I've got a couple of the 'De Nice a Fruit Rond' variety of courgette growing reasonably happily (now I've learned how to hand pollinate ;) in a). a grow bag & b). a pot on the patio
Both now have a nice little round fruit on them - one much bigger than the other (the one in the pot).....what sort of size should they be before I cut them please?
I've not grown these before so not sure!.....if I didn't cut them - would they just keep growing to the size of melons maybe??
The biggest one right now is about the size of a golf ball, maybe just a bit bigger.
Silly question but - do you just slice them up like ordinary courgettes, before cooking in whatever way takes your fancy?
Thanks - H.P.
Yes they do grow to melon size but that tends to stop any more growing. They are best at around tennis ball size. One tip - I left some on late last year to grow to melon size ( they are prolific and I was fed up of picking them ). The ones I stored then kept firm till February so they do seem to store well.
They're quite good for stuffing or you can treat them like any other courgette.
I think they would make attractive if rather impractical marrows. I have one or two of these left and I am going to leave one to grow to marrow size and harvest the other.
Inbetween golf ball and tennis ball. That's how I've eaten them in Nice.
Petis farci nicois (little stuffed vegetables from Nice)
Recipe and picture in French:
http://www.nicerendezvous.com/FR/actu-1536.html
Recipe in English
http://www.nicerendezvous.com/EN/recipes.php?fiche=28
I'll be trying courgette flower fritters this year!
Grew the round ones last year, and best to pick them young. Wasn't particularly careful about slicing them off quick last year (my first stab at veg gardening), so I ended up tasting a whole range of sizes. Tennis ball and below were nicest, but even the lurking bowling balls came in very handy - they were grated into courgette bread, and went down a treat.
thanks everyone for answers - they certainly look nice stuffed (as shown in the French recipe) thanks for posting that Dandelion.
Will try to be patient and leave the golf-ball sized one a little bit longer to grow that bit more - I think they're fascinating ;)
I am growing these also, purposely for stuffing as I have an array of normal looking courgettes. I figured on tennis ball size. Good to know they store as we are still eating squashes from last autumns harvest! Had potato and pumpkin mash with bangers tonight!