Pushing Courgettes

Courgette or zucchini plants can be incredibly abundant, and can easily produce too much. I have found that these plants can be managed to produce lots of courgettes or zucchini over a longer part of the season, rather than getting overwhelmed with a glut.
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Пікірлер: 178

  • @n.m.8728
    @n.m.87283 жыл бұрын

    I've stopped growing squashes in my yard as I know my neighbor is going to grow some every year and will give me the excess!

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    Sounds like a good solution!

  • @A.I.-
    @A.I.-3 жыл бұрын

    I once thought certain plants are a waste of time if you don't like them. But now, I see them as biomass, green manure, nutrient recycler, soil ground improver, cover crop, chicken feed, chop and drop, etc... I'll just plant anything excess in any open gaps I have in the garden. Best to plant are the easy growers and if the easy growing plants are struggling, its a great indicator of your soil.

  • @TreyNitrotoluene
    @TreyNitrotoluene3 жыл бұрын

    The large ones makes the BEST pasta substitutes.

  • @CheeerriOH

    @CheeerriOH

    3 жыл бұрын

    Best low-carb substitute apart from cauliflower rice.

  • @TreyNitrotoluene

    @TreyNitrotoluene

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@CheeerriOH Yep, the starchy dense texture of the big ones become much more enjoyable spiralized. It's nearly identical.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    I'll have to try using them that way.

  • @link_7164

    @link_7164

    3 жыл бұрын

    I’ve, at least temporarily, settled on raw spiralised courgette if I don’t need the extra calories from pasta. What do you do with the large ones?

  • @AtheistEve
    @AtheistEve3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for the info. And double thanks for not including mid-roll ads.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    You bet! I don't like ads, and really don't like the mid-roll ones.

  • @Mr71paul71

    @Mr71paul71

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yes KZread is taking the p@@@ with the number of ads lately

  • @AtheistEve

    @AtheistEve

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@Mr71paul71 I’ve had to unsub some really good channels because of them - with much regret.

  • @tweyesopen8713
    @tweyesopen87133 жыл бұрын

    Love your videos. Much love. Happy gardening.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks so much

  • @jimmyjohnny3779
    @jimmyjohnny37793 жыл бұрын

    I found yellow courgette attracted lots of bees this year, bigger target for them to find and pollinate 👍 Greetings from Cork ♥️

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    Hmm, that is interesting.

  • @A.I.-

    @A.I.-

    3 жыл бұрын

    I once thought bees, were following just scents... Until one day I was walking around in my Garden wearing my Basketball shorts and noticed that 3 bees were following me. My shorts was 90% bright yellow with blue stripes on the side. And they were attracted to the color of my basketball short and was hovering around my short. I stood still and they repeatedly landed and hover several times confused of the texture with no pollen.

  • @ciarfah

    @ciarfah

    2 жыл бұрын

    @@A.I.- It must be to do with contrast too. I have seen bees buzzing at some white twist ties holding together some dark green bird netting

  • @pomicultorul
    @pomicultorul3 жыл бұрын

    I/we cannot thank you enough for these videos. I wish you best of health!

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    :)

  • @teatimetraveller
    @teatimetraveller3 жыл бұрын

    there are a few parthenocarpic varieties of courgette which set fruit even if they don't get pollinated. Partenon is a good one and high yielding. Good for bad weather and no insects.

  • @theressomelovelyfilthdownh4329

    @theressomelovelyfilthdownh4329

    3 жыл бұрын

    Cheers, I may just give those a go next year .

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    Interesting. I hadn't heard that parthenocarpic varieties were available.

  • @teatimetraveller

    @teatimetraveller

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@REDGardens yes i've grown them in tunnels as an early crop prior to outdoor plants maturing. If the weather is with you you can get courgettes end May!

