How to sow and grow climbing courgette
Our climbing courgette is one of the few courgette varieties you can guide up a trellis. Perfect for growing in a garden box.
The plants produce a lot: from the beginning of July until the end of October, you can harvest one courgette after another.
The plants produce a lot: from the beginning of July until the end of October, you can harvest one courgette after another.
About our climbing courgette
This courgette is one of the few varieties where you can tie the stem upwards along a trellis. That means it also fits in a garden box.
- Variety name: Black Forest F1
- Family: fruiting vegetables
- Plants per square: 1 by the trellis
- Height: up to 200 cm
- Pre-sow: from late April to late May
- Germination: 4 to 10 days at 20 to 25 degrees C
- Time to harvest: from 9 to 10 weeks
- Sunlight: needs a sunny spot
- Packet contents: 4 seeds, enough for 4 squares
- Yield: 10 to 37 courgettes per plant
Courgette is a true summer vegetable and cannot cope with cold. The seeds germinate at 20 to 25 degrees C, so you pre-sow them indoors and only put the plant outside from late May at the earliest.
This variety was developed for professional growers: compact, easy to guide upwards, and very productive. The plants get huge in a cold greenhouse, but also do very well outdoors.
This climbing courgette is also included in the climbers seed package:
This climbing courgette is also included in the climbers seed package:
What is a climbing courgette?
Most courgettes take up a huge amount of space: at least 9 squares. That makes them too big for a garden box.
A climbing courgette has a long stem that you guide up a trellis. Because it grows upwards instead of outwards, it takes up much less space.
This variety was developed for professional growers: compact, easy to train upwards, and very productive. The plants get huge in a cold greenhouse, but also do very well outdoors.
Courgette is a summer squash that you harvest while the skin is still tender and edible. Like pumpkins, it belongs to the gourd family.
A climbing courgette has a long stem that you guide up a trellis. Because it grows upwards instead of outwards, it takes up much less space.
This variety was developed for professional growers: compact, easy to train upwards, and very productive. The plants get huge in a cold greenhouse, but also do very well outdoors.
Courgette is a summer squash that you harvest while the skin is still tender and edible. Like pumpkins, it belongs to the gourd family.
On some varieties you see the label F1. That means they are hybrid seeds: the result of careful plant breeding.
Seed growers do this to strengthen or soften certain traits in a variety. That might mean better performance in warmer, colder, drier, or wetter weather. It can also mean a more even appearance, a bigger harvest per plant, or better flavour.
By crossing and selecting varieties over and over again, growers strengthen the traits they want and reduce the traits they do not want. Often, that also makes the plants more resistant to certain diseases.
So bred varieties are not scary or unnatural. Growers who work fully organically develop them too.
You can read more here: what does F1 mean on seed packets?
What do you need to grow climbing courgettes?
Besides the seeds, you need the following for pre-sowing:
- MM pre-sowing mix or MM coconut seed-starting mix
- MM airpots (the larger size)
- clear kitchen film (not needed with coconut mix)
Once the plant is big enough to plant outside, you need:
- one 30 x 30 cm square
- MM-Mix or Makkelijke Moestuin Kokosmix
- a spot with at least 8 hours of sunlight a day
- an MM trellis, or something similar to guide the plant upwards
- MM plant food
Level 1: pre-germinate the seeds
Courgettes are true summer vegetables. The seeds only germinate above 20 degrees C, and the seedlings are sensitive to lower temperatures too.
That is why you pre-sow them indoors around late April or early May. You plant the young plant in your garden box around the end of May. Because the plants grow quickly, you can also pre-sow them in late May. Then the plant can move outside sooner.
Before you sow the seeds in a pot, first let a tiny root appear. This is called pre-germinating, and it lets you know the seeds have started properly.
It is easy: fold a piece of kitchen roll or toilet paper a few times, moisten it (damp, not wet), and place it in a small container.
Check now and then to see whether a root has appeared. Sometimes you see one after 2 or 3 days, but often it takes longer. Some seeds can take more than 10 days.
That is why you pre-sow them indoors around late April or early May. You plant the young plant in your garden box around the end of May. Because the plants grow quickly, you can also pre-sow them in late May. Then the plant can move outside sooner.
Before you sow the seeds in a pot, first let a tiny root appear. This is called pre-germinating, and it lets you know the seeds have started properly.
It is easy: fold a piece of kitchen roll or toilet paper a few times, moisten it (damp, not wet), and place it in a small container.
Check now and then to see whether a root has appeared. Sometimes you see one after 2 or 3 days, but often it takes longer. Some seeds can take more than 10 days.
Level 2: put the pre-germinated seeds into airpots
You need:
- pre-germinated seeds
- MM airpots (large size): 1 per seed
- MM pre-sowing mix or MM coconut seed-starting mix
- clear kitchen film (not needed with coconut mix)
Note: MM coconut seed-starting mix does not contain plant food by itself. The first time you prepare it, add one full tablespoon of MM plant food.
Fill the airpots with pre-sowing mix and moisten it.
Make a generous hole in the mix, about 1 cm deep, and place the seed in it very carefully so you do not damage the tiny root. Close the hole and cover the airpot with kitchen film to keep the mix and seed moist (not needed with coconut mix).
Finally, put the pot somewhere warm in the living room. Avoid placing it above a radiator or in full sun, as that can quickly become too warm.
Make a generous hole in the mix, about 1 cm deep, and place the seed in it very carefully so you do not damage the tiny root. Close the hole and cover the airpot with kitchen film to keep the mix and seed moist (not needed with coconut mix).
Finally, put the pot somewhere warm in the living room. Avoid placing it above a radiator or in full sun, as that can quickly become too warm.
