Courgettes

InTheMoorlands · August 2023

By accident we had one courgette this year. It was kept in the greenhouse and seemed to grow quite well. The trouble was that whenever a courgette appeared it went 'mushy' and had to be thrown away. I've just compared notes with a neighbour who had the same experience with courgettes last year.

Other plants in the greenhouse are cucumbers, peppers and herbs, all of which are doing well.

Are courgettes a difficult plant to grow or have we both just been unlucky?

Dovefromabove · August 2023

Courgettes need to be pollinated. In the garden this is carried out he insects.

In a greenhouse there are probably not enough visits from the right sort of insects … pollination by hand is the solution.

Info here
https://www.finegardening.com/article/how-to-pollinate-zucchini-by-hand

Hope that helps.

diggersjo · August 2023

Many years ago on the North East coast I grew courgettes in the greenhouse in pots, come mid-June they went outside.

InTheMoorlands · August 2023

Thanks for the replies and the link

I'll give them a miss in future

Dovefromabove · August 2023

If you were a bit closer I’d fling you a few … three plants in the veg patch, no fertiliser, no attention … and more courgettes than we can shake a stick at 🤣 soup, frittata, kebabs, baked, curried, pakora, I’ll be making chutney next week … cheapie seeds from Lidl.

Lyn · August 2023

@Dovefromabove. Cakes, cakes and more cakes. 🍰🍰🍰

Dovefromabove · August 2023

Yes @Lyn I’ve not made that marvellous Courgette, raisin and pistachio cake yet … 👩‍🍳

Fairygirl · August 2023

I'm wondering why you had it in the greenhouse?
I'm at about 400 feet here, and I know people who are a bit higher altitude who have often grown them. I'm a long way north of you, so it shouldn't be difficult to grow them outside where you are. Mine are just about finished now, but I got them outside quite early on [about mid May or so] and they've grown very well - too well at times, as they're inclined to do.
I only had 2 plants, in containers, in a sheltered spot, and we've had well over 20 fruits

I made muffins recently @Dovefromabove and @Lyn. Banana, courgette, coconut and cranberry. They were good - I was just using up stuff I had in the cupboard.

InTheMoorlands · August 2023

@Fairygirl I'm wondering why you had it in the greenhouse?

A bit of a strange story. We purchased four cucumber plants, one of which turned out to be a courgette! We've never grown courgettes before and just left it in the greenhouse with the cucumbers.

I'm not too sure that it would have done much better outside given the sweltering June and cold and wet July.

Fairygirl · August 2023

No different here in terms of weather. The warmth in May/June helped them grow, and July was very warm here despite the rain - still managed mid teens on many occasions, where a more normal wet July would be much colder than that because it would be a chilly wind as well. Even night time temps were reasonable - still reached double figs most nights, but cooling off now as it's August.
They aren't really affected by any of that though - they're pretty tough plants once you get them hardened off and outdoors. My sister grew them every year when her kids were young - she's a bit further east than me. Worth trying them again.
A couple of plants will give you some veg for stir fries and roasting etc. I've got many of mine in the freezer ready for the autumn/winter soup

Dovefromabove · August 2023

Sweltering June and cool wet July seem to have suited ours just great … I’ve never ever had so many courgettes … ever!!! 😀

Courgettes

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