[rw3272]

Apologies for the very newbie question!  My courgettes are now out on the plot and each has 2/3 female flowers with 3 inch long swelling mini-corgettes behind them.  The male flowers haven't opened yet.  Am I ok to eat these little mini-courgettes or do they need to be fertilised first?

Many thanks,
Rachael

[goodegg]

if you have courgettes on then they have been fertilised  if the flowers are not fertilised the will die and you wont get a fruit so eat and enjoy

[rw3272]

Bonus!  I wasn't expecting anything quite this early so thought I must have overlooked a crucial point.  Thankyou for being patient with me... its these simple questions that are never answered in the books.

Rachael

[Elcie]

Don't worry about the questions you ask on here Rachael.  You will always find someone patient enough to answer the questions that are asked, I have found it immensely useful.

[mumofstig]

If you have had no male flowers opened they cannot have been pollinated, so would soon die and fall off. If you don't mind eating them as small as they are then you can -
Italians eat them like this with the flowers on

All female flowers start with the mini courgette behind them, they just get bigger when they have been pollinated, rather than fall off 

[Trillium]

Whatever you do, don't let them get huge as canoes or your neighbours will either run when you come or never answer their doors 

[mr Isaccs]

Whatever you do, don't let them get huge as canoes or your neighbours will either run when you come or never answer their doors 

   I had that last year Trillium ( the neighbours running) and this year I've got 2 extra plants, watch out nursing homes, local restraunts , village shop etc etc, I'll be peddling my courgettes.
   Not for profit of course, coz that's not allowed

[RichardA]

from a bit bigger than your thumb.
R

[rw3272]

Thanks all  

Well, I couldn't resist them so have just picked 3 (about 3 inches long, 0.75 inches thick ) for tea. Just going to give them a quick flash sautee with some butter, garlic and chilli on top of our risotto... yum!

Think I must have missed the male flowers opening, I was away for a week a little while ago so they probably did their thing then.  Loads of flowers awaiting too.

Rachael

[mr Isaccs]

Thanks all  

Well, I couldn't resist them so have just picked 3 (about 3 inches long, 0.75 inches thick ) for tea. Just going to give them a quick flash sautee with some butter, garlic and chilli on top of our risotto... yum!

   Sounds lovely rachael, hope you enjoy