  • @GrownToCook

    @GrownToCook

    3 жыл бұрын

    I have grown 'Cavili' which is parthenocarpic and started producing much earlier and gave a much bigger overall yield than a regular variety growing next to it but unfortunately I cannot find the seeds any longer

  • @nickthegardener.1120
    @nickthegardener.11202 жыл бұрын

    I like to grow my courgettes in 2 chimney pots in my front garden. I put fresh homemade compost in and top up with bought compost, I get loads normally. Black beauty has been the most productive variety that I've grown.👍

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    2 жыл бұрын

    I want to explore growing more vegetables in containers. Interesting to hear that Black Beauty has worked well for you.

  • @carolrobb6400
    @carolrobb64003 жыл бұрын

    Have you looked at the you tube gardener call "Nature's always Right" he uses a method of circling the climbing plants around & around the whole bed by laying the stripped stems on the ground on top of each other, thereby lowering each plant. Rotating all the plants clockwise all the time, so they never reach the top of he tunnel. The top of the string has a hook so that it can be unhooked & moved & rehooked.

  • @oneoveralpha
    @oneoveralpha3 жыл бұрын

    We chop up the bigger ones and use them to make zucchini bread.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    I love zucchini bread, but can't eat enough to put any real dent in an over abundance.

  • @oneoveralpha

    @oneoveralpha

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@REDGardens Yeah we usually end up freezing a bunch to make zucchini bread over the winter, but come next spring a lot of it ends up being fed to the chickens. Who may or may not eat it, depending on their mood.

  • @VanderlyndenJengold

    @VanderlyndenJengold

    2 жыл бұрын

    I feed the larger courgette's to the chickens - I think they are sick of them... yet cucumbers hung up are still demolished.

  • @russellwrye5641
    @russellwrye56412 жыл бұрын

    I really enjoy watching your videos. I like that you tell what you did right and what you did wrong. Looking forward to more in the future to see what changes you make and the different results you get

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    2 жыл бұрын

    Thank you! I am glad that my approach to these videos is appreciated!

  • @09137
    @091373 жыл бұрын

    We personally grow big courgettes every other week to cut in half and stuff as zuchinni boats. I highly recommend cutting them in half scooping out the inside and then saute it with protein like sausage, onions, herbs, garlic, and greens. Then you stuff it back into the hollowed-out boats and we bake it over rice for a complete meal.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    I have eaten them like that, but didn't really like the mix we used. I must try it again. When you mention scooping out the insides, do you mean just the pulpy seed part, or do you also scoop out the firmer flesh?

  • @09137

    @09137

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@REDGardens I will actually scrape down pretty deep until the outer skin is roughly 3 mm thick. For the bake in use herbs like savory and sage but lighter herbs like French tarragon, dill, and lemon thyme work really well too. A tomato sauce poured over the rice and zuchinni also works really well.

  • @herbertclaasen1423
    @herbertclaasen14232 жыл бұрын

    every video is so informative and well structured. Really good quality, thank you, keep going!

  • @latinoenturquia8486
    @latinoenturquia84863 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for share

  • @yourdaddy925
    @yourdaddy9253 жыл бұрын

    Courgette is my favourite plant in my garden. It gives so much fruits with so little work put in. :)

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    I really like them too.

  • @yourdaddy925

    @yourdaddy925

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@REDGardens :))

  • @skylights9646
    @skylights96463 жыл бұрын

    Instead of German potato salad (crabs😕) I make German Zuc Salad. We use a little sugar on GPS but now I have to use a sweetener. It's still great. Tons of types of pickles or relishes. Dehydrate for soups and breads later.

  • @kabenzie
    @kabenzie3 жыл бұрын

    this may be my favorite channel

  • @niallgardens
    @niallgardens3 жыл бұрын

    Just came across your channel affected someone recommended it to me - it’s brilliant! I’m up in Co.Meath and starting on my veg garden / self-sufficiency journey 😃

  • @martinalvarez3053
    @martinalvarez30533 жыл бұрын

    Love it

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    :)

  • @sheelaghomalley3292
    @sheelaghomalley32922 жыл бұрын

    I remove some leaves on a regular basis. Airflow definitely helps. As you say it probably helps with pollinators. I will definitely try your upright growing style especially in tunnels

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    2 жыл бұрын

    It seems to help. Hope you have some success with the upright growing approach.

