Isn't it strange how the same plant is known by a different name in different parts of the country or different parts of the world. Which ever name you know these plants by they are simple to grow and produce loads of fruits. (Or do you call them vegetables?) They are fast growing but they like it warm.
Frost Free
So the first important thing to note is do not plant them out until the danger of any frost has completely passed. How late that is for you depends on your latitude, altitude and other local factors. Only you will have the local knowledge - Ask other gardeners in your locality for their advice if you are unsure.
Seeds
It is usual to plant the seeds indoors on a window ledge or perhaps in a glass house. These seeds can be planted right up to the end of May. Of course if you are growing them entirely under glass you will have planted them much earlier. The seeds are large and easy to handle. They should be planted in a good seed compost such as John inanes and plant three seeds to a pot. If you live in a mild area you can plant them directly out of doors but in this case put a pot full of good quality compost in the hole in which you plant the seed.
Two Types
Plants come in two types - climbing (also known as trailing) and bush. The bush plants make a compact bush but the trailing type have tendrils that enable them to climb up other plants or be trained up a trellis or framework. In a flower garden these climbing plants look dramatic as they have large orange flowers and can be trained to grow amongst other flowers. This is often the best way to grow them if you only have limited space. Each bush plant requires about one square yard to allow it to develop to its best.
Preparation
The soil where you plant your seedling should have been well manured with rotted organic matter together with slow release fertilizer such as bone meal.
The plant must be kept well watered at all times but not watered so much as it becomes waterlogged. As soon as small fruits start to appear then you must water regularly with a liquid fertilizer - perhaps once a week - in the same way that you would for tomato plants. A liquid tomato fertilizer can be used.
Fertilization
These plants have both male and female flowers on the same plant. They depend on bees and other insects to take the pollen from the male flowers to the female flowers. The female flowers have a small squash behind it but this will not develop unless it has been fertilized.
If you find that your female flowers are falling off without setting the bees are not doing their stuff. You must then pollinate the female flowers yourself, picking the male flowers to brush pollen onto the female ones. You can recognize the female flowers by the "pregnant" stem behind the flower head which will eventually become the fruit if fertilized. This fertilizing should be done in the early part of the day before the dew has dried so that the pollen is more likely to stick with the dampness. It also helps fertilization to spray the plants with water using a fine light spray.
Eat them young
And remember to pick and eat your squashes when they get to the size you want. If you leave them too long they will get very big and though they are still usable, the skin will not be as tender as the smaller fruits. A courgette left for a few days will become a giant marrow!
