courgette, marrow, pumpin & squash

Plant Height   

Trailer - Bush varieties up to 60cm/2ft

Time between sowing and harvesting   

10-14 weeks

Sowing time   

Indoors- late April - temperature   +19C/66F

Outdoors - Late May - Early June - temperature +19C/66F

Where to Sow   

Indoors in pots of compost 

Outdoors in containers or open ground

How to Sow   

Requires very rich, well drained soil/compost

Indoors - 12mm/1/2" deep on its side - seed 1 per  7.5cm/3" pot 

Outdoors in containers - 2.5cm/1" deep on its side in large  containers (at least 30cm/12inches wide)  or 2 per growbag 

Outdoors in open ground - 5cm/1" deep on its side at least 45cm/18 inches apart on all sides.

After Germination   

Keep well watered. Protect from slugs.

Growing on -  in Containers   

Harden off indoor sown plants then transplant to large containers or growbags, spacing as above.

Growing on- in ground   As above

Aftercare   

Pinch out growing tips of trailing varieties when they reach 60cm/2ft long. Keep very well watered but only water around the plants and feed with liquid fertiliser once the fruits begin to form. 

Harvesting   

Continual cropping is necessary to prolong the harvesting period. Start cutting courgettes at about 10cm/4" and Marrows at about 20cm/8". Cropping only continues until 1st frosts (about 8-12 weeks).