Trailing courgettes - suggestions and experience, anyone?

[SueK]

Hi all,
It's that time of the year when we all enjoy pouring over the seed catalogues!

I'd like to try a couple of trailing courgettes next year but I'm not convinced that some of the Italian ones (trombo... d'Albenga, Sicilian snakes, etc) would do that well for me here outdoors in Yorkshire.  I've got some trailing pattypan seeds and was wondering about some trailing marrow seeds - do other people try these trailing varieties for courgettes?  Should add that I'm not keen on trying F1s (Black Forest?) as I'd like the option of saving seed.

Regards all,
Sue

[SueK]

[valmarg]

Whilst your topic is trailing courgettes, we tend to find they ramble over the ground, and would not trail very well.

One you are not keen on, Black Forest, does actually climb, so if you've got any trellis nearby it will climb up rather than trail.  It is an F1 so saving seed would not be an option.  But can thoroughly recommend it.

valmarg

[Digeroo]

Tromba d'albenga is more of a butternut though you can eat them small as well as large.  It is my favourite squash.  It is produces huge plants and will climb readily. 

Sicilian Snakes good for a bit of fun but not good on the taste front.  Pretty flowers.

[daveyboi]

Whilst your topic is trailing courgettes, we tend to find they ramble over the ground, and would not trail very well.

One you are not keen on, Black Forest, does actually climb, so if you've got any trellis nearby it will climb up rather than trail.  It is an F1 so saving seed would not be an option.  But can thoroughly recommend it.

valmarg

That is interesting and one I might try next year thank you!

[chriscross1966]

I grew tromba and Black Forest over the summer... BF is OK but wasn't stunningly prductive, tromba was quite handy as it produced some decent smaller fruit that got used for courgettes and a yard-loong monster that I've got on the shelof now.....

[SueK]

One you are not keen on, Black Forest, does actually climb, so if you've got any trellis nearby it will climb up rather than trail.  It is an F1 so saving seed would not be an option.  But can thoroughly recommend it.

Yes, Valmarg, I am looking for varieties that could climb or be tied up to some supports to make the best use of our garden space - plus growing vertically can improve the plant's access to sunlight.  From what I've seen on the internet, some traditional marrow varieties can be hooked up to supports and eaten as courgettes (eg long green trailing, table dainty) although they aren't always promoted as such.

Digeroo, did you find that you had to provide extra robust support for the tromba d'albenga?  Some constructions I've seen on gardening blogs etc seem like feats of engineering.  And I guess I've got to ask, can you pass it off as a courgette in the kitchen, or does it taste noticeably different?

Sue

[earlypea]

My support was no feat of engineering - 3 wooden posts discarded after the general election and some plastic trellis I found - secured well though, with those nifty plastic plant ties.

I don't much like courgettes because they don't seem to have any flavour usually, but I do like the Tromba in its youth - my favourite so far.  Very crisp and with an almost avocado taste in the raw.  You can more than pass it off.

[shirlton]

We grew the round one and that trailed but we were not very keen on it.

[daveyboi]

Courgette, Black Hawk F1

(Replaces Black Forest) This excellent variety can be trained up a trellis or stout netting, if required. Alternatively, allow the plants to trail. The very dark green fruits are produced plentifully and have an excellent flavour.

I might try this variety next year although the seeds are very expensive at 6 for £2.79

(  http://www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk/seeds-plants-gardening/19779/courgette-black-hawk-f1   )

[Vinlander]

I'm always looking for squash/pumpkins that produce lots of flowers and fruit because I prefer their immature fruit to immature marrows (courgettes).

Taken at the same size they tend to have denser, less watery, more nutty flesh - ie. more of what makes a courgette better than a marrow.

I tried Blue Banana this year (Real Seeds) and they did seem to produce more flowers and fruit than the average squash/pumpkin - I will certainly try them again.

Not all the plants came blue but they were all of very good flavour - and a green one went 15ft up a tree with hardly any encouragement at all.

Cheers.

