How do I get a courgette glut?

[hifisound]

I suggest you along with most of the respondants thus far simply need to move to a better place - Up North! Either that or con your plants into believing you deserve beginners luck...

In our first year at GYO we have just one plant sat in of those flimsy bucket sized 'potato grow bags' and its been cropping nicely for 2 months now at the rate of about one every other day. Especially great in a Veg Balti or with the Sunday dinner...

[cupcake]

So far I've had 3 from 3 plants

[chris]

I've had 3 odd too. Father in law though - man, manure definately seems to have helped (he did loam, manure, compost, loam, manure, compost) in layers in a large planter (6 decking boards high - probably 4ft long with two plants in) - as I mentioned before they're HUGE, and spewing out fruit left right and centre constatly!

He gave us a yellow one (quite nice,not had one before) and also a ball shaped one, light green with darker green flecks in it) Wasn't keen on the flavour of that one personally. Hopefully if this whole manure thing dies down and I can find a batch thats ok as he seems to have I'll try this next season.

[sailorbob]

any bright ideas how to use courgettes. i've tried stuffing. frying,steaming so far this year.not yet pickled or made chutney maybe wine later. i.am growing four varieties , i like the round ones "de nice rond". cut a little off one end to make a flat surface cut a slice off the other end ,scoop out the middle stuff with minced meat cooked rice and herbs secure the cap back on with cocktail sticksand microwave on tuitable container.

[Alison]

any bright ideas how to use courgettes. i've tried stuffing. frying,steaming so far this year.not yet pickled or made chutney maybe wine later. i.am growing four varieties , i like the round ones "de nice rond". cut a little off one end to make a flat surface cut a slice off the other end ,scoop out the middle stuff with minced meat cooked rice and herbs secure the cap back on with cocktail sticksand microwave on tuitable container.

I also like small ones cut longways and baked in the oven with parsesan grated on top, fried with shallots and balsamic, grated into sponge cakes, added to any pasta sauce etc, essential in chutneys and I always like to freeze some for use in the winter when I want something different.

[womble]

I'm cooking in a little olive oil and pepper, so that the volume reduces by half; and then freezing in small batches for adding to winter stews/soups etc. Not got space for freezing in slices - I'm also giving loads away to neighbours who don't have gardens.

All my neighbours don't like them!

Don't know what they are missing I say.

[Shadylane]

We've made a load of chutney and also pickled some. The chutney looks beaut but we're not allowed to open it yet. They went mad but seem to be slowing down a bit now, which is odd cause they look healthy. I think they must have overheard me saying that I was planning on making more chutney

[Two_Sheds]

.not yet pickled or made chutney maybe wine later...

Then you must!
They look lush in a jar if you layer yellow & green ones, with a few red chillies dotted in too.

My courgette (marrow) wine is here on the side, with an inch of sediment I really should rack off. Too early to taste yet.

We eat courgettes just grilled on the Foreman; they'd probably soak up a marinade nicely too

[jackie j]

I dont know what I do thats any different to anyone else but so far I have had a glut every year, ( 3 now ) I have 5 green and 4 yellow, I cant use them or pick them quick enough and they are marrow size between 2 and 4lb, I dont want them that big but hey ho. I have just used at least 3 making pasta sauce. I try neglet, I try watering, not watering and up they pop.

[Lavenderblue]

we have got millions of the things.

We just bung them in the ground, water them a bit for a few weeks until established and let the things grow.

We cut 17 yesterday from 4 plants. They are being distributed about the village as I speak...

[maytreefrannie]

Last year I planted three courgette plants, all the same variety, all grown from seed. One produced just one courgette, the second a small number and the third one gave loads - I was picking courgettes every day.

This year we have five plants, and are picking a good number from each - except the yellow one, which is giving small, tasteless courgettes - or is that just me? I'd been looking forward to having yellows, but I find them to be completely bland.

The green ones are lovely, though.

Anyway, the point I'm making is that the courgette is a mysterious and wonderful plant.....

[womble]

lol ....what was it doing to deserve that ?

It was huge, spiny and bit me every time I poked around in there, which I had to alot, as it produced 90% of it's courgettes under the plant

Anyway, the point I'm making is that the courgette is a mysterious and wonderful plant.....

You got that right, I still haven't heard a definitive answer why some plants just produce male flowers for most of the season, there must be a good reason.

Anyway, Bramblekiller, how are you getting on?