First of the many

[shirlton]

We picked our first courgettes today. I am determined to keep up with them this year. have only planted five

[shirlton]

[saddad]

 ;D
You just know you won't manage it...  :-*

[pumkinlover]

They make good marrow chutney :-X

[RenishawPhil]

We are eating ours very small this year its the only way to go

[saddad]

If it gets desperate eat the flowers...  ;D

[green lily]

Marrow and ginger jam is the one to go for. Taste of heaven  ;D ;D but you need end of season courgettes/marrows when they are drying out a bit otherwise a bit too wet, Delicious...

[artichoke]

Picked four fat courgettes off my experimental straw bale garden yesterday. I am a bit sad that the plants are not as huge as on neighbouring allotment in the ground, so quite encouraged to hear some people are just starting to pick courgettes. I had a few a couple of weeks ago.

[antipodes]

Pfff my courgettes are really slow! I haven't had one yet! But it has been really dry - maybe they are struggling. The plants are growing but no female flowers yet. Have flowers on cucumbers and melons but no fruit yet either.

[Deb P]

I too am endeavoring to pick my courgettes small and keep on top of their production, I've managed OK so far and am picking them every two or three days and not sick of them yet but it's early days!

The Cavili plants are by far my favourites, creamy flesh almost like an avocado; Parador yellow reliable and doesn't spread too much, also trying Black Hawk which allegedly climbs but is looking pretty compact so far! ;D

[Digeroo]

I like Cavilli too, nice raw when they are small.  But my favourate are still Clarita but seeds difficult to come by now and the germination is getting very poor they do not seem to produce a tap root but the end just swells.   Long White though not far behind.    I am up to four a day.   Not bored with them yet.

[tim]

Courgette fritters tonight.

[RenishawPhil]

We had an allotment curry (courgette,onions,broad beans and cauliflower) served with Maris peer spuds ;D

[Digeroo]

The recipezaar site is now called food.com.  There are 8980 recipes for Zucchini, no chance to get bored. 

http://www.food.com/recipe-finder/all/zucchini though once you add in wheat free

[lisaparkin]

I made 3 Cougette and walnut loaves and  a Cougette chocolate cake today, all with 1 huge courgette :)

[redcoat]

I took my 2 1/2 yr old granddaughter to the plot today so she could pick the first courgette.  In fact it is the first thing that has ever been picked from my new plot oop north.

The plants are still small but they all have at least 3 fruits on them and to be honest if I wasn't allowing GD to pick it I might have left it another day or so.  But we all know what happens when we do that dont' we?  Huuuugggggee courgettes

She took it home in her basket for her tea......... another gardening convert I hope.

[shirlton]

So nice when kids get involved

[brownowl23]

MY boys often go down the plot with me to pick, theyve picked loads of raspberries and strawberries, and currants for me.

Ive had a few courgettes so far. But the best was yesterday when my little boy with chicken pox went down the plot with me and found a big courgette that he wanted to pick he was so proud showing his twin brother when we picked him up from preschool.

[Digeroo]

I always pick the first few very small.  The plants seem a bit small to produce a full size one.  It it so nice to start to get produce and your first one will be very special.

I did not manage to convert my children to veg growing, on the contrary they are a very anti.

[Alex133]

None yet but they are starting to form. Can't wait as absolutely love them - growing Cavilli (probably favourite for taste), Romanesco for the stripes, Black Forest as it climbs a bit, Soleil for the colour.

Does anyone know a really nice yellow variety - tasted a very buttery one many years ago and have never found one that good again?

[Deb P]

'Parador' is pretty good, I tried 'Soliel' last year and found the skin much thicker and it was generally much seedier too; wouldn't grow it again.