Courgette Growing Guide
Courgette plants, also known as zucchini, are easy to grow and fruit abundantly over the summer, yielding three to four fruits per week in good weather. They are tender plants that form large, vigorous bushes, though climbing and compact varieties also exist. Fruits come in various shades of green or yellow, are either long or rounded, and are best harvested when small for optimal flavour and texture. The flowers are also edible. Regular harvesting encourages continued cropping, and if left on the plant, courgettes will grow into marrows.
This guidance applies to the crop in general. Individual varieties and local conditions can differ.
Planting information
Courgettes are best started indoors in mid- to late spring (April or early May) for an earlier crop or in colder regions. Sow seeds individually on their side, 1.3cm (½in) deep, in 7.5cm (3in) pots or modular trays filled with moist peat-free seed compost. Place in a heated propagator or on a sunny windowsill covered with a clear lid or polythene bag, ensuring seeds are kept at 18–21°C (65–70°F) for germination. Once seedlings appear, remove cover. Alternatively, in warmer regions, seeds can be sown outdoors in late May or early June once the soil warms up. Sow two or three seeds, 2.5cm (1in) deep, at intervals of at least 90cm (3ft) apart in a prepared sunny spot. Water well and cover with a cloche or plastic-free fleece. Remove weaker seedlings to leave the strongest one. Young, well-rooted courgette plants grown indoors should be ready for planting out in early summer once the soil has warmed. Harden off plants gradually to acclimatize them to outdoor conditions. Carefully remove each young plant from its pot without disturbing the roots and plant into the centre of prepared sites, at least 90cm (3ft) apart. Firm gently and water well. Protect young plants from slugs and snails. For container growing, choose a compact or bush variety and a container at least 45cm (18in) wide. Fill with peat-free soil-based or multi-purpose compost and plant one courgette plant in the centre. Water well and continue regularly. Growing bags are also suitable for one or two compact plants.
Harvesting information
Harvest courgettes when they are small, tender, and full of flavour, typically 10–12.5cm (4-5in) long. Regular picking of small fruits ensures a long cropping period. The flowers are also edible; harvest male flowers (those without a small fruit behind them) to avoid reducing fruit production, and use them in salads or stuffed.