  • @andreeabouros8981
    @andreeabouros89813 жыл бұрын

    Happy new year 🎇🎉 Bruce I wish you a lovely full of greens 2021😊 Looking forward for spring and new tips from you😁

  • @GardensforLife
    @GardensforLife3 жыл бұрын

    Great Video Bruce! Well done :D

  • @ndixon8241
    @ndixon82412 жыл бұрын

    Did you know you can freeze courgettes? Slice them as usual, lay them on a tray and freeze for a couple of hours, then you can put the frozen slices into a zip lock bag for the deep freeze, ready for using in batch cooking lasagne or use later in stews in the slow cooker etc.

  • @karlhawkes3820
    @karlhawkes38203 жыл бұрын

    My tips: Use 3+ garden canes between leaves, to train upwards instead of string. Never EVER compost diseased leaves. And keep them out of green bins. Diluted supermarket disinfectant is a cheap way to remove the fungus (powdery mildew)

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    The three canes approach would definitely be faster.

  • @stevehatcher7700

    @stevehatcher7700

    3 жыл бұрын

    If your compost pile typically runs hot enough, by all means, toss in diseased leaves. Particularly common and endemic diseases such as mildews and blights who are everywhere in the surrounding environment anyways. The hot compost pile will kill most the spores, and then you'll still get powdery mildew on your plants next season after it's been blooming on the roses next door, or on the clover in the front lawn, etc...

  • @samuelbarrow5604
    @samuelbarrow56043 жыл бұрын

    you are the only channel i subscribe to that i genuinely check every day to see if you post! love your content dude!

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks! I just released a new video, finally! Sorry for the long break.

  • @samuelbarrow5604

    @samuelbarrow5604

    3 жыл бұрын

    RED Gardens watched it first thing this morning!! no need to apologize i wasn’t complaining. i was just stating that your my favorite channel! thank you for the work you do. and the way you style your videos are really pleasing to my autistim.

  • @joburgerer4127
    @joburgerer41273 жыл бұрын

    Still infatuated with your channel.So informative! Greetings from Cape Town

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for watching!

  • @philandhannahslittlefarm1464

    @philandhannahslittlefarm1464

    3 жыл бұрын

    Capetown is my favorite city! Beautiful!

  • @growyourstreet
    @growyourstreet3 жыл бұрын

    Always interesting , thx for your analys from belgium ;)

  • @jeanmata6400
    @jeanmata64003 жыл бұрын

    The ligth green courgets is the best courget plant it starts producing from early season to late season its a great growing plant

  • @steveneason893
    @steveneason8933 жыл бұрын

    Heirloom summer squash like Costata Romanesco and Yellow Crookneck, have a long season and produce more male flowers than hybrids. The can pollinate any kind of C. pepo summer squash. They are not as productive as hybrids, but in compensation, they taste better!

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    I do like the Costata Romanesco, but haven't though about them producing more male flowers than the hybrids. Something I'll have to keep an eye on next year, and I wonder if it is useful to intermix the plants to get better pollination from the more productive varieties.

  • @danielfisch655
    @danielfisch6553 жыл бұрын

    Beautiful zucchini’s, we are just starting to harvest ours, great info and thank you for sharing.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    Cool - i guess you are in the southern hemisphere?

  • @VagabondAnne
    @VagabondAnne3 жыл бұрын

    This year I grew a Mexican pale green variety called Tatume, which I got from Baker Creek, and I was not prepared for its marked vining trait - next year it will go up a string! It was delicious when harvested young and pale green, not so much when round and dark green, which is what is shown on the packet . I recommend this one!! My other favorite is the Sicilian cucuzzi, but it is possibly too heat- hungry for Ireland.

