Plant Type: Vegetables, Culinary/Edible
Hardiness: Half-Hardy
Plant Height & Spread (at maturity): H 45cm x W 90cm (at maturity)
Pot Size: Seeds
Foliage Colour: Green
Flower Colour: Yellow
Fragrant Flower: No
Aromatic Foliage: No
RHS Award of Garden Merit: No
RHS Plants for Pollinators: No
Foliage Type: Deciduous
Soil Type: Rich Fertile
Soil Drainage: Well Drained
Light Exposure: Full Sun
Planting Style: Patio Containers, Courtyard Garden, Urban Garden, Kitchen Garden
Season of Interest: Summer
Flowering (from - to): June, July, August
Sowing / Planting (from - to): April, May, June
Harvesting (Harvesting Period & Instructions): July, August, September, October
Typically Available (from - to): January - December

Sow courgette seed indoors from April to May for transplanting later on, or direct sow outdoors from late May to June. Prepare the soil in early spring by adding plenty of well rotted farmyard manure to improve its structure and fertility. Indoors, sow seed at a depth of 2cm (¾") in 7.5cm (3") pots of free-draining, seed sowing compost. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a plastic bag at a temperature of 20-25C (68-77F) until germination which takes 5-7 days. Do not exclude light, as this helps germination. Once germinated, grow courgettes on in cooler conditions until all risk of frost has passed and courgette plants are large enough to be transplanted. Gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over 7 - 10 days before planting courgettes outdoors in rich fertile, well drained soil in full sun at a distance of 90cm (36") apart. Cover with a protective netting or fleece to prevent attack from birds and insects. When growing courgettes, a thick mulch of organic matter spread around the plants will help to conserve moisture at the roots.