Courgettes are actually compact marrows, grown for their immature fruits.
The more fruit you cut the more that will develop. They are really easy to grow and need little maintenance.
Try Unwins Gro-Sure Courgette Mikonos F1 for excellent disease resistance and high yields.
Below is our comprehensive guide to growing courgettes.
Step 1
Prepare your soil during the autumn by digging in Gro-Sure Farmyard Manure.
Sow seeds in May or June, directly into the ground and dig in Growmore Fertiliser to get them off to a great start.
Step 2
As courgettes grow into large plants you need to leave at least 30 inches between plants. 2-3 courgette plants should be plenty for most families’ needs.
Courgettes need lots of water to provide tasty fruits, so the soil should not be allowed to dry out.
Once the fruits start to swell, feed every couple of weeks with Gro-Sure Tomato Feed.
Courgettes are usually trouble free, but slugs can be a problem, so protect using Eraza Slug and Snail Killer.
Step 3
For the best flavour, harvest when the fruits are about 4 inches long.
If courgettes are left on the plant they will eventually grow into full marrows and can be cut at any time until the first frosts begin.
Whatever the size of the crop, cut through the stem at least 2cm away from the fruit.
TOP TIP – Courgettes are best eaten straight from the plant and are difficult to store for more than a few days.