  • @theressomelovelyfilthdownh4329

    @theressomelovelyfilthdownh4329

    3 жыл бұрын

    They should be ok in a poly tunnel or greenhouse. The main issue this year for me at least was all the wind and rain we got during the summer. April and May were really nice here. With the poly pushing the high 30`s to around 40c most days. But the awful summer weather meant the bees etc were grounded a lot of the time.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    I grew a few other varieties in my other polytunnel (didn't have time in this video to talk about them), and a few were a lot more vining which caught me un prepared. Some of them were really abundant!

  • @MMPaquette

    @MMPaquette

    3 жыл бұрын

    Lemon squash from Baker Creek is also quasi-vining. Very easy to stake once you're prepared! My new favorite.

  • @gailwarrington3841
    @gailwarrington38413 жыл бұрын

    Great video Bruce! Never thought of growing cougetts vertically, great idea. Did the mistake once of planting too many plants, never again, they were everywhere 😂. Just plant 2 or 3, but will be trying 3 different ones next year in both my gardens (one 300 foot above see level and 1000 foot above 😱) looking forward to May/June already 😀. Take care 👍

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    They can take up a lot of space, and it does seem odd to leave so much empty space when transplanting them out, but they can fill it really quickly.

  • @GailHarrell
    @GailHarrell3 жыл бұрын

    Great piece! Our maritime climate in the Pacific Northwest is nearly identical to Charles Dowding-zone 8. I am no dig and gardening all year round. This was the first time I tried growing zukes up stakes and I love it! No powdery mildew and, for the first time ever, not one surprise giant hiding somewhere. The trouble with tying up a stake is if you get behind, they droop down and I had one behead itself because of it. The comment about using 3+ sticks around the plant instead is a wonderful idea and I'm going to use that one for sure. I have also grown Black Beauty for some time but this year added Emerald Delight and I may have a new favorite. Very healthy and prolific. Appreciate your analysis always, thanks!

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    Yeah, it is a real hassle when they drop down if I haven't attended to them in a while. Definitely going to try the three stick approach.

  • @oiavh
    @oiavh3 жыл бұрын

    We use the overgrown fruits to make soups (blended) and then freeze them if we can't eat them straight away

  • @michaelmcclafferty3346
    @michaelmcclafferty33463 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for this video Bruce. I think that I will put some pots of English and French Marigolds next to my courgettes this year along with some Poached Egg plants. Hopefully, these will attract lots of pollinators.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    Hope that works for you.

  • @hairybass480
    @hairybass4803 жыл бұрын

    Me and my indoor pickle bush cucumbers. No bees inside. What a task for off season home grown pickles.

  • @mellowmax
    @mellowmax2 жыл бұрын

    i pollinated my Squash with a paint brush, seemed to work pretty well

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    2 жыл бұрын

    That would probably work quite well.

  • @realm919
    @realm9193 жыл бұрын

    Have you ever tried lavapowder? it seems eifelgold lava powder battles mildew when sprinkled on the leaves and slowly feeds the soil while improving soil quality without washing out. It's not extremely expensive so it might be a fun project to compare a field with and without over the months! other people have been using it in our community garden and thye are growing huge cauliflowers with leaves spanning up to 120cm with massive heads.

  • @GrownToCook
    @GrownToCook3 жыл бұрын

    Ha, I once mentioned in a video that I discard the too large courgettes on a compost heap and concentrate on harvesting the more palatable smaller fruits and it did upset some of my viewers :) This year I grew 4 varieties and there was definitely a difference in how long they kept producing- 'Rheinau Gold' kept on going the longest (last harvest was 11th October. I have grown a climbing variety 'Ola Escaladora' vertically last year, weaving the stem through our trellis made out of concrete remesh which is less work than tying in. I have not tried growing regular varieties vertically - side by side comparison would be interesting!

