Newbie Courgette/Greenhouse question !

[bradlo]

This will be my first year with a greenhouse.... does anyone grow courgettes in their green house? If so any advice would be most welcome !!
( I am trying to pick as many brains as possible before spring arrives!!!!!)
Many thanks!
Stuart

[Aberdeenplotter]

Courgettes are hardy enough to grow outside so use your greenhouse space for crops that need the shelter/additional heat.

[Currysniffa]

What Ap said

[FionaH]

Yeah use it for toms, peppers chilis etc

[Snadger]

Unles South Wales is the new Iceland................

[veggiechicken]

Unles South Wales is the new Iceland................

Sometimes it could be.....

[rustylady]

Start your courgettes in 3 inch pots in the greenhouse, pot on to 5" pots when roots have filled the smaller ones, harden them off and plant outside in late May or June. No need to keep them permanently in the greenhouse.

[Alison]

The last couple of years I've planted one out a few weeks early in the polytunnel border and they've gone totally mental. A teeny courgette became a small marrow in about two days. Like said above though, unless you have a lot of space I'd use the space for other stuff. Don't bother sowing for a few months either as they're fast growing.

[Dead Dogs]

Hi Bradlo,

I grow courgettes for the first time last year. One succumbed to wind chill very early and the second never got going. Fortunately I had a third, slow growing, seedling in the poly. Planted this one in the poly bed after the early spuds. Had one or two fruits per week upto about October.

If you do grow courgettes inside, you'll need lots of water and ventilation.

Oh, one other thing.

They need lots and lots of space.

[hollychap]

as already said start inside then plant outside . how many plants are you planning on growing ? i did 2 last year and after having courgette in all sorts of weird concocted recipes and tons of soup in the freezer i may only grow 1 this coming season

[veggiechicken]

I grew lots of courgette plants last year - I had 2 fruit in total! It was a dire year as I really like courgettes. If you like them, always grow more then 1 plant, as insurance!

[Kleftiwallah]

If you want to save space, try growing your courgette up a tripod of canes, it needs constantly tyeing in every 6 inches or so but it saves space and you can see the courgettes, you don't end up with marrows. Cheers, Tony.

[Two_Sheds]

^ that only works for trailing varieties, of course

[Alison]

I'd underline who much space they can take up under cover, my last year one was huge and a single plant produced about 5 courgettes (at least) every week from July through to the first week in November! OH was delighted when I told him that I'd pulled it up and we've still got loads in the freezer as we also had 2 others outside plus a couple of pattypans and some marrows too - real overkill but I'm not good at culling my babies.

[veggiechicken]

Alison, I didn't want to hear that! I'm so envious......