
Full sun and fertile soil
Full sun and plenty of space is important. Courgettes are hungry plants so make sure you dig in plenty of organic fertiliser when you plant them.

Best grown in beds
Courgettes are large, sprawling plants. If you have the space then go for a raised bed or a bed in a traditional veg patch. If you are growing in pots/containers, choose a large pot (50cm diameter) and go for the Green Bush Courgette variety which is a little more compact than others. You’ll need to keep pruning it, but should get a good crop.

How far apart
80cm apart for Green Bush Courgette, 100cm apart for other varieties.

Protect from cold weather
Do not plant out until all risk of frost has passed. If you are planting out early in the season (April-Early May) it is sensible to protect with horticultural fleece or cloches until night temperatures warm up.

Keep them well watered
Courgettes are thirsty plants and need a lot of water. We’d suggest you water them daily during dry spells. Try not to let the soil dry out.

Male flowers arrive first
Once the plant starts flowering, it will be with male flowers only for the first week or so. Then the female flowers come in and rely on insect pollination to produce fruit.

When to harvest
Courgettes usually start cropping in midsummer. Harvest them before they get too big by cutting them off at the stalk with a knife – they will keep producing more and more for weeks on end!