  • @sunnytian4551
    @sunnytian45513 жыл бұрын

    I grow my zucchini vertically It prevents zucchini from break in the middle of season and produce longer period of crops. Also keeping keep cutting the leave bellow the zucchini helped with mildew problem.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    Interesting. Do you wind them up a string, or in a cage, or tie them to a post?

  • @sunnytian4551

    @sunnytian4551

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@REDGardens tie them to a metal post. It's can get quite heavy, definitely need a stronger post. But his method require more work. Need to tie the zucchini plant constantly as it grow, and keep trimming the leaves below the same time. 😊

  • @sunnytian4551

    @sunnytian4551

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@REDGardens I don't have much space, that is another main reason I tie them on a post to have it grow vertically.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@sunnytian4551 Makes sense.

  • @Mr6Sinner
    @Mr6Sinner3 жыл бұрын

    We use the ones that get to big for making zucchini bread.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    I like zucchini bread, but always disappointed how little zucchini a loaf actually uses up!

  • @locke294
    @locke2943 жыл бұрын

    could you do some videos on winter gardening? what do you do? basket weaving from november to april? :)

  • @chrisitinabobinski3798
    @chrisitinabobinski37982 жыл бұрын

    26 lbs is amazing I wish I had gotten that I think I got around 7 lbs for a first year grower.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    2 жыл бұрын

    7 lbs is still a lot of courgette to get. Hope you get more next year, but not so much more that you cannot manage them, which often seems to be the case with this crop.

  • @jamenforsatan
    @jamenforsatan3 жыл бұрын

    Have you ever looked in to mycilum addition to newly planted plants? It dermed like and overlooked area of focus.

  • @NashvilleMonkey1000
    @NashvilleMonkey10003 жыл бұрын

    We had a ton of perfect sized ones, like the smaller bananas that are much better. There were 5 giant ones, 4 of them at the end of the season, and the giant one when overlooked will cause the plant to not make any more of them. It's kind of surprising that so many giant ones could hide so easily under the leaves~ At the moment I have to find out what has just started eating my strawberry leaves.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    It is amazing how long some of them can stay hidden!

  • @benmishkin1491
    @benmishkin14913 жыл бұрын

    It's amazing how productive these plants can be, even in the cool, maritime climate we have here in the US Pacific Northwest. One of the ways that I've found to manage the abundance of zucchini in my garden and to extend the productive season is to harvest the flowers as a vegetable. My Italian in-laws introduced me to the joys of fried zucchini blossoms, which I think may be even tastier than than the squashes themselves. If you take care to remove only the female flowers before they open, you can cut down on the number of full-grown zucchini you need to keep on top of later in the harvest season and you get to enjoy a another delicious vegetable a bit earlier in the season.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    That is something I would like to try.

  • @michaelmcclafferty3346
    @michaelmcclafferty33463 жыл бұрын

    Good video Bruce , thanks. Have you thought about encouraging bee keepers to move some of their hives into the gardens to improve pollinating? Hand pollination is such a chaff. ( Doric for an unwelcome task) Glad to see that your chickens like the bigger courgettes. I’ll try that with mine next year.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    There are already hives right beside the gardens, but I rarely see a honey bee in the gardens. It seems they are more attracted to things farther away.

  • @michaelmcclafferty3346

    @michaelmcclafferty3346

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@REDGardens Thanks Bruce. I grow plants that attract honey bees and other bugs like ladybirds on my allotment. These are mainly flowers such as nasturtium, French and English marigolds, sunflowers and the poached egg plant. I’m told stinging nettles are good too but not obviously in the middle of beds! I’m not sure that I’ve got it right but will keep trying. The courgettes seem to do okay.

