TopVeg - growing veg,fruit&herbs » courgette

Courgette ‘Black Forest’ Climbing Zucchini

TopVeg — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 20:27:07 +0000

Courgette ‘Black Forest’ is a climbing Zucchini; an F1 Hybrid, latin name Cucurbita pepo.

This climbing Courgette is an ideal variety for growing in containers on the patio. As it grows upwards it saves space and is more ‘controlable’.

The long stems are tied onto a trellis or netting to help them grow upwards.

courgette black forest

Courgette Black Forest:

produces heavy yields
dark green, smooth, cylindrical 15cm (6”) courgettes
height: 120cm (48″)
spread: 60cm (24″)
sow in April, May or June
flowers June – August
likes full sun

Click this link to buy some seed of the climbing Zucchini Courgette Black Forest.

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Mosaic Virus on Courgettes

TopVeg — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 14:03:52 +0000

The two most important virus infections of courgettes are cucumber mosaic virus & zucchini yellow mosaic virus.

If the virus appears in the courgette plants:

there is no cure or treatment
it is spread by aphids & by knives cutting the courgettes off the vines
virus resistant varieties can be grown (e.g. Defender, Primula, Supremo, Tarmino, Zucchino).
mildew-resistant-courgette

The two most important diseases of courgettes are the mosaic virus and powdery mildew.

If the virus appears in the courgette plants there is no cure or treatment it is spread by aphids & by knives cutting the courgettes off the vines Virus resistant varieties can be grown (e.g. Supremo, Tarmino, Zucchino, Defender).

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Courgettes are a sustainable vegetable!

TopVeg — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 13:39:06 +0000

Statistics from DEFRA have shown that courgettes are a more sustainable vegetable, because a smaller proportion of the courgette is wasted when used, than for other vegetables.

growing-courgettes

According to the statistics, the average waste is:

11% from courgettes, peppers and aubergines
17% from carrots
42% from cabbage

But have the statisticians taken into consideration the huge growth of vine that most courgettes produce?

courgette-plant

“Reducing waste in the food supply chain has economic and environmental benefits” according to Food 2030, the UK Government’s strategy for a sustainable and secure food system for 2030.

The document states that “Every tonne of food waste prevented has the potential to save 4.2 tonnes of CO2 equivalent, from both the emissions released when making the food, as well as the methane released when it decomposes in landfill.”

It is worth bearing in mind that courgettes are a sustainable vegetable!

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Courgette / Marrow Jam

TopVeg — Sun, 01 Aug 2010 10:36:41 +0000

Courgette or marrow jam is a pleasant solution to a courgette glut.

courgette-glut

Ingredients:

2 pounds courgette or marrow deseeded – in skin unless very tough- chopped
6 lemons – sliced really thinly with skin
2 pounds preserving sugar

Method:

Place chopped cougette/marrow in pan with finely sliced lemons
Add cold water so that the mixture is only just covered
Cook the mixture very gently until it is really soft
Add the preserving sugar & simmer gently, stirring all the while, until the sugar is dissolved
Turn the heat up and boil rapidly until setting point is reached
Setting point will be reached when a small drop of the mixture solidifies when it touches a cold plate
Pour the courgette / marrow jam into warmed, sterilised jars & seal

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Courgette Recipes

TopVeg — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 08:28:45 +0000

The abundance of courgettes in the vegetable garden prompts the search for more innovative recipes! Elaine Borish has written a book called “What will I do with All Those Courgettes?”

We enjoy our own recipe for courgettes on toast:
Add some crushed garlic to hot olive oil in a pan. Stir in 4 or 6 chopped courgettes. When sizzling gently, put the lid on the pan and turn off the heat. After 10 minutes place on buttered toast. Chopped bacon fried before adding the courgettes is a good variation!

Waitrose have a delicious, quick and easy courgette tagliatelle recipe.

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Summer and Winter Squash

TopVeg — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:56:25 +0000

Squash are classified as Summer or Winter Squash, depending on how long the fruit will store.

Summer squash is:
less mature
smaller
will not store long
Courgettes & zucchinis are examples of summer squash.

courgette
Winter squash is:
more mature
kept and eaten at a later date
Spaghetti squash, acorn squash and pumpkins are examples of winter squash.

giant-pumpkin

It is useful to be able to grow both summer and winter squash to add variety in the kitchen.

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Courgette Mildew shortens season.

TopVeg — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:30:49 +0000

Mildew in courgettes shortens the growing season.

mildew-on-courgette-leaf

The courgette Venus F1 hybrid has succumbed to courgette and has died very quickly.

mildewed-courgette-plant

The courgette Dundoo F1 is tolerant to powdery mildew and is still looking well, & producing courgettes, although it is planted next to a Venus which is covered in mildew spores.

mildew-resistant-courgette

The Dundoo courgette plants have given huge yields of glossy, dark green courgettes. As well as being mildew tolerant it has the added advantage of a large open bush habit which makes picking easy.

Although mildew has shortened the season in the Venus courgettes, the Dundoo season continues & will be prolonged by covering it with a cloche to protect from the frost.

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Plant courgettes in open soil, on a mound.

TopVeg — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 20:24:49 +0000

Plant courgettes in open soil, on a mound.

Courgettes do well when planted on raised mounds of open, fibrous
material, such as compost, leaf mould or strawy manure dug into the soil
to keep it open.

CourgettePlant-on-hill

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What is Squash?

TopVeg — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:18:57 +0000

Squash are various tendril-bearing plants of the genus Cucurbita.
Squash are usually eaten as a vegetable, although botanically they are fruit.

Squash have:

* a creeping vine with five-lobed leaves and tendrils

courgette-plant

* large, unisexual, yellow flowers

courgette-flowers

* fleshy edible fruit with a leathery rind

There are two types of squash, which differ according to how long the fruit will store.

Summer squash is less mature and smaller, and will not store long. Courgettes & zucchinis are examples of summer squash.
courgette
Winter squash is more mature and can be kept and eaten at a later date. Spaghetti squash, acorn squash and pumpkins are examples of winter squash.
pumpkins

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If you pick the flower of a courgette….

TopVeg — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 06:25:32 +0000

late-courgette-flower

If you pick the flowers do you sacrifice the courgette?

Once the flower has been pollinated it has fulfilled its function and
will drop off, so you don’t need to worry that picking the flower will
sacrifice the courgette. You can have both the flower and the courgette!

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