Courgettes - how many?

[Gillian]

I'm just wondering how many courgettes the average plant will give over the summer. There's just the two of us and while we like courgettes it's not our favourite veg. So how many plants do you think we'll need?
Any advice?

[Gillian]

[Hyacinth]

Gillian, just when I was thinking about how many courgette plants I was going to put in, you posted your message :)

I'm going to grow 4 plants, like I did last year (there again, I might be half your number, but I like them ;D

The trick is to pick them while they're still little - that way you won't get over-run (never, ever turn your back on a courgette plant :o

Last year I grew Tristar, pretty fruits - yellow, light green & darker green. Think I might do the same this year, but anyway, I'll be putting in the same no. of plants again - got the balance just right last year. Hope this helps. Lish

[tim]

Average 25 but, as said before, Genovese gave us 60!

Make lots of ratatouille?

[cleo]

Two plants will give plenty,but stagger the sowing.

Stephan

[Derekthefox]

With 4 plants, our family gets overwhelmed with courgettes during the peak. However, friends and colleagues get the benefit.

After several trials, I have settled on Jemmer F1, a yellow courgette with a yummy almost sweet flavour. Excellent as ratatouille.

[terrace max]

It can depend on the weather a bit: they can go crazy if it's warm and dry - I remember picking 16 courgettes from 2 plants in one week a couple of years ago. I even started making courgette cake (nicer than it sounds) to use up the surplus...

Conversely, if it's dull and damp the insects that 'do the business' for the plants can be a bit thin on the ground...and so the yield is more manageable.

Anyway, 2 plants should be plenty: don't forget to plant them in a big pile of the proverbial...

[philcooper]

Gillian,

I agree with the likely number of fruits per plant  stated above, basically quite a lot if the weather is good, you plant them in some good organic matter and keep them well watered.

On another list one new gardener planted 35 - suffice it to say that she raised the subject of what to do with a surplus of courgettes!!!

Phil

[Gillian]

Wow thanks! so much for the advice. I think I'll go for a couple of plants first up and see how they go. I'll keep you posted.
Thanks again!

[Amazin]

If summer is hot, one plant should be enough. If you like ratatouille, grow one courgette, two aubergines and two peppers. My courgettes usually start to produce before the other two, so while I'm waiting... courgettes stir fried with black pepper or chilli...mmmm!

[moonbells]

I confess to growing six courgette/marrows for just me (Hubbie is a veg hater, ironically).

If you leave a courgette which is fruiting too much to grow a marrow, it stops producing the babies for the duration, and you end up with a beastie you can carefully cut and stand on one end in a cool place and it will last months without freezing. Meanwhile you don't get buried under courgettes.

I love marrows - and ate a small one today for Easter lunch, stored under the stairs from last September!!!  They go bright yellow, and look lovely.  But you have to check every week or so and eat any that look mouldy, but do get fresh veg through the winter.

Meanwhile, if you grow yellow and green courgettes, and cut them into 1cm cubes as you pick 'em, you can freeze them in resealable bags and have courgette for stirfrys or whatever for months. If you openfreeze then you can just grab as many as you need for your ratatouille or whatever :)


moonbells

[Anne Robertson]

I always end up with a surplus of courgettes so make loads of courgette (instead of marrow) and ginger chutney and sweet and sour pickled courgette. Stores well and greatfully received by family and friends  ;D

[Derek]

I planted four last year and intend to go to six this year.

Your right about watching them...I made the mistake of going on a weeks holiday last year and I had marrows up to my armpits when I got back.

I think I read somewhere that the courgettes grow up to four inches  a day...maybe someone will confirm or deny that for me

Derek

[Debs]

I sowed seeds and planted three plants in lottie last year

and due to the torrential summer weather they ALL turned to mush!

I shall grow 6 this year and give away any surplus  (:-\) to family & friends.

Debs

[Mrs Ava]

I would be happy with one courgette!  Planted a couple of plants last year and I think I picked about 3 fruits in all.  Marrows were a little better, squashes were fabaroonee!  Going over board on the courgettes this year - got them round, yellow, stripey, light green, dark green, bushes and trailing.  Fingers crossed for a bumper harvest.

[tim]

Maybe it's time to emphasise Stephan's point of successional sowing??

Meanwhile, this is a sight that pleases me!

[wardy]

Your courgettes look great!  Mine are a bit lanky but they'll be ok.  My favourite crop to grow as they are very easy and give such great reward.  There are so many ways too cook them too so they're never boring.  My OH paid 70p for a courgette at the supermarket a few weeks ago  :o

[Moggle]

My Jemmer seedling looks like those Tim  :) But my genovese do not, leggy little things they are  :-\

Derek and Tim could you tell me whether those varieties are bush or trailing?

Cheers

[tim]

Rondo & Genovese are both bush. No room for the trailers.

[cyrilsquirrel]

We have put about six courgettes in , and so far the slugs have had three of them!! >:(

Does anyone know of a good organic slug killer..if there is such a thing?

[wardy]

I put slug pellets inside a box with a hole made in the side.  This is as I have a dog who does like to investigate everything  :)  I have put lager in to the boxes and yeast granules (worked very well)  The slug can't get out once in  :(

I know the slug pellet isn't organic but it's not coming into contact with the plants and is safe if put into a box out of the way of animals or children