  • @MAMDAVEM

    @MAMDAVEM

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@REDGardens I understand from a bee keeping friend, that bees are very good at knowing which plants give them the most energy and selectively choose these plants over less nectar giving plants even if they are closer.

  • @billastell3753
    @billastell37533 жыл бұрын

    If you have chickens the big zukes never go to waste. Cut them down the center, lay them out on the ground and the chickens will eat them all up.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    I did that for a bit, and then my hens seemed to loose interest for some reason, they just stopped eating them.

  • @billastell3753

    @billastell3753

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@REDGardens I guess even chickens can get too much of a good thing. I typically have about 50 chickens so I haven't hit that level yet.

  • @timstewart8690
    @timstewart86903 жыл бұрын

    Bruce, just a tip, of which I'm sure you're aware. Always use a sharp, clean knife to remove the harvest. Take care. :o)

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    I do that sometimes, but to film with one hand and cut with the other.

  • @heron6462

    @heron6462

    3 жыл бұрын

    I find scissors best - there's less chance of overshooting and damaging the plant than with a knife. Also no need to trim the broken ends that you get with twist-and-pull.

  • @timstewart8690

    @timstewart8690

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@heron6462 Knife or scissors, they are better for having rounded tips. Whichever you choose, be kind to your plants, until they're done. :o)

  • @heron6462

    @heron6462

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@timstewart8690 Noted!

  • @farmerchick3040
    @farmerchick30403 жыл бұрын

    I feed and excess to our chickens and pigs or I roast it with my tomatoes and freeze it to make my homemade marinara later. With animals on the farm nothing goes to waste.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    I used to feed them to the chickens, but they seemed to not like them after a while. But i consider the worms in my compost to be type of 'livestock' so I have no problem feeding surplus to the compost. They help turn it into next years food. This past season we started doing something similar to you, roasting them with other vegetables and then freezing for sauces throughout the winter. Yum.

  • @dennistaylor3796
    @dennistaylor37962 жыл бұрын

    Shred the large ones and freeze for zucchini bread in winter

  • @rulerofthelight
    @rulerofthelight3 жыл бұрын

    Great video... Any thoughts about keeping them single stemmed?

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    Thanks. I generally cut off any suckers or secondary stems that appear, but it isn't so typical with the variety I have grown. Not sure what difference it makes, but I find I don't see the courgettes to pick if there is more than one stem.

  • @datbotdaddy
    @datbotdaddy3 жыл бұрын

    I didn’t check mine for two days and I had six all weighing over 5kg

  • @lisahodges8299
    @lisahodges82993 жыл бұрын

    Do you have a local food bank? it's never much as I am limited for time with food growing. I normally just set up a "free table" where passers by can help themselves. Sorry I don't yet understand the ethos behind your work except that you have a strong academic approach. Thank you for this. Birdy

  • @alveygardens
    @alveygardens3 жыл бұрын

    the rot looks like squash vine borer damage

  • @TheD510addict
    @TheD510addict3 жыл бұрын

    I have found that Male vs Female flowering is opposite for me. Tons of Male flowers early and late. I end up with a crazy abundance regardless, but it is interesting to see how much the climate can affect flowering.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    I have heard the same from other people. I wonder what triggers the different flowers at different times.

  • @OrtoInScatola
    @OrtoInScatola3 жыл бұрын

    Hi Bruce, interesting video as usual. I have tried all the approaches you mentioned as zucchini is a very popular plant to grow in Italy. Most people who have a small vegetable garden here have relatively poor clay soil amended with well rotten manure once a year before the season starts. When they transplant the young zucchini plants they make a large vulcano shaped enclosure around the plant to protect it when young and to ensure that all the water goes to the plant and doesn’t run away. Growing vertically is something that I have seen doing mostly by professional vegetable growers. They use sticks instead of ropes or strings and they use the older and larger leaf stems to tie the plant securely to the canes. I have tried this method this year with much less messier results in managing the plants. Finally you didn’t mention the aspect of getting bitter fruits by the end of the season. Do you not have this problem? What kind of varieties do you grow?

