Allotments 4 All
Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: shaolin101 on July 06, 2005, 22:02:47
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First let me see if i can get a picture up - sorry about the quality but digi cam is being repaired so have tried using the dvd camcorder but it was a bit dark outside.
(http://"C:\Program Files\PIXELA\ImageMixer\Capture\DSC00009-1.jpg")
If that worked you may see a dark picture!
i have a few really big leaves and just coming out are some differnt looking spikey clusters. Are these what the courgettes will grow from? Any idea how long it could take from now?
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i cant see a pic so will try again!
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A couple of weeks maybe. The courgettes will grow from behind flowers which will come on the spikey bits - if I get your description right. As usual all depends on the weather though....
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Don't worry they'll take off soon. Mine are looking a bit disappointing at the moment. But from what i remember the fruit develop suddenly, then you'll be picking little courgettes every other day
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Macca's right. Last Saturday I had a couple of flowers on my 7 courgette plants - last night I harvested 8 courgettes and there are loads of female flowers coming through!
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Mine too are slow this year, in a few weeks time we shall all be trawling for courgette recipes!
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I've been picking 'Bush Lebanese' ('White Bush') about the size of the stumpy one here, but I looked up today that they'll stay tender when they grow larger.
Same with 'White Volunteer'.
Emma - NB?
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/photo04/courg0707.jpg)
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I've got two plants in my tiny corner of the garden. Until last week the only crop was two tiddlers (I was once told you should pick your first few courgettes when they were small to encourage more) - but they are now blooming.
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This is my first 'successful' ( :-X) year with courgettes.
Last year I planted about 3 plants which were drowned
in the deluge of rain which was 'Summer 2004' !!
Don't think I wore these at all last Summer... 8)
ANYWAY,
Yesterday I was at the lottie and saw the beginning of a courgette
behind the flower. I was ecstatic ;D
Debs
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woops
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I grew 6 Courgettes from seed this year and only one survived, if it continues to survive, will it be sufficient to keep a family of two for a while? :)
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well roy
i planted 121 and got 2 do you think theres a consiracey ? 1 in 6 grow only lol
mine are potted in the poly tunnel is it better to have them there or in the ground outside ? id say in the poly but its not that ready yet
carl
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Mine are starting to get their flowers know!
Some of the bottom leaves have did but the plant is still alive - should i remove them?
Also, one of the massive leaves has bent - probably due to wind - and it may have cracked the stem - can these be removed or will it kill the plant. If it can be cut off, is there anything i should know as the stems are hollow (bugs getting in etc!)
Thanks
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The white volunteer courgettes are prolific! I am harvesting 5 or 6 per plant every couple of days. I have missed a couple and growth seems to slow, but even though they are larger than you would perhaps want, they are still tender, the skin still thin and no noticeable seeds. I will be growing those again next year! ;D
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carloso - 2 out of 121?? Unfair!!
shaolin - just cut it off near the base. Often happens.
Emma - comparison between White Volunteer, White Bush (Bush Lebanese - also V V) & Genovese.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/photo04/courg1007.jpg)
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Tim, EJ,
when do you harvest your courgettes? At what point in the flowering cycle?
Mine are very tiny but theere are loads coming. I have left a few after flowering and they go yellow and soft - is this non-pollination or should I harvest them earlier? I read somewhere that they can be harvested whilst in bud.
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We all get the 'rotters'.
Picking? Depends on how you want to use them. Whole, sliced, diced, stuffed etc.
I don't think they develop their flavour till about 4" long. Two of these will be picked today.
But toward the end of the season, let some ripen into marrows for storing.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v164/photo04/courg10072.jpg)
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Tim,
Provided I get a good harvest from my two plants ;)
I would like to let one or two grow into marrows.
What do you use the marrows for - apart from stuffing
it.
Debs
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Me? I would save them all for the AGA stuffed ones - the best.
But - if you want different - don't know - except marrow & ginger jam - marrow wine ...?
http://www.tafn.org.uk/recipes1.htm#One-Pot_Cooking:_Marrow_cheese_&_tomato_bake
etc?
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The stuffed marrow sounds lovely.
If production is good, I shall try stuffing.
Thanks Tim!
Debs
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Nice recipe here for stuffed marrow courtesy of Good Food Live...
