Fruit and Vegetables

Re: Courgets

miranda — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 18:38:42 GMT

It is extremely frustrating, Sue, especially as it seems to be a recent thing. I'll try your method next time, though we shouldn't need these work arounds just to post a couple of links.

Re: Courgets

sue1002 — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 17:40:39 GMT

That must be really frustrating for you Miranda, I've had posts go for moderation before that have included long links in them. When I was going to add three links in a post the next time, I made the post and included one of the links, then edited the post and put in the second one and did the same again for the third one and it didn't go for moderation

Re: Courgets

miranda — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 13:56:11 GMT

I did a search, Nevada, and found some very good recipes of all sorts for courgettes but, unfortunately, my post with a couple of links in got put into another moderation queue and has not appeared...

Re: Courgets

miranda — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:21:08 GMT

Haven't heard of courgette bread, Nevada. Found a recipe (http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/courgettebread_85718.shtml) that looks interesting. There are a lot of savoury recipes about as well. This is more to my taste: http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/1695/indian-bread-with-courgettes-and-coriander

Re: Courgets

Nevada gardener — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 02:56:45 GMT

You might try googling a recipe for zuchini bread. People here also make zuchini cake. They're both quite good. Sort of a moist spice cake or bread

Re: Courgets

Celtic Heart — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 15:20:43 GMT

The first time I had a glut I discovered how unpopular they are! I was amazed! I couldn't give them away, and I soon decided that if people didn't like them it was because they've never had them cooked in an appropriate way. That year, I soon learned to make chutney, adding lots of ginger to it, and it is one of the best chutneys I've ever made and everyone loved it. Gave jars and jars away. They also make a great dish of fried onions, apples and sliced courgettes, eaten hot or cold. mmmm, getting hungry now!

Re: Courgets

miranda — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 10:28:52 GMT

I think we must have plenty of pollinators about, headfullofbees, because all the flowers are producing fruit.

Yes, Phot's, been looking through our books for new ideas on using courgettes. Madhur Jaffreys's Asian vegetarian book has several interesting ideas that we're planning to try out. That's a good thing about all this seasonal food, it gets you out of the recipe rut.

Re: Courgets

Phot's-Moll — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 08:59:21 GMT

If you've got lots of courgettes you can use some up by chopping finely and added to all sorts of savoury dishes, such as curry, pasta sauces, lasagne, stews, soups. They make the meal go further and are very low in calories, so save cash and inches!

Re: Courgets

headfullofbees — Sun, 05 Jul 2009 07:03:58 GMT

miranda:
I haven't hand pollinated my courgettes and they're fruiting fine. Does it make a lot of difference

Can do.

Most of the time the flowers will be pollinated by bees, but hand pollination means that every female gets seen to.

When weather conditions mean no male flowers, you can really see the difference in the fruit.

Btw, I hand-pollinated my palm trees and got done for date rape.

Re: Courgets

miranda — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:47:20 GMT

I haven't hand pollinated my courgettes and they're fruiting fine. Does it make a lot of difference?

Re: Courgets

Nevada gardener — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:35:26 GMT

You're welcome. May you have so many courgets that you have to leave them on doorsteps in the middle of the night

Re: Courgets

Tammy — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:08:13 GMT

Thanks a lot Nevada gardener, I will try that again, I saw my courgetts today and the new ones are looking ok so far, next time i will try the brushing trick.

Thanks

Tammy

Re: Courgets

Tammy — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 18:06:41 GMT

HI Celtic Heart

I cut them off, those ones looking dry and sad, I have more courgetts coming out and they are looking very good, if the drying out happens again I will check as you recomended.

Thanks a lot

Tammy

Re: Courgets

Nevada gardener — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:12:53 GMT

My recollection is you take some pollen from the male flower with the brush and then brush the pollen inside the female flower lightly.

Re: Courgets

Celtic Heart — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:41:27 GMT

Hi Tamara. Nothing beats courgettes straight from the garden to the pan! If they are drying out, it sounds as if they have somehow been 'disconnected' from the stem. Can you see any cuts or holes where something has eaten through, or if they have somehow snapped off? Even a partial cut, which could be hidden from view, could stop enough water getting into the fruit. btw, with that many plants you will have enough to make chutney when the season really takes off!