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    that is interesting, especially the idea of growing them vertically by tying stems to sticks. I think I have noticed the bitterness later in the season, but only in the unfertilised fruit. The variety I grew in these gardens is a hybrid called Ambassador, but I grew a range of others in another polytunnel.

  • @OrtoInScatola

    @OrtoInScatola

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@REDGardens this video shows how to do it. It’s in Italian, but you will understand how to do it just from the video kzread.info/dash/bejne/aJiJk7h8eMvUYNo.html

  • @rideswithscissors
    @rideswithscissors3 жыл бұрын

    Just be careful _where_ you push those courgettes! I tried growing the zukes up some posts, it was a bit tricky, I broke one stem while manipulating it, and that was the end of the plant, but I had one too many plants anyway. I like eating very young fruits right from the plant. My neighbor gives the marrows to his dog, an Irish wolfhound as a matter of fact, and Finnley does eat some of it!

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    It can be tricky, I've also snapped off the growing tip on a few. The smaller ones are great!

  • @NCharlesworth86
    @NCharlesworth863 жыл бұрын

    The rotting stem looks like the squash vine borer beetle that I get in texas. Very difficult pest to control

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    Ok, that is something worth investigating. Thanks.

  • @ryno4ever433

    @ryno4ever433

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@REDGardens I actually came to comment this as well. The yellow mottling on the stem looks exactly like squash vine borer damage. They killed ALL of my squash last year. Preventing vine borers is the only way to deal with them as once you notice that kind of damage, it's likely too late to do much about it.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@ryno4ever433 I don't think there are present here in Ireland, but perhaps it is something similar.

  • @Dayla1960
    @Dayla19603 жыл бұрын

    I don't mind the giant zuccs, my chooks, chickens, adore them

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    I found my chickens were not so thrilled with them

  • @foggypatchfarm6048
    @foggypatchfarm60483 жыл бұрын

    Yes, to the chickens! That's what I was thinking right way.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    Unfortunately they didn't eat many and seemed to be turned off by them after a while.

  • @trollforge
    @trollforge3 жыл бұрын

    OK, I have to ask! Why did you choose to use Caledon as a comparison? It is about 3 1/2 hours west of here and rather milder due to the Lake Effect on the weather, as you are considerably milder due to the Gulf Stream effect while being further north. (We "enjoy" temperatures that can range from - 40C in January /February to +40 in July /August.) ;)

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    Excellent question. It is where I grew up! So I always use it as a reference.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    So that would put you somewhere around Kingston, Ontario, or a bit further north?

  • @trollforge

    @trollforge

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@REDGardens awesome! My Mother's family is from that area!

  • @trollforge

    @trollforge

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@REDGardens almost due north of Cornwall, about 1/2 way between Ottawa and Montreal, near the Ottawa River.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@trollforge My uncle used to live near Hawkesbury. I spent a few summers hanging out on the Ottawa river.

  • @Emeraldwitch30
    @Emeraldwitch303 жыл бұрын

    I'm lucky I have chickens and a friend raises pigs so if I have too many big ones they get to feast. Oh and my goofy dog absolutely loves to play fetch with the big ones until she gets bored then she chews and eats them lol.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    Lol! It is amazing what some dogs will eat.

  • @Emeraldwitch30

    @Emeraldwitch30

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@REDGardens at least my vet said its good for her as long as she isn't eating too many. I cant wait for this growing season. I ordered a new golden zucchini called sunstripe it looks like a gold variety of Italian ribbed zucchini. We get vine borers here by middle of summer and they can take out my whole row of zucchini. But last year I replanted in early august and got an excellent crop of zucchini and yellow crook neck before fall. And after the vibe borers mating season so no critters. Happy gardening from US (Michigan)

  • @Emeraldwitch30

    @Emeraldwitch30

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@REDGardens oh and thank you for your very informative videos. Because of you I tried microgreens in my garden last year. Sunflowers/ peas/mungbeans. Theybm did very well except I had voles enjoy the peas before I could but the mung beans and Sunflowers were wonderfully tasty out in the garden. And when they got a bit too big and tough for us I cut them for my chickens too. Again thank you 😊

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@Emeraldwitch30 glad to hear that you had good success with the Microgreens, and cool that they worked well with the has too.

