Gardeners Guide · Grow your own
If you want a vegetable that makes you feel like an expert gardener, grow courgettes.
Give them enough sunshine, food and water and a couple of plants can produce an astonishing amount of food.
When Should You Sow Courgettes?
Courgettes are tender plants and don’t tolerate frost.
Seeds can be started under cover during spring before plants are gradually hardened off and moved outside once frost risk has passed.
They can also be sown directly outdoors later when conditions are warm enough.
How to Sow Courgettes
Courgette seeds are satisfyingly large and easy to handle.
Sow individual seeds into small pots of compost according to the packet instructions.
Keep them warm and moist and they can germinate surprisingly quickly.
Give Them Space
This is where beginners often get caught out.
That tiny courgette seedling can become an enormous plant.
Give each plant plenty of room so its leaves aren’t completely crowding neighbouring crops.
Growing Courgettes in Containers
Courgettes can grow successfully in containers, but don’t underestimate their appetite.
Use a large container with plenty of compost and good drainage.
One healthy plant can occupy a surprisingly large pot.
Watering Courgettes
Courgettes need plenty of water once they’re actively growing.
Water thoroughly around the base of the plant rather than constantly soaking the foliage.
Container plants may need very frequent watering during hot summer weather.
Feeding Courgettes
They’re hungry plants too.
Once flowering and cropping begin, an appropriate high-potassium feed can help support fruit production.
Follow the product instructions.
Male and Female Flowers
Don’t panic if the first flowers appear and then fall off without producing courgettes.
Courgettes produce separate male and female flowers.
Female flowers have a tiny immature courgette behind them.
Once both types are appearing and pollinators are visiting, fruit production should get underway.
Harvest Regularly
This is possibly the most important rule of courgette growing.
Keep picking them.
A perfect little courgette can turn into an enormous marrow surprisingly quickly.
Regular harvesting also encourages continued production.
Watch for Powdery Mildew
Later in summer, courgette leaves commonly develop a powdery white appearance.
Good spacing and sensible watering can help maintain healthier plants.
Don’t confuse the natural silver markings found on some courgette varieties with disease.
Are Courgettes Worth Growing?
They’re one of the most productive vegetables a beginner can grow.
Two healthy plants can potentially produce more courgettes than one household knows what to do with.
Plant five and you may find yourself leaving bags of them on your neighbours’ doorsteps.
Gardeners Guide — Grow Better. Garden Smarter.
