Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: New shoot on June 30, 2011, 08:47

Title: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: New shoot on June 30, 2011, 08:47
She's back  :D  Anyone else seen her yet.  Wonder where she goes for the winter  :unsure:

(http://i104.photobucket.com/albums/m198/suec_02/Plot%20pictures/001-3.jpg)
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: sunshineband on June 30, 2011, 08:48
I know she has been in my little polytunnel for the last six to seven weeks ... nice and snug in there  :nowink:


Nice stripy courgette there, Newshoot!
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: arugula on June 30, 2011, 09:08
Do you want me to tell you what size our courgette plants are at the moment?  :closedeyes:
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: sunshineband on June 30, 2011, 09:09
Do you want me to tell you what size our courgette plants are at the moment?  :closedeyes:

 ;)
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: arugula on June 30, 2011, 09:13
Do you want me to tell you what size our courgette plants are at the moment?  :closedeyes:

 ;)

If it doesn't warm up soon, bearing in mind its July tomorrow, they won't get big enough to produce fruit at all. A couple of the plants were producing male flowers like mad a few weeks ago, but that charming - cold and very wet -  weather we had last weekend set them back again.
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: New shoot on June 30, 2011, 11:50
Do you want me to tell you what size our courgette plants are at the moment?  :closedeyes:

 ;)

If it doesn't warm up soon, bearing in mind its July tomorrow, they won't get big enough to produce fruit at all. A couple of the plants were producing male flowers like mad a few weeks ago, but that charming - cold and very wet -  weather we had last weekend set them back again.

I'll leave her a note and ask her to sprinkle some fairy dust your way  ;)

Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: Springlands on June 30, 2011, 11:51
Do you want me to tell you what size our courgette plants are at the moment?  :closedeyes:

 ;)

If it doesn't warm up soon, bearing in mind its July tomorrow, they won't get big enough to produce fruit at all. A couple of the plants were producing male flowers like mad a few weeks ago, but that charming - cold and very wet -  weather we had last weekend set them back again.

At a guess - your courgettes plants are about the same size as mine. Big sigh. At least the leeks are doing well.
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: arugula on June 30, 2011, 13:10
Thanks New Shoot! ;) Yes, Springlands *sigh* :(.....
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: Lardman on June 30, 2011, 14:00
Ask her to pop in here on the way up would you ! I've remove 1 male flower so far, no sign of anything female.

Mind you it was touch and go for a long time as I thought the plants themselves would curl up their toes.
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: Growster... on June 30, 2011, 14:29
Our courgettes have never reached the size they are now (nearly 3' across), without a single male or female flower showing!

They look pretty happy, but wouldn't they be happier if they were producing...;)
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: gillian62 on June 30, 2011, 14:32
Our courgettes have never reached the size they are now (nearly 3' across), without a single male or female flower showing!

They look pretty happy, but wouldn't they be happier if they were producing...;)


I expect you and I and all growing courgettes would be happier if they were producing fruits!! :)
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: aelf on June 30, 2011, 14:34
we're drowning in courgettes here - 9 plants producing fruit like mad. My freezer is full already and friends are hiding when I call round in case I'm bringing more courgettes  ::)

Bloomin fairies  :)
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: Trillium on June 30, 2011, 14:47
I've never seen striped ones before. Ours are just all green or the gold type. We can get seed for the light green ball ones but I find them harder to serve.
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: DD. on June 30, 2011, 16:01
That looks like the Long Green Bush marrows I grow. They have much tougher skins than "standard" courgettes.
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: New shoot on June 30, 2011, 16:40
It's a Striato di Napoli courgette and I'll let you know about whether the skin is tough as it's heading for a pasta bake tonight  ;)

9 courgette plants aelf  :ohmy:  No wonder the fairy has been a bit elusive - she's knackered after getting round your courgette patch  :lol: 
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: mumofstig on June 30, 2011, 17:41
I usually grow Striata d'Italia (same thing different label  ;) ) but it looks like you found that one a bit late, so it got bigger than I like to pick them.
You could always send me a bit of it to go in my pasta though  :wub:

 :lol:
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: Nikkithefoot on June 30, 2011, 18:10
She's visited me too, 8 courgettes from 3 plants, there were none there on Sunday  ::)

Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: digalotty on June 30, 2011, 19:52
my courgette plants are just about getting going im hoping i get some this year for my soup
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: aqua on June 30, 2011, 20:47
I have a couple of set fruit but nothing big enough to eat yet
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: New shoot on June 30, 2011, 20:53
You could always send me a bit of it to go in my pasta though  :wub:

 :lol:

oooopppps  too late burp.  Got some cold leftovers in the fridge if you want  ;)




Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: mumofstig on June 30, 2011, 21:19
No, your alright ;)
I found that the Aubergine fairy had left me a present, hiding away under the leaves, so I had that instead :)
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: sunshineband on July 01, 2011, 21:01
No, your alright ;)
I found that the Aubergine fairy had left me a present, hiding away under the leaves, so I had that instead :)


Now that is just showing off  :lol: :lol: :lol: :tongue2:
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: tooo many seeds on July 01, 2011, 21:13
i had a 7 inch by 2 inch courgette before i went on holiday for a week,i told the mother in law to take it of while we were away,i come back its still there and its a piggin marrow about 14 inches by 4 inches,can you still eat it or am i in fairyland :(
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: Yorkie on July 01, 2011, 21:14
It'll still be edible, yes  :D
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: aqua on July 03, 2011, 23:25
my husband bakes them if they accidently get too big. they are lovely.
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: stompy on July 04, 2011, 09:06
Quote
i come back its still there and its a piggin marrow about 14 inches by 4 inches

You have to keep picking them or they'll stop producing  ;)

I have 3 plants and 2 of them have fruits on that are 1/2" thick by 3" long.
A couple of days and i'll be picking them, first of the season.
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: Springlands on July 04, 2011, 10:50
I found my first courgette this morning - sooooo small you can hardly see it but it is there.  :D :D
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: Yorkie on July 04, 2011, 17:34
Best go back tomorrow Springlands or it'll be a marrow  ;) :lol:
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: sunshineband on July 04, 2011, 18:33
Mr Sunny said he'd like some yellow courgettes this year and said he thought three plants would be about right (as well as the green ones of course  :ohmy: )

He'll be best friends with that fairy for a while --- then he'll start laying out fairy traps around August  :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: Springlands on July 04, 2011, 20:22
Best go back tomorrow Springlands or it'll be a marrow  ;) :lol:

 :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: snails2go on July 04, 2011, 22:07
Had 3 courgettes in dinner over the weekend - as a complete beginner to growing anything at all the courgettes are, without exception, the most extraordinary, fastest growing veg on the patio - it's brilliant  :lol:  But how long will they continue to fruit? Have 2-3 courgettes on each plant at the moment and 4 plants all together.
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: sunshineband on July 04, 2011, 22:10
Keep watering them, feed them weekly and they will be yours forever.... well at least until the first frosts  :lol:
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: mumofstig on July 04, 2011, 22:12
Keep feeding and watering and most will go on til first frosts...........a few die from exhaustion a bit before that though :(  but you'll be thoroughly fed up with them by then anyway  :lol: :lol:
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: sunshineband on July 04, 2011, 22:14
Keep feeding and watering and most will go on til first frosts...........a few die from exhaustion a bit before that though :(  but you'll be thoroughly fed up with them by then anyway  :lol: :lol:

Hello MoS  :D

Good to see we mostly agreed there  :lol:
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: snails2go on July 04, 2011, 22:37
oh wow - now I'm really going to have to be creative with them!  The family aren't convinced they like them....yet!!  
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: mumofstig on July 04, 2011, 22:43
Keep feeding and watering and most will go on til first frosts...........a few die from exhaustion a bit before that though :(  but you'll be thoroughly fed up with them by then anyway  :lol: :lol:

Hello MoS  :D

Good to see we mostly agreed there  :lol:

Yes a very good job!...........sorry for the echo........ I'd already double clicked before I realised  :nowink:
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: compostqueen on July 04, 2011, 23:27
I've not had one courgette yet and no sign of any fruits yet.  Mind you I can't think of a year when I've not got any  :D
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: Endymion on July 05, 2011, 01:16
Our courgette fairy is definitely a girl this year, because all our flowers so far have been female. It's really weird.
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: RsT on July 05, 2011, 07:22
Ours has been a busy fairy this year!

9 down, probably hundreds to go  :D
Planted 3 varieties with original plan of 1 of each variety (after reading here last year about courgette gluts!) every seed planted germinated (4 of each) so gave half of them away, then they were planted out a bit early so I thought, "better put two of each out just in case one doesn't make it ....................."

Now have a lovely lush green courgette jungle!   ::)

Luckily we love courgettes!



Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: sunshineband on July 05, 2011, 07:46
oh wow - now I'm really going to have to be creative with them!  The family aren't convinced they like them....yet!!  


Check out the recipes in the button at the top of the page  :D :D :D :D
Title: Re: Return of the courgette fairy
Post by: Endymion on July 07, 2011, 13:33
Whew! At last we've got some boy flowers, and what looks like a very promising ball courgette  :)