Courgettes, a frequent presence in most summer vegetable gardens, are relatively effortless to cultivate. They are appreciated for their versatility in culinary applications, featuring in salads, steamed dishes, stuffed, or roasted. Interestingly, courgettes and marrows are fundamentally the same. However, courgette plants are bred to be more bushy and produce small, delectable fruits in abundance [1].
A World of Courgette Varieties
With courgettes coming in an array of sizes, shapes, and colors, gardening enthusiasts are spoilt for choice. In addition to the classic elongated green ones, courgettes can be yellow, striped, nearly black, or even round. Here are few intriguing varieties to consider when planting your garden:
- Sunburst (yellow)
- Eight Ball (round)
- Tondo Chiaro di Nizza (round and speckled)
- Green Tiger F1 (Striped)
Essentials for Growing Courgettes
For indoor sowing, be sure to have 9cm (3.5in) pots, peat-free seed sowing compost, a propagator or warm windowsill, and courgette seeds on hand. Afterward, for outdoor planting, make sure you have a spade or trowel, farmyard manure, watering can, plus plant food, in this case, Miracle-Gro Performance Organics Fruit & Veg Concentrated Liquid Plant Food is a good option.
Cultivating Courgettes
Courgettes flourish best in a sheltered position exposed to full sunlight and fertile soil abundant with moisture. Given their relatively large size, the plants need a good deal of space (up to 90cm or 3ft apart). Some more compact, container-friendly varieties are also available.
When planting outdoors, a practical trick is to add some well-rotted farmyard manure to the planting area about two weeks before planting. Afterwards, leave a low mound of the soil and manure on top; in two weeks, you can plant your courgette into this mound.
Because courgettes require a substantial amount of water, consider sinking a 15cm (6in) pot alongside them when planting out. This process ensures that water reaches the roots and doesn’t stagnate around the plant’s neck, significantly reducing the risk of rotting. Moreover, it helps keep the foliage dry, thus minimizing potential issues with powdery mildew.
Growing Courgettes from Seed
To achieve optimal results, indoor sowing of the courgette seeds is recommended to start from mid to late April. The seeds should be placed 13mm (½in) deep individually in 7-9cm (3-3½in) pots filled with peat-free compost.
To avoid water pooling on the top and encourage better germination, sow the seed on its side. As soon as the seeds begin to germinate, remove any covers.
Before their outdoor transition in late May or early June, it’s crucial to harden off the young plants for 7-10 days.
Caring for Courgette Plants
As the young courgette plants are susceptible to frost and cold weather, they must be covered with fleece or a cloche if the weather turns cold early in the growing season.
Feed the plant at the base with a granular multi-purpose plant food, like Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics Fruit & Veg Granular Plant Food as they start to grow. Keep the plant well hydrated, ensuring water application is around the base and not the leaves. Deep watering every few days is preferred to small, frequent sessions. Once the first fruit begins to swell, a secondary feeding every 10-14 days with a high potassium feed is recommended to encourage the development of luscious fruits.
Container-Grown Courgettes
Some courgette varieties thrive well in containers but may require more attention. Choose as substantial a container as possible and fill it with a good quality peat-free compost. When the plant starts growing, mulching around the stem with Levington® Composted Bark aids in retaining moisture. By the third week post-planting and with the appearance of flowers, it’s time to start feed the plant with liquid food. Noteworthy varieties for containers include “Midnight” and “Sure Thing”.
Harvesting Courgettes
When they measure around 10-12.5cm (4-5in) in length, courgettes are at their ripest for harvesting. Regular, early, and frequent picking not only lengthens their cropping period over several months but also amplifies their flavor. However, the fruits can enlarge rapidly overnight, so remember to check regularly beneath leaves and behind the plant so you don’t miss any.
Some courgette leaves may have prickly surfaces, so it’s advisable to wear gloves and long sleeves when harvesting. If you fancy a few marrows, feel free to let them grow on, although they may be slightly watery. A couple of courgette plants can produce significantly large crops capable of feeding a large family.
Common Courgette Plant Problems & Solutions
Powdery mildew, yellow courgette leaves, cucumber mosaic virus, botrytis mould, and immature fruits rotting or not setting affect courgettes most frequently. Other common predators include slugs and snails. Enhancing your soil’s water retention with organic materials, ensuring good air circulation, providing sufficient watering, and removing diseased plants promptly can help mitigate these problems. Additionally, using barriers, environmentally friendly slug pellets, or hand collection can control slugs and snails. [2]
Key Features of Courgettes
The ideal time to plant courgettes is between May and June. They bloom most in summer but continue to do so till autumn. Their foliage season spans from spring to autumn. As for sunlight exposure, full sun is most suitable. They prosper in different soils, including chalky, clay, loamy, sandy, as long as the pH is neutral. The soil must retain moisture yet be well-drained. At their tallest, the plants can reach up to 30cm (1ft) and spread as far as 3m (10ft), taking about four months to reach maximum height.
Planting courgettes is an accessible and rewarding endeavor that every home gardener can undertake. In a matter of weeks, you’ll be reaping the fruits of your labor – quite literally!
