Green Blog
26 May 2011
Grow your own food, week 11 - courgettes
Last week I suggested you get on with pumpkins. This week, it's the turn of courgettes.
Like many of the veg I'm recommending, these are not only easy to grow but a genuine money-saver too.
Sow and plant out like pumpkins. And I reckon start them indoors, as these plants hate a nip in the air. It's gone cold around our way: boiling Easters followed by a dodgy May is becoming a pattern.
Courgettes are prolific croppers and one plant can produce 15-20 fruit. They also look good in the garden, with big, jungly leaves and trumpet-shaped flowers.
They need space to do this though - about 1 m apart. And food - dig in some rotted mature or compost when you plant them out. Or even plant them straight on to a compost heap.
Defender is a reliable variety that I'm growing this year. Trailing courgettes such as Tromboncino are fun and can be encouraged to climb over a structure.
Burpee's Golden, Venus and Zucchini are good for containers or a grow bag.
For the best taste, crop when the courgettes are small, firm and still with flowers on. And do this with a sharp knife or secateurs so as not to damage the plant. The more you crop, the more it will encourage the plant to produce fruit.
Top tip: don't leave your sweet, tender courgettes too long on the plant, or they'll turn into tasteless, stringy marrows. These might be OK for the village show - but they're a waste of space in the kitchen.
Dominic Murphy, Publishing & New Media Team
Dominic Murphy's book 'The Playground Potting' Shed includes an easy guide to growing food throughout the year. To order a signed copy at the special price of £6.99, please visit our Shop
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