Courgette Seeds
Start your seeds by sowing your seeds directly into the soil, you can start your courgette seeds indoors 4-6 weeks prior to transplanting them outdoors. Grab seed trays, soil-less potting mixture, and your seeds. Place a single seed in each tray, cover with ⅛ inch (0,3 cm) of potting mixture, and water well! These should be placed in an area that gets sunlight and is at least 60 °F (16 °C). When the second set of leaves have sprouted, the courgette are ready to be transplanted outdoors. Transplanting courgette – dig each hole to be slightly larger than the root ball on your plant. Keep 40 inch (75–100 cm) space between each plant. Cover up a zucchini transplant with enough soil to cover the root ball without reaching up the stem. Finish up planting with a heavy watering. Direct seeding in the garden. Sow seeds 2 to 3 inches (5 – 7 cm) deep. Sow in raised hills or inverted hills 3 to 4 seeds set 3 to 4 inches (7 – 10 cm) apart; thin to the two strongest seedlings. Hills or mounds should be 5 inches (12 cm) tall and 20 inches (50 cm) across. This will allow plants to run down the hill away. Inverted hills–which can be used to retain moisture in dry regions–can be made by removing an inch (2,5 cm) of soil from an area.
Courgettes are easy to grow with two plants producing ample courgettes for most families. Courgettes are best picked small for best flavor, these plants are also very prolific. True Courgette, aka zucchinis, are evenly narrow along their length, and they are long – never round. Recommended direct-seeding for Courgette because they do not always transplant well. The soil needs to be warm at least 60 °F (16 °C) at a two-inch (5 cm) depth. Plant them in full sun. Grow Courgette in loose, well-drained soil rich in organic matter. Courgette prefers a soil pH of 5.5 to 6.8. Plants grows best in soil that is kept evenly moist, it require a lot of water in hot weather. Plants may wilt on hot days as they use water faster than the roots can supply. Courgette plants have separate male and female flowers. You can tell the difference by looking at the stalk as the male one id plain but the female carries a little fruit just below the flower (Picture no. 1) The first flowers to appear are male flowers that will not produce fruit. Female flowers appear slightly later and are pollinated by the male flowers commonly with the help of insects. If pollination is slow or does not occur, use a soft-bristled brush to dust inside a male flower then carefully dust the inside of a female flower (a female flower will have an immature fruit on its stem, a male won’t). Once fruits form set each one on a wooden plank so that it does not have direct contact with the soil; this will allow squashes to mature with less exposure to insects. courgettes are ready for harvest 50 to 65 days from sowing. Courgettes get big very quickly and at full production you can be harvesting two or 3 times a week, harvest the fruit when quite small, it tastes much better. Continual picking is important to keep the plant producing. Pick young fruits when rinds are still tender and before seeds have formed. Harvest zucchini and crookneck varieties when they are 5 to 10 inches long. Break courgettes from the stem, or use a clean knife to cut the fruit away. Not only fruits are edible, Flowers are edible either. Pick and eat male flowers so as not to reduce the productivity of the plants. Squash flowers are often dipped in a batter and deep-fried. Zucchini will keep in the refrigerator for up to one week. Do not wash squashes until you are ready to use them. Cooked squash can be frozen, canned, pickled or dried.
