Courgettes can also be called zucchini or summer squash, they are very easy to grow and can be very productive meaning that just 2 or 3 plants can keep a family in courgettes for the whole season. However the secret is to cut the fruit when it is young and before it has the chance to grow into a marrow. Therefore they should be cut when they are around 20cm long.
As courgettes are summer squashes then they do like some heat. This means that it is probably better so sow them in pots as they will not germinate in soil less that 13C, if you wish to sow directly into your plot then you will maybe have to wait until early June before the soil is warm enough for them to germinate. As with all squashes they need space, we normally allow a minimum of about 1m2 per plant. The soil should be rich and well watered and well dug which will give the roots of the plant a really good start.
A 100g portion of boiled courgette will provide over 25% of the daily vitamin C requirements for an adult but much of the nutrient can be found in the skin so don't peel the fruit. This is another reason for cutting the fruit when young as the skin is then soft and very tasty.
Follow the link below which will take you to our blog and all the latest articles about courgettes. You will see information on how to grow courgettes, how to harvest them and generally what to do with all the courgettes you will end up with.
