Italians and it became known as Zucchini. Courgette is the French word for the fruit.
Courgettes are very low in calories and contain nutrients good for us, including vitamin A and potassium.
Key Information
Soil pH
Position
Hardiness
Where & when to plant Courgette
Seed can be sown indoors in April and will need gently hardening off over a few weeks before going outside. Plants should only be transferred outside once the danger of frosts has passed. Courgettes need a sheltered, sunny spot out of strong winds, and rich soil, so ensure your beds include a good mix of home-made compost, or well-rotted manure and soil. Courgettes can also be grown in grow-bags, probably only needing one or two plants to each bag.
Courgettes are thirsty plants and need regular and generous watering, ensuring that the soil is constantly just-moist but try to keep the leaves dry. It is often an idea to much around the plants with straw, which helps with moisture retention but also keeps the developing fruits off the ground. Courgettes would appreciate a high potash liquid fertiliser, such as a tomato feed, every 10-14 days once the first fruits start to swell.
Only the female flowers produce fruits. Harvest your courgettes regularly when they are small, around 10-13cm long to get the best flavour. Don’t leave them to grow to the size of a marrow, buy specific marrow varieties if that is what you want. Regular harvesting helps to encourage more fruits to develop over a longer season. Cut the fruit at the base with a sharp knife, taking care not to damage the plant. The more you cut the more will grow. The flowers can also be eaten, as a garnish on a bed of salad, or a favourite dish is to deep fry the flowers in a light batter, then fill them while hot with a soft cheese.
Companion planting, lettuce is a quick salad crop and makes a great companion for Courgettes, just plant them in between, and they will be ready to harvest before the courgettes fill the space.
How to propagate Courgette
Only the female flowers produce fruits. Harvest your courgettes regularly when they are small, around 10-13cm long to get the best flavour. Don’t leave them to grow to the size of a marrow, buy specific marrow varieties if that is what you want. Regular harvesting helps to encourage more fruits to develop over a longer season. Cut the fruit at the base with a sharp knife, taking care not to damage the plant. The more you cut the more will grow. The flowers can also be eaten, as a garnish on a bed of salad, or a favourite dish is to deep fry the flowers in a light batter, then fill them while hot with a soft cheese.