Collection: Courgette Plants

Start to plant your courgettes outdoors in late May or early June. They’re quick to grow, so you’ve got a good planting window throughout the summer.

Courgettes do best in a fertile, well, drained soil with plenty of compost or well rotted manure mixed in before planting.

Courgette plants do tend to sprawl, so plant them at least 90cm apart. If you’re planting them in rows, again leave about 90cm between these.

Courgettes are pretty thirsty plants and need regular watering, especially during hot summers. Try to water at the base of the plant and avoid splashing the leaves, to avoid moulds and mildews.

Courgette plants don’t usually need support, but if you find they’re sprawling into areas you don’t want them to go, you can prop up the largest stems with small stakes or a fruit cage.

You should be able to pick your first courgettes from June or July. Start picking when they’re about 8cm long for baby courgettes, or 10-15cm long for mature courgettes. Regular picking encourages the plant to produce more.

Using a sharp knife, cut off the courgette at the stalk. Make sure you don’t forget any, as if they’re left they can grow into marrows

Your courgette plants will usually continue fruiting right through the summer and into autumn. Find out even more about courgette cultivation in our complete growers’ guide.