[onionsquash]

My experience with so-called climbing courgettes like Black Hawk is that they just have longer internodes than normal courgettes rather than true trailers like Tromba d'A. I have trained them successfully up those spiral plant supports that work so well for cordon tomatoes. Otherwise they need a lot of encouragement to climb. Tromba by contrast is a vigorous climber/sprawler but in my experience doesn't produce that many fruits.

[SueK]

Tromba by contrast is a vigorous climber/sprawler.

Taken at the same size they tend to have denser, less watery, more nutty flesh - ie. more of what makes a courgette better than a marrow.

Well I was relying on you all to put me off buying Tromba d'A, but you have been very persuasive!   :)  So I think I shall be trying out Tromba d'A, a trailing custard white from Franchi and Table Dainty marrow, which others have reported tying to a frame of sorts for courgettes, and see which works best!

Thanks all!
Sue

[Digeroo]

I grew tromba up a tripod of three very strong canes for each plant.  At one stage last year  I had a pair of them each with a fruit at about waist height.  It became quite a talking point.  Someone suggested they needed large fig leaves. ;D

But really they need something more substantial.  I normally grow them up an apple tree.  The yard long fruits are very heavy.  Very tasty though.  Very productive and you get years of seeds in each Franchi packet.

The other interesting thing about Tromba is that I find it goes north while most squashes and marrows go south.   Tromba can be a little prone to slugs if the weather is wet and cold.

Tromba is so keen on climbing I am told that you should not stand by it too long or it will climb up your legs. ;D ;D  But it will also trail,

[Dandytown]

Hi Sue,

I have just received an order of Tromba di Albenga from Original Touch and whilst they wwere fairly cheap, I have more than I need and would be happy too share some.

I am new to the site so am not aware of the procedure for sharing/sup-plying seed.  Please advise.

Another good climber/trailing variety which I am growing this year for the first time is the good old fashioned bath time loofah.  I had no idea that it was a squash and followed the misconception that it came from the sea.  Again, these were from original touch but I would be happy to share.

Kind regards

Peter

[Dandytown]

I grew tromba up a tripod of three very strong canes for each plant.  At one stage last year  I had a pair of them each with a fruit at about waist height.  It became quite a talking point.  Someone suggested they needed large fig leaves. ;D

But really they need something more substantial.  I normally grow them up an apple tree.  The yard long fruits are very heavy.  Very tasty though.  Very productive and you get years of seeds in each Franchi packet.

The other interesting thing about Tromba is that I find it goes north while most squashes and marrows go south.   Tromba can be a little prone to slugs if the weather is wet and cold.

Tromba is so keen on climbing I am told that you should not stand by it too long or it will climb up your legs. ;D ;D  But it will also trail,

...Had me both laughing  ;D and looking forward to growing next year  :)

[valmarg]

Courgette, Black Hawk F1
(Replaces Black Forest) This excellent variety can be trained up a trellis or stout netting, if required. Alternatively, allow the plants to trail. The very dark green fruits are produced plentifully and have an excellent flavour.
I might try this variety next year although the seeds are very expensive at 6 for £2.79

I've been working on my next year's seed order, and I think we'll replace Black Forest with this variety.

valmarg

[SueK]

I have just received an order of Tromba di Albenga from Original Touch and whilst they wwere fairly cheap, I have more than I need and would be happy too share some.

I am new to the site so am not aware of the procedure for sharing/sup-plying seed.  Please advise.

Hi Dandytown,
I didn't realise anyone had posted to the thread in the last few days, so apologies for the delay in getting back to you.

That is a very kind offer, but I am already sorted!  However, if you want to offer them to other members on the forum, there is a swap area (next one down from Produce, if I remember rightly).  This has diversified a lot in the last year or so;  people just used to post a wishlist with their list of spares, but more recently groups of members have signed up to themed parcels which travel round the country and to which they contribute as it goes; and also where members have a large number of seeds spare then they sometimes offer them to others who send a SAE.  Have a look, you might be surprised!  :)

Best regards,
Sue