my courgettes so far - there a bit slow

[shaolin101]

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.



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?

[shaolin101]

[shaolin101]

i cant see a pic so will try again!

[Icyberjunkie]

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....

[Macca]

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

[wivvles]

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!

[Doris_Pinks]

Mine too are slow this year, in a few weeks time we shall all be trawling for courgette recipes!

[tim]

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?

[rfletcher]

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.

[Debs]

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   

[redimp]

woops

[Roy Bham UK]

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? :)

[carloso]

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

[shaolin101]

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

[Mrs Ava]

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

[tim]

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.

[westsussexlottie]

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.

[tim]

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.

[Debs]

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

[tim]

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?

[Debs]

The stuffed marrow sounds lovely.

If production is good, I shall try stuffing.

Thanks Tim!

Debs