Courgette Pests and diseases. Slugs and snails can cause immense damage to the young seedlings and young plants, particularly when they are first planted out in their final positions. Make sure that you apply your chosen slug treatment immediately they are planted in their final positions.

Cucumber mosaic disease causes mottled leaves and distorted fruit, and any infected plants should be destroyed. I have never seen this disease.

Powdery Mildew can be a problem towards the end of the season, but most people do not bother about treatment.

Suggested varieties of Courgette.

Jemmer F1. A yellow skinned variety producing many Courgettes.

Tuscany F1  A very productive green skinned variety.

Parthenon F1 and Cavili F1. These two have a “parthenocarpic” habit, which means that they are claimed to be able to set fruit without pollination. This would be useful if you are growing under cloche protection or in a greenhouse.

Zapallito Del Tronco. This is a real find and is actually a variety of Winter Squash, Cucurbita Maxima. It is usually used when young and still light green, as a Courgette or even as a Cucumber. The consensus view is that when used as a Courgette, it is better tasting than a standard Courgette. In the areas surrounding Buenos Aries in Argentina, it is an important commercial crop when it is used while still young and tender.

If allowed to mature on the plant and harden off, it will store and keep till the following Spring. After storage, the skin can be peeled with a potato peeler, seeds removed and pan fried.

As It is a very large bush plant, allow 1 sq m. It should produce about 10 cannonball sized fruits.