What parts of a courgette plant can you eat?
Post categories: courgette,Ìýquestion,Ìýsalad leaves
| 10:57 UK time, Tuesday, 20 July 2010
Gareth Austin, gardening expert with ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Foyle, explains which parts of a courgette you can eat, how to pollinate a courgette and what to do if your salad crops start flowering. If you have advice to share about growing the Dig In courgettes and salad leaves, you can add your comments at the bottom of this entry.
Paul asks: Can you eat any other part of the courgette plant apart from flowers and fruit?
Answer: Hi Paul, I've enjoyed eating young leaves and shoot tips from courgettes. However, these are a poor substitute for young courgettes picked when about four inches long. Also, remember to only harvest the male flowers once the females have set.
Gail Clark asks: I am growing courgettes in a fish box with compost. They're growing well and out comes the flower. I used a feather to pollinate it, then the flower shrivels up and drops off. What did I do wrong?
Answer: Hi Gail, in cold weather it can be useful to hand pollinate the courgettes to ensure pollination takes place. However, a good method to use is to pick the male flower and use this to pollinate the female flower. The male flower is easily identified as it ends to be smaller than the female, and lacks the distinctive swelling which forms behind the female flower. Remove the petals of the male flower and press it against the female flower.
George asks: Why are my salad growing yellow flowers? Should I take them out?
Answer: Hi George, not a good sign! Salad crops can 'run to flower' when stressed due to inconsistent watering, hunger, competition or as a result of not being harvested enough! Remember to pick the leaves as soon as they are about 3 inches in size and pick regularly. I'd recommend you cut out all the flowering shoots, and then apply some tomato food to encourage more growth. However, if too far on it may be easier, but unfortunate, to re-start and sow some more seeds. The Dig In Salad is ready to eat after about four weeks so it'll be ready for harvesting shortly!
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