[Maryann]

Hi all

Last year I tried unsuccessfully to grow my courgettes with sweetcorn and climbing beans (using Carol Thingy's 3 Sisters method) It was not a great success. The beans were brilliant and the sweetcorn were ok-ish but the courgettes - a disaster. I followed her directions to the letter - even buying down to buying named varieties but they didn't mature at right times and the layout was total failure in that you really struggled with access to produce when time came to pick them. I wont be trying that again.

I would like a variety that produces nice small courgettes, not too wild spreading and if possible one resistant to having the awful while mildewy leaves.

Anyone got any suggestion please?

[gobs]

Not picky, hey?

Most courgettes grow like crazy, go for any bush that says resitant/tolerant, this doesn't mean they won't get it as they are tolerant to a particular strain of it.

I never tried this arrangement for the very reason you mention, but it was a rubbish summer.

For flavour Petty pan types for me.

[Maryann]

Not picky, hey?

Most courgettes grow like crazy, go for any bush that says resitant/tolerant, this doesn't mean they won't get it as they are tolerant to a particular strain of it.

I never tried this arrangement for the very reason you mention, but it was a rubbish summer.

For flavour Petty pan types for me.

Hee Hee....Moi Picky  

Yes I know it did come across a bit llike that didn't it - sorry about that.

It was a lousy Summer you are quite right but that arrangement just didn't blooming work - the access for harvesting crops was lousy and I did follow her instructions - another reason I don't like the woman.

Thanks for tips will be looking for seeds this weekend.

[agapanthus]

Courgettes need to have a lot of spacing between the plants....this helps breezes to run through them and helps against mildew I prefer yellow ones myself....jemma is a good variety

[dumpling]

I agree with the lots of space, they are a lot happier spread out
a bit, less mildew, and they just keep cropping for ever. Do mine
on deep beds and build a mound of compost for each one.

Tristar is good and hope to get at least one of each colour,
yellow, light green and deep green and they all taste different,
like yellow best.

For small ones just keep picking every day as they grow so quick.

I'm still holding on for a bit before sowing seeds in pots here in
Norfolk.

[fatbelly]

I fancy giving Courgettes a whirl.
Are they a greenhouse plant like toms and peppers or will they thrive outdoors  in our British climate ?

[dumpling]

Start off in pots in greenhouse or cold frame and plant outdoors
when it warms up a bit. Need to go outside as plants get big, and
plenty of air round them to stop mildew.

Plant out in a mound of compost, and make sure they never go dry.
Also need picking every day when they get going, or they end up as
marrows.

The only problem is using them all - loads of ratettouile (sp?) and
give them away.

[fatbelly]

I have got a pile of manure slowly rotting down, it is cold a heap at present but I limited for space so could I plant them there after sowing in the greenhouse?

[gobs]

Yes, that will be perfect, don't be tempted to plant more than a couple of plants though, they are prolific, at least.

[charley1980]

I grew for courgettes for first time last year and did 12 plants. they were just a standard green variety, nothing fancy. Started off the seeds in the conservatory and hen planted out, some in pots, some in a grow bag and the others I just put in the ground. Thought the ones in the ground would turn out to be poor but they did best!!!  

Need LOTS of water, and its a good idea to make a kind of well around the base of the plant so you can fill this with water which will soak down into the roots. Fed mine every other week and had so many courgettes that I was taking them into work for people, and had to come up with lots of different recipes for them. They freeze well if you chargrill them first!

[deezkatz]

thanks for all the tips, i planted my seeds a couple of days ago. I've only got my makeshift propagators on the window sill, very new to all this, so budgeting i'm afraid.
The tips on here about courgettes is brilliant thank you.
i'll make sure i space them up on the allotment (thats if my seeds work)!! lol    Hope so