2010 was the best year yet for this crookneck Italian squash, grown from seeds bought from a market in Italy a few years back. The picture above was taken earlier this month when, seven months after harvest, I decided I’d better start eating it! (Two-thirds of it are still in the fridge, some six or seven meals later.)
Small Tromba di Albenga squash on the vine.
Nearing harvest time.
A big one, if not the biggest.
Winner of the first prize in the ‘Strangest-looking vegetable’ category of a produce contest.
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Wonderful photos!
I am getting my 5 courgette plants used to the weather outside by leaving them out for a few hours each day. Next week I shall plant them in the soil in my balcony.
Its my first go at planting courgettes and I bought some fertilizer for veggies to make sure they will produce a harvest.
If I do manage to get some courgettes, how long can they stay in the fridge?
Thanks. Courgettes only last around a week in the fridge. (If all five start producing you will have a lot of courgettes!) It is possible to freeze them in slices, something I haven’t tried myself. The smallest trombas had a courgette-like texture and I cooked them as you would courgettes.
If you let courgettes grow into marrows, you can ripen them a bit like this, though ripening on the vine is better:
http://tiny.cc/slt4o
I see!
- I think I got confused by the text underneath your photo, saying; “…..seven months after harvest, I decided I’d better start eating it! ”
I do not hope all 5 plants of mine will produce courgettes…at least not at the same time! Then I would be up to my ears with courgettes.
If that will be the case I shall be eating courgettes all summer and early autumn + give out to family and friends.
Have you grown tomatoes? If yes, any tips?
Cherry tomatoes are great for a balcony and you could even grow them in a hanging basket.
Good luck!
Hello again,
Thank you for getting back to me!
I have planted the five courgettes in the soil today and given them some water mixed with fertilizer. They do not look of much right now but I hope they will grow large and strong. I would be lucky if just one of them will grow as big as the ones you have!
I have just bought the ordinay tomato seeds and have replanted six plants into larger pots from the indoor “glass house”. When they grow a little bigger, I shall plant them outside. My idea was to get some sticks and I have a packet of those “plant wires” you use to tie a plant with.
So if the ordinary tomato plants do not turn out good, I shall have a go with cherry tomatoes next year.
Have you used ferlizer for your veggies? If so, how often? Im thinking once a week but I dunno if that is too much or too little.