A quick question, last year my neighbours at home gave me some courgette plants which I planted in our garden, by the end of the year we had foliage on them like gunnera which looked great and we had a good crop of courgettes.
This year I have bought my own sed and planted the plants at the plot and garden but don't appear to be getting BIG leaves, obviously a different variety, loads of courgettes though so I am happy with that.
I asked my neighbour what last years variety was but she can't remember.
Any clues anyone? This years variety is 'Verde di Italia' from the real seed company.
Sorry, can't remember what any of mine have been, but they've all done well-not bothered about the size of the leaves as long as I get fruit!
Quote from: caroline7758 on August 10, 2007, 15:56:17
not bothered about the size of the leaves as long as I get fruit!
I must sound a weirdo wanting BIG leaves ::) but when I plant the courgettes at home they are by a patio and ,as I said in earlier post, the previous plants had very architectural leaves like gunnera almost so they looked more ornamental for beside the seating area.
I`m growing `Ambassador`-a stardard sort of variety that has big leaves-so big that I keep missing the fruit and ending up with marrows :-[
Our largest leaves are Romanesco, and fruits still edible when 'missed'.
Big leaves from: Courgette Romanesco; Courgette Striato di Napoli andCourgette Tondon Di Piacenza
Thank you all, obviously this will be for next year but I wanted to sort it now in the hope I'll get some seeds in the cheap seed sales that I keep being told about. ;D
We grew Astia and All green bush this year and are pleased with them both. Next year we are gonna try the round ones from Real Seeds
trieste cousa courgette
rugosa friulana
soliel
tromboncino
my black beauty and parador both had large leaves last year - with nice markings too. This year I'm growing the ball type and they are a lot smaller.
I've sown out a pack of Romanesco at the end of July...
;D
Glosterwomble.I have spare Romanesco seed,if you want any?
my trieste from real seeds had tiny leaves and NO courgettes while my cheap random sale seeds have produced plants with loads of fruit and nice big leaves...
well I grow 2 varieties......some in pots and some in ground- they are
Kojac F1 and seems to me to have big(ish) leaves but maybe other varieties are bigger but I don't realise.........and
'De Nice a Friut Rond' - much smaller leaves
The last couple of years we've had Striato d'Italia from Franchi, they're stripey, prolific with pretty large leaves. I got some T&M half price seeds - Venus, which are smaller plants, which I will grow in the polytunnel for earlier fruits.
Last year I grew 'zucchini' (dunno if I spelt that right, but can't bed bothered to get up and look at seed packet ;) ). Big plants, loads of courgettes couldn't keep up with them.
This year I planted 'Katia' which promised on the seed packet to be v tasty and easy to grow, £2.70 ish for 10 seeds. Also cheap packet of seeds from lidl, 'd'nissa' 69p for about 50 seeds. (again not sure about spelling) -round type.
Katia is looking small and have only had 1 tiny courgette from 2 plants so far. D'nissa however have shot away as soon as weather dried up and get a couple of tennis ball size courgettes every few days from 2 plants and v tasty too.
3 varieties,
Black Zucchini -Seedfest - smaller plants, very dark courgettes, small leaves. Not mega prolific.
Zucchi Striato d'Italia - T&M Italian seeds - Massive plants, monster leaves, loads of courgettes, interesting stripes. Very impressed.
Zucchi Tondo di Toscana - T&M Italian seeds - not such massive leaves but brilliant great big round fruits, worth growing for the green footballs!
Another big bonus of the T&M Italian seeds is they are silly cheap under £2 for 50+ seeds !! You can't argue with value like that !!
P.S. All taste great but the Striato d'Italia is my favorite.
Helen
Quote from: markfield rover on August 10, 2007, 19:31:36
Glosterwomble.I have spare Romanesco seed,if you want any?
I'd love some, I wasn't expecting to receive seeds through this thread but if you have some spares I'd love some. ;D I'm not sure what I have to swap but I'll have a look and PM you with details. OK?
I'm growing:
All Green Bush - not too keen on this one, strange shape.
Parador - Amazing!!!! Grows up, instead of accross the ground, loads of yellow fruit so far. Will grow again.
Zucchini - Nice colour and shape, one of the best ;)
Do you have a photo of your Parador courgette Chris? Sounds a winner for me for next year with my small garden.
I'm only growing Kojac, Gold Rush and Parthenon this year. They are in pots and I must admit they do better in the ground, but I'm getting enough that I don't swim in a glut like I did last year!
Tricia
Zuccinni..... 3 plants. All 3 have fruited at least 3 medium size courgettes each, there are at least 8-9 more growing between the 3, with several more flowers in the making.
Quote from: tricia on August 11, 2007, 20:58:59
Do you have a photo of your Parador courgette Chris? Sounds a winner for me for next year with my small garden.
I'm only growing Kojac, Gold Rush and Parthenon this year. They are in pots and I must admit they do better in the ground, but I'm getting enough that I don't swim in a glut like I did last year!
Tricia
Yeh actually i do ;)
There are two plants in this pot.
(http://backyard.8m.net/garden%20veg/05.08.07/284_8458.JPG)
(http://backyard.8m.net/garden%20veg/17.07.07/283_8319.JPG)
Sorry, Chris - photos came with red x in top left hand corner and nowt else!!
Tricia
Quote from: Tinkie_Bear on August 11, 2007, 00:47:25
Another big bonus of the T&M Italian seeds is they are silly cheap under £2 for 50+ seeds !! You can't argue with value like that !!
P.S. All taste great but the Striato d'Italia is my favorite.
Helen
Even though T&M are good value it might be worth having a look at Seeds of Italy
http://www.seedsofitaly.com/catalogue/8 (http://www.seedsofitaly.com/catalogue/8)
Last winter there was a company called the Italian Seed Company selling packets of Italian seed at £1 each (amazing value) but their website is now inaccessible - perhaps Franchi have done for them!
Quote from: tricia on August 12, 2007, 22:15:54
Sorry, Chris - photos came with red x in top left hand corner and nowt else!!
Tricia
seem to work here. ?