[chrisnchris]

Hi, I don't want to hi-jack the thread, but this seems to be a good place to ask my question.....

Last year we were given 3 courgette plants, they had loads of flowers but only 2 of the flowers actually grew into courgettes

I have never grown them before but would like to do so this year.
How can I avoid last year's failure ?
Thanks
Chris

[compostqueen]

There is a variety of courgette that only produces flowers.  Maybe you were unlucky and got that 

The flowers are edible in their own right 

Normally you can grow your courgettes out of doors and do nothing to them but pick the fruits, it's that simple.  Don't give up on them as they're usually prolific

[JayG]

Much as many of us like to joke about having an embarrassment of courgettes they can suffer from poor pollination (the baby courgette behind the female flower appears to set and start growing but then rots off.)

Cure is to hand-pollinate, either by breaking off an open male flower, removing the petals and transferring its pollen to the middle of the female flower/s, or using an artist's paintbrush to do the same job.

Only problem is that the flowers only open during the day, although you can still do it, albeit with more difficulty, when they have closed if you have reasonable surgical skills (and/or a helper!)

[SocksOn]

Last year we grew the round variety and they tasted much sweeter than any other courgette I had, they were also very nice raw - not many made them to the kitchen especially when me and the little one were harvesting 

all the others sound so good, but I must resist 

[mumofstig]

pics of male and female flowers here, for those who may not now the difference 

http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/fruit_veg_diary/courgette_zucchini_care.asp

[Kristen]

Blimey! Reads like the war-of-the-cougettes and its nowhere near August yet!

Thanks for all your advice and suggestions

It's only by trying the various ones that you find out how good they are, or indifferent

Ah ... but I would prefer to reduce the risk by growing what the folk here rate best

There are a couple for votes for Romanesco, and I'll have a go at a yellow one such as Soleil F1

When you say "Looks like a courgette should" is that just short, not very fat, and a little bent like a Banana / Cucumber? (i.e. rather than Round or somesuch) - or am I missing the point and you are meaning something else?

[Comfortably Numb]

Just Romanesco for me this year. I was very impressed with them last year 
The fruits seem to stand upwards, making for easy picking.

Although a few slunk under the leaves to grow into huge marrows 

[chrisnchris]

pics of male and female flowers here, for those who may not now the difference 

Thanks, I didn't like to ask   

I guess we need more flowers in the garden to attract the bees

[Malturn]

Last year I grew courgets for the first time and the one we liked the best was 8Ball from Edwin Tuckers  http://www.edwintucker.com/index_files/Seeds.htm
They were superb even when eaten raw.
They also made a superb cake.

Malcolm

[aelf]

I've prepared the ground where my courgettes are going but won't be planting the seeds (in the greenhouse) til the end of March. I plan to have 9 plants this year.
 mmmmm, courgettes  :happy:

[compostqueen]

I sow mine the last week in April

[DD.]

Same here, frost aside, if it's too cool when you put them out, they just sit there looking at you and do nothing.

[shokkyy]

Yes, this year I  not only have 3 different varieties of courgette, but I've also decided to have a go at some winter squash and have 3 different varieties of those too. And really you've got to do a couple of plants for each type, just in case one dies.

I actually adore courgette sauteed with shallot and tomato in butter, and I also love them stuffed with mince when they're big. Last year I grew the Summer Ball hybrid and that one also tastes lovely raw, in salads.

[Chrysalis]

I'm hungry now....
Thanks for all the good advice about pollination(and recipes!)  I had flowers only and rotting of small fruits last year 

Trying zucchini and patty pan squash this year and will try to be more attentive to their needs.  :happy:

[operabunny]

Summer crookneck squash are great. They look a bit like a yellow courgette with a bent end. I think they taste a bit better and keep a better texture when cooked.

I also like to grow white, green & yellow patty pans (to pick small) and spaghetti squash.

I think squash are great fun to grow and have to stop myself trying too many varieties at once! They are also really easy to seed save (as long as you use the elastic band trick to stop them crossing  ).