GARDEN IDEAS
Growing Courgettes
(from 'How to Grow Zucchini' - see below)
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Courgettes, or zucchini, are part of the large squash family. Originally they were simply young marrows. Now you can buy all sorts of colours, shapes and sizes.
When you grow your own organic courgettes you can afford to eat them even younger – healthy plants tend to produce lots of fruits!
Healthy Reasons
Eat courgettes young and unpeeled for maximum effect. They are full of good vitamins. The seeds are also beneficial. They contain certain naturally occurring chemicals which, it has been shown, can help control enlargement of the prostate gland.
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There are lots of different varieties - maybe grow a few different types?
I've grown a lot of round courgettes over the years. They really do make a change :-) Seeds for this variety are available at Thompson & Morgan (UK)
Courgette 'De Nice A Fruit Rond'
Delicious raw and are golf ball sized.
Companion planting: Try growing courgettes with Calendula to attract pollinating insects which will in turn pollinate your courgette flowers.
Choose a sunny spot in the garden. Dig over the ground early in the spring if you can, as soon as it’s workable. Check at this point that the soil is well-drained. Dig in some well-rotted manure or compost if the soil is tired or lacking in nutrients.
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Generally, sowing time is early spring. Sow seeds in well-drained pots of fresh seed compost. Sow 1 or 2 seeds in each pot, and remove the weaker seedling later. Keep warm and watered until plants are large enough to plant out. Don’t let compost become water-logged.
NB: If you are growing other squash plants, e.g. pumpkins, label your pots as squash seedlings look very similar.
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Use biodegradable pots if you can, so that when the plants go out in the garden later, the whole pot can be planted, which saves time and avoids damaging the roots of your small plants.
Keep plants warm and watered until the weather has warmed up and there’s no danger of a frost, before planting out into the garden. Plants should have at least 3 or 4 true leaves (not counting the first two).
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Allow about 2-3 feet (60-90cm) of growing room per plant. This seems like a huge space when you put out your baby plants, but squash plants grow BIG! Your variety may need less or more space – double check on the seed packet.
Keep weed-free to allow your plants to take up all the nutrients they need to thrive. Make sure they get enough water.
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NB: At this point your courgette plants are vulnerable to slug attacks. Protect them in any way you can. There are products on the market and lots of traditional ways to deter slugs. Encouraging frogs and toads to your garden works well!
Download your zucchini guide over at