Level 3: courgette seedlings
As soon as you see the seedling appear, you know things are going well. Remove the film from the pot if needed and put it in the brightest spot you have, but preferably not somewhere too warm.
Keep the mix moist and turn the pot a quarter turn every day. This prevents the seedlings from growing crooked.
After another 5 days or so, it is time for the next level.
Level 4 and 5: care for your plants on the windowsill
To help your plant grow well, put it in full light, but keep it below 20 degrees C.
The seedling soon grows into a real little plant. Turn the pot a quarter turn every day so it does not grow crooked. It is also important to keep the mix moist, but not soaking wet.
The seedling soon grows into a real little plant. Turn the pot a quarter turn every day so it does not grow crooked. It is also important to keep the mix moist, but not soaking wet.
How do you sow and grow climbing courgette?
This courgette variety is included in the free Makkelijke Moestuin app. Use it, and you get step-by-step guidance from seed to harvest.
Each vegetable goes through a number of stages: we call them levels. The app tells you exactly what to do at each level and checks in when your plants are ready for the next one.
So you do not need to know how to grow courgette before you start: the app takes you through every step.
For the full product details, see the climbing courgette in the shop.
Each vegetable goes through a number of stages: we call them levels. The app tells you exactly what to do at each level and checks in when your plants are ready for the next one.
So you do not need to know how to grow courgette before you start: the app takes you through every step.
For the full product details, see the climbing courgette in the shop.
Level 6-10: harden them off outdoors
Around mid-May, let the plants get used to outdoor air: a little longer each day.
In the final level they stay outside all day, and you only bring them back indoors at night.
In the final level they stay outside all day, and you only bring them back indoors at night.
Level 11: plant the strongest courgette in your garden box
Once your plant is used to outdoor air, choose the strongest one and transplant it into your outdoor garden box. Place it at the back of the box by the trellis.
To help the plant get going, add 2 tablespoons of extra MM plant food to the planting hole before putting the plant in.
To help the plant get going, add 2 tablespoons of extra MM plant food to the planting hole before putting the plant in.
Level 12 and 13: care and trellis
During these levels, it may still be fairly cool and the plant may not grow very quickly yet. Make sure it grows upwards and not sideways. If needed, place a small stick beside it to guide it towards the trellis.
Water every day when the weather is dry. A climbing courgette does not grip the trellis net by itself, so tie it to the net with string, clips, or plant ties.
Water every day when the weather is dry. A climbing courgette does not grip the trellis net by itself, so tie it to the net with string, clips, or plant ties.
Level 14: flowering and pollination
Your plant will start flowering quite soon. Courgettes have both male and female flowers: the male flowers only have a stem, while female flowers have a swelling under the bud where the fruit forms.
Bees and bumblebees are meant to pollinate the female flowers with pollen from the male flowers.
If that does not happen, the tiny courgette or pumpkin may fall off before it really starts growing. Unfortunately, there are fewer bees than there used to be. To be sure, you can also pollinate the flowers yourself:
If that does not happen, the tiny courgette or pumpkin may fall off before it really starts growing. Unfortunately, there are fewer bees than there used to be. To be sure, you can also pollinate the flowers yourself:
As soon as a female flower opens, pick a male flower and remove the petals. They are tasty in salads, or you can add them to a smoothie.
Then rub the large stamen along the stigma of the female flower.
That is it: the flower is pollinated, and the courgette can start growing.
The next levels: harvesting
With a bit of good weather, you can harvest the first courgettes in early July. They taste best when they are 20 to 30 cm long. Picking them early also encourages more flowers and therefore more fruit.
Cut them off with scissors at the short, thick stem. That gives you the smallest chance of damaging the plant.
Cut them off with scissors at the short, thick stem. That gives you the smallest chance of damaging the plant.
Growth and extra plant food
Once the first courgettes are growing, sprinkle one scoop of extra plant food (30 ml, or 2 tablespoons) around the base of the plant every four to five weeks. The app will remind you.
The plant grows tall: in a greenhouse it can quickly reach around two metres or more, and in a warm summer it can do that outdoors too. Tie it to the trellis regularly.
You can keep harvesting until the first frost, or a little longer if you protect your plants from the cold.
Courgettes can be slow to get started, especially if the weather is still cool when you put them outside. But once they settle in, not much can go wrong.
Sometimes the small courgettes fall off before they start growing. They probably have not been pollinated, or the plant is getting too little plant food.
Read more about that here.
In autumn, you will almost always see mildew. By then, it is rarely a real problem.
Sometimes the small courgettes fall off before they start growing. They probably have not been pollinated, or the plant is getting too little plant food.
Read more about that here.
In autumn, you will almost always see mildew. By then, it is rarely a real problem.
How can you use courgette?
You can use courgettes in all sorts of ways: briefly boiled, stir-fried, grilled on the barbecue, diced into an omelette or pasta sauce, or made into soup.
Small courgettes can be eaten raw in salads, just like the flowers.
You can also use them as a pizza topping, as Atalanta does:
Small courgettes can be eaten raw in salads, just like the flowers.
You can also use them as a pizza topping, as Atalanta does:
Yes, definitely. Courgettes contain plenty of potassium, which is good for your heart and blood vessels. They also contain vitamins B1, B2, B6, B11, and C, which support your metabolism and immune system.
Vitamin A and the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin are good for your eyes. And because courgettes contain plenty of fibre and hardly any carbohydrates, they are a good light choice too.
Vitamin A and the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin are good for your eyes. And because courgettes contain plenty of fibre and hardly any carbohydrates, they are a good light choice too.
Dus: wat let je om zelf courgette te zaaien en te kweken?
Onze courgettes zijn lekker, geven een enorme oogst en zijn erg leuk om zelf te telen. Plus: met onze app en materialen is het bijna onmogelijk om te falen 🙂
Succes!
Succes!
Succes!