Pork, Apple & Sage stuffed marrow with cheesy mustard sauce.
Ingredients
675g vegetable marrow
2 tbsp Olive oil
1 large onion, finely chopped
2 garlic clove, finely chopped
1 tbsp Sage, chopped
1 tbsp Parsley, chopped
1 English dessert apple, peeled and diced
225g canned canellini beans
350g minced pork
25g fresh white breadcrumbs
1 large egg, beaten
Salt, and freshly ground black pepper
For the cheesy mustard sauce:
25g Butter
25g plain flour
275ml Milk
110g strong Cheddar cheese
25g Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
1 tbsp wholegrain mustard
2 tsp Dijon mustard
pinch of English mustard
Method
1. Set the oven to 190°C/gas 5. Cut the thicker end of the marrow off at the tip. Make the slice big enough to fit a spoon in to remove all the pips inside.
2. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan and fry the onions, garlic, sage and parsley gently for 5 minutes. Add the apple and cook for a couple of minutes more. Leave to cool.
3. Add the onion and apple mixture to the beans, pork and breadcrumbs. Stir in the beaten egg and season well with salt and pepper.
4. Pack the meat mixture into the marrow, replace the lid of the marrow and wrap the whole thing in kitchen foil. Place on a baking sheet and cook for about 1½ to 2 hours.
5. Meanwhile, make the cheesy mustard sauce. Place the butter, flour and milk together into a saucepan. Bring up to the boil whisking with a balloon whisk all the time.
6. Reduce the heat and simmer for 2 minutes. Now add the cheeses, mustards and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
7. Remove the foil from the marrow and cut into slices. Serve immediately with the cheesy mustard sauce.
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We were looking for an unstuffed marrow??
For stuffed, try the simple AGA one.
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Big yellow flowers this morning!
The ones i am growing are round and it says to pick when they are the size of a golf ball. Not gonna be able to stuff much in them!
Will probably just chop them up and chuck them in anyting that is remotely bolognaise-ish
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What variety? That's surprisingly small?
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ooops - accidental marrows!!
Lots of work commitments means not able to visit plot, means HUGE courgettes!
Only have two little plants, but they seem to be working their little socks off.
Should I be feeding them with anything - bit worried they're going to run out of steam.....
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Shallow fried marrow is great.
Slice up like chips and place in a bowl
Dress with olive oil and plenty of lemon juice
Liberally season with salt and pepper (if you like also ginger and garlic salt is very good)
Leave to marinate for at least 20 minutes
Fry in very hot oil.
These are really nice hot or cold for they taste almost sweet!
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Tim,
They were something like Nice a fruit de rond - magazine freebie!
Also, This morning some flowers were open really nice but when i got home the were quite limp - is it due to the heat, or is one day the usual for them to last at full bloom?
Not all the flowers have opened yet.
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grubby>> a liquid high potash fert (tom feed)about once a week/every 10 days
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shaolin - golf ball size & upwards!!
http://seeds.thompson-morgan.com/us/en/product/797/1?SA=1113
We pick at tennis ball size.
Flowers shut when they feel like it!
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Hi All,
I've been growing 'eight ball' this year for the first time, the biggest plants I've ever seen. Bizarrely, they are shading the sweetcorn they have been grown with!(the corn is approaching 4'6" now and the cougettes are up there with them)
The fruits are ok, slow to come, not that many and b****rs to get at, however really lovely flavour. A super matching pair got a first at our local show on Saturday so I shouldn't complain too much.
Rosie
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Hi Rosie, and well done you winning prizes at the show! What is it with big shiny cups huh?!?!? ;D
I like the round courgettes and like roasting them whole, like patty pans. Delish! Tonight had salad of red chicory type lettuce, paper thin slices of yellow courgette, tasty king cucumber, also paper thin, then topped off with white volunteer courgette which I cooked on my griddle until it was charred and crisp. Honestly, salads have never tasted so good!
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No shiny cups I'm afraid, merely a modest card with a 'first prize' sticker!
We aren't exactly fiercely competitive, just out for a good time with a bit of friendly rivalry.
I have to agree with the salads though, as the year goes on and more and more of each meal is home grown the enjoyment increases tenfold.
We get our hens soon when my resident coop builder is finished and my son is planning our first complete homegrown/produced meal with huge anticipation. I can't wait.
Rosie ;D