COURGETTES

What should you look for when courgettes are ready?

Harvesting is recommended when courgettes are about 10cm long. I leave them a little longer to get more flavour, but keep picking as the plants stop producing fruits if they are left on the bush.

What time of year are they grown?

Sow seeds in late spring and early summer. Plant out from late spring, but add protection from the cold with a fleece or a cloche in cooler regions. You can harvest from midsummer until autumn.

Are there different varieties of courgettes?

Courgettes range in colour, from bright yellow to very dark green, and can be sausage-shaped or round. The round ones can be used creatively in cooking, but I find the others easier to ripen. Yellow ones taste sweeter, and green have more of the almost-bitter taste. Try Black Beauty for prolific crops of very dark green fruits, and Golden Zucchini for yellow ones.

How easy is it to grow your own?

It’s easy to sow the large seeds in pots under cover or outdoors in summer. Plant out into fertile soil in a sunny spot and mulch around the plants with organic matter. Keep them moist, but avoid constantly damp soil as this will cause rot. Protect young plants from slugs and snails and look out for mildew on the leaves in late summer.

What’s your favourite way to enjoy courgettes?

I slice them up to fry in olive oil, which brings out the lavour. They can then be eaten hot or used as a very delicious salad ingredient.