Is this the earliest courgette?

Christine · Post: # 56646Post **Christine** » Tue May 08, 2007 3:10 pm

I ate my very first ever home-grown courgette yesterday!
Yes, that's right! On 8 May, I was strolling round the allotment munching on 6 inches of juicy green courgette (the yellow ones were earlier but look to me as if they have some maturing to do yet).

This seems to be quite early ...

Thomzo · Post: # 56649Post **Thomzo** » Tue May 08, 2007 3:22 pm

Wow - that is early. Mine are still two little leaves. When did you plant it?

Andy Hamilton · Tue May 08, 2007 4:32 pm

That is early, I guess I should have thought about getting some in early myself this year as the summer started early.

Millymollymandy · Wed May 09, 2007 5:36 am

Congratulations

red · Post: # 56750Post **red** » Wed May 09, 2007 11:40 am

that is early - mine ar not outside yet and you are much further north than me! - I always sow them too early so this year I waited... and of course this year i could have planted out a month ago!

Christine · Wed May 09, 2007 11:41 am

Alright - I admit it! I planted the seeds on 23 Feb and germinated them on a radiator at home. I just couldn't wait ...

Two years ago, a work colleague gave me one courgette plant, the wind got it and twisted its little stem into a pretzel. Last year, another colleague gave me two (Charlie and Chloe). I tried to get them to grow in pots in my dark back garden and they never produced female flowers - well, not till all the male flowers had finished!

I've been lucky this year and could still lose the lot to a late frost ...

digiveg · Post: # 57772Post **digiveg** » Fri May 18, 2007 7:43 am

Wow! Fantastic! That's the earliest I've ever heard of.

I once had a cuke in mid-April, growing in a bucket in a greenhouse - but that was in California. My first courgette for this year only just sprouted. Well done!

ina · Post: # 57778Post **ina** » Fri May 18, 2007 8:25 am

You really are early this year - that's the warm spring we've had. I've just put the seeds in a couple of days ago...

Well, it does say on the packet sow outside in May! But I usually do it much earlier (inside, of course), too.

Christine · Wed Jun 06, 2007 12:42 pm

Confession time!
Anyone who thought - da*n it! I should have got them in earlier - be reassured...
I've had a grand total of 5 courgettes and the slugs have had the rest. If I'd put them in later, there would have been competition from things slugs like better, my courgettes' leaves wouldn't look like lace and I wouldn't have ground my teeth to the nub over the problem!

Waiting for nematodes to arrive...