[PrincessVegGrower]

We have 5 courgette plants (I know, too many!  ) that are still producing alot of fruit, went down today and have counted about 5 more courgettes coming along.

xx

[mumofstig]

courgette fairy left 2 more for me today (1 on each plant )

[Ice]

Mine show no signs of slowing down, damn them.

[sunshineband]

Back to making ratatouille for the freezer, then 

[mumofstig]

sad but true............... bottles off tom & courgette pasta sauce today...freezer is officially full!  and after a rearrangement today I discovered it's all veg except 4 individual portions of minced lamb, and a bag of chicken nugget for the grandkids ( and half a chicken, which Ive got defrosting for tomorrow to make more space) 

Still have loads of toms in the polytunnel.....lots more bottling I think

and lots of courgettes ...what am I going to do   

[sunshineband]

You can dry the tomatoes with a splash of oil on them, in  a slow oven to make your own version of sunblush toms, if that helps  (Stored in jars)

http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/dried-tomatoes-in-olive-oil

Kind of like this, with herbs in too --- I did rosemary ones last year in my 'glut year' for tomatoes. No such chance this year 

and courgettes make nice gifts tied with a little ribbon.....   

[arugula]

sad but true............... bottles off tom & courgette pasta sauce today...freezer is officially full!  and after a rearrangement today I discovered it's all veg except 4 individual portions of minced lamb, and a bag of chicken nugget for the grandkids ( and half a chicken, which Ive got defrosting for tomorrow to make more space) 

Still have loads of toms in the polytunnel.....lots more bottling I think

and lots of courgettes ...what am I going to do   

Pickled courgettes?

[mumofstig]

oooh..............I'll be running out of jars next 

I did rosemary ones last year in my 'glut year' for tomatoes. No such chance this year   

ah... but you have the polytunnel for next year's tomatoes 

[sunshineband]

Yes, thank goodness 

I'll have about run out of chutney by then 

[Grubbypaws]

Mine are sill producing but I dont know how; all the leaves are covered in mildew.

When the mildew started I sprayed the plants  with a 1:10 milk solution. People seem to say it works fabulously. Not for me! Didnt make the slightest difference.

Any one had any success with the milk treatment?

[mumofstig]

One spray doesn't work, you're supposed to keep spraying, but who has the time or inclination

I just pick the worst leaves off and leave them to cope as best they can. They are coping quite well, so far

[JayG]

Sometimes I wonder whether I really know anything about gardening!

I have two courgette plants in a bed nicely out in the open (good air circulation) and have watered and fed them carefully only at soil level.

The other plant was a spare which is struggling to make room for itself amongst the parsley, mint, the spare winter squash, and, oh yes, a hellenium (strange garden mine!), and has been lucky to get its leaves wetted sometimes!

Guess which one/s are almost at death's door due to mildew (clue; there are 2 of them!)

(They've all produced loads though so I can't complain.)

[Kristen]

Gardens World / Alys Fowler had an alternative freezing method for Courgettes:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00tl5fs

"The usual method for freezing vegetables doesn’t work for watery crops like courgettes. The freezing process breaks down the vegetable creating a watery, flavourless mess.

To freeze courgettes - weigh and grate them using the medium disk of a food processor or a hand grater. Place the grated squash in a large colander with small holes. For each pound of courgette sprinkle on 1 teaspoon of salt and mix well. Let it drain for about half an hour. Then press it firmly against the sides of the vessel to squeeze out as much water as possible. Remove the grated courgette one handful at a time and squeeze until as dry as possible. It is important to get out as much water as possible. There should be about one rounded cup of shreds for each pound of courgette. Place into containers and freeze."

[Grubbypaws]

Thank you mumofstig. Once with the milk was enough for me! It was an unpleasant and smelly job. Certainly no inclination to do it repeatedly. I will adopt your approach and use the spare time to sit and have a cuppa!