Can you have too many courgettes?

[pigletwillie]

I know, I know, people always go on how 2 courgette plants will feed the entire crew of an aircraft carrier the whole summer long.

However I think that is a load of old bull. We have 10 courgette plants of 4 different varieties and will use the vast majority of the courgettes produced either cooked when harvested or used in pasta sauces, bolognese and various dishes for bottling or freezing. Yes we do pick them young, probably 4-5" long but succeed in only having a handful a week spare to give to our daughter.

They make a fabulous "bulking" agent in many dishes and we even slice them really thin for use in salads. Then there is Shelley's courgette soup which we freeze for winter use and is to die for.

Do you guys really have a glut?

[dexterdoglancashire]

Then there is Shelley's courgette soup which we freeze for winter use and is to die for.

PW is the recipe on the Vine? Thanks Bernie

[pigletwillie]

Done Bernie.

[Mrs Dobby]

We've 6 courgette plants, 3 each of 2 varieties, havent had too many at all yet, in fact, we're eating them faster than they are being produced at the moment! Dunno if we'll have a glut when the weather picks up, but if it does then they'll be processed into sauces and bottled / frozen for later use!

[dexterdoglancashire]

Done Bernie.

Thanks PW! Will give it a go. Bernie

[JennieAtkinson]

I've got three plants on the go (just me who likes them!), and tonight I have just harvested the first.

I probably don't use them to their best as I normally take quite a few into work.

[dexterdoglancashire]

I probably don't use them to their best as I normally take quite a few into work.

What work do they do Jennie? Bernie

[sewer rat]

Spent this afternoon hoeing round my courgette plants - none yet but baby ones sitting in the centre of every plant waiting for the better weather to arrive.
I really hope that folk up here like courgettes -have about 90 Taxi (yellow variety) and 250 Defender (standard green type) planted, with 9 spares planted in my pile of 2003/4 vintage manure.
Oh yeah -Iona has one of the Taxi variety planted in a barrel in the garden too

[JennieAtkinson]

What work do they do Jennie? Bernie

LOL asked for that one ....

[rustylady]

Only had one and a half so far, slugs and snails and rain have beaten me to it. Went to lottie today, and a few looking promising. Usually try to pick at 4 or 5 inches long when they're really tender. Last year had too many and they were turning into marrows, this year they've not got going yet.

[Sebbster]

No way, I love em....

[mad_djg]

Can't stand them myself - got given 3 plants so I guess for me even 1 is a glut...

Fortunately the OH and mother-in-law like them so certainly won't be wasted.

Derek

[Alice]

I've got 4 courgette plants - 2 Defender and 2 Orelia. I find this gives me all the courgettes I want to eat. I don't want to grow for the freezer - just to eat fresh- and I have other veg to eat too.
I find corugettes run out of steam before I run out of summer, so this year I have 4 later sown ones to kick in when originals get past their best.

[Hazel at the Hill]

On the strength of this thread - and on Wellie's Courgette Soup recipe - I have just sown a black beauty courgette seed in a 3" pot, which I'm sure will zoom up and then it can join my other courgette plant, which I now think will not be enough.

[Sue]

I find that a glut really tests you in the kitchen, how not to waste anything, so bring them on, only had two so far from my two plants.
I did find that in the middle of winter a portion of ratatouille made with all my own veg was very comforting, a reminder of the good things to come, so a lot of mine will go into ratatouille this year and I shall be freezing a lot of the courgette sauce for stuffing giant pasta shells, another recipe I loved, any left over will go into courgette cake which I make and freeze in slices.
Sue
PS Am pondering 8lbs of shallots at the moment, will get pickling on Friday and after improving my potato growing skills this year now have huge amounts of potatoes to do something with - planted less tubers but have got loads more potatoes...