Courgette? YOU BET!

If you’re new to growing veg, courgettes may look like they could be a difficult crop to grow. The truth is, says Tony Flanagan, they’re one of the easiest and (be warned!) one of the most prolific

- Tony Flanagan

I’m not sure exactly when courgettes started to become popular veg but for many years now they have been a supermarket constant. What you don’t tend see on the supermarket shelves, however, is much variation. If you look through the seed catalogs, you will see that the world of the courgette is quite varied: some green, some yellow, some striped, some round - spreaders and climbers. What’s more, they are easy to grow and easy to maintain. You just need to be careful with how many plants you actually grow as courgette plants are notoriously productive.

PREPARE THE SOIL

For the best results with courgettes, make sure you have prepared the soil really well with lots of organic matter (well-rotted manure and/or home-made compost) – best applied in autumn, though spring is fine too if you haven’t got round to it. What you don’t want is soil that dries out too quickly as courgettes need plenty of water and fertile soil. They like lots of fun too, so avoid growing in the shade if possible.

SOWING

Courgette seeds can be sown directly in the soil from late May to early June, 2.5cm (1in) deep. The seedlings will need protecting from slugs in particular, and cover with a cloche if you have one for a week or two to protect from inclement weather as they settle in. Plant two or three seeds 90cm (3ft) apart and take out two of these when large enough to handle, leaving the most robust one in position.