  • @chrisclement3706
    @chrisclement37062 жыл бұрын

    I call the really big ones "Home-wreckers".....Well, at least me Mum did, so I do to :P

  • @ciarfah

    @ciarfah

    2 жыл бұрын

    Oh dear, haha

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    2 жыл бұрын

    Appropriate name!

  • @ciarfah
    @ciarfah2 жыл бұрын

    Just treat growth beyond the ideal size as extra water and seeds, rather than extra food

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    2 жыл бұрын

    That is another way to approach it. The common idea is that leaving any on the vine to get big will reduce what you can harvest later on in the season, and I want to do a trial to see if that is the case.

  • @markh9129
    @markh91293 жыл бұрын

    I think your stem rot is actually squash vine bore. This is a wasp looking moth that's larva grows in the stems. They always destroy my squash in the United States.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    I was wondering if that could be the culprit, but could not find any larvae, and I have not found any reference to them being in Ireland.

  • @MartinMMeiss-mj6li
    @MartinMMeiss-mj6li3 жыл бұрын

    Are you sure those "rotted" stems aren't the victims of the squash vine borer?

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    I am not certain, but I haven’t found any grub in the stem and I don’t think that species is located in Ireland.

  • @MartinMMeiss-mj6li

    @MartinMMeiss-mj6li

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@REDGardens Whew! Then I guess your safe. Those moths are a sure antidote to overproduction!

  • @Kolar522
    @Kolar5223 жыл бұрын

    Open your thinking a bit. If you lack pollinators you need to build them habitat and encourage them to live in your garden. Simple holes in wood work wonders for me. Do some reading on wild bee populations.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    I have done a lot of that work, and we have had fantastic populations of native bumble bees for a few years now because of this work, though a bit less this past season probably because of the late hard frosts. Lack of pollinators at the end of the season I can understand as they will likely be done for the year, but there are times in the middle of the season when there are loads of bees at the flowers in the surrounding landscape that we grew especially to help the pollinator populations, but none in the flowers in my crops. The bees were there but distracted by apparently more favourable flowers, and I ended up with less crop to harvest.

  • @Philrc
    @Philrc2 жыл бұрын

    If I see anyone pushing courgettes I'm calling the cops, man

  • @mellowmax
    @mellowmax2 жыл бұрын

    Have you got a Bee hive?

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    2 жыл бұрын

    There are a few bee hives right beside the gardens.

  • @talkingjoseph5582
    @talkingjoseph55823 жыл бұрын

    Get chickens for the excess

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    I had a hens a few years ago and they seemed to not like them very much, which I thought was strange!

  • @paulwright7595
    @paulwright75953 жыл бұрын

    I once ran out of gas and had to push my courgette (corvette) 3 miles!

  • @declanbanfield4348

    @declanbanfield4348

    3 жыл бұрын

    Dude the dad joke channel is second door on the right. ;-)

  • @theressomelovelyfilthdownh4329

    @theressomelovelyfilthdownh4329

    3 жыл бұрын

    @@declanbanfield4348 I hear 1972 is suing him for plagiarism.

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    Haha

  • @soniamarshall9293
    @soniamarshall92933 жыл бұрын

    Don't understand? Don't we have many hungry people around that would love free food?

  • @REDGardens

    @REDGardens

    3 жыл бұрын

    As is usually the case - the problem is distribution, not supply.

  • @anneliesemodeker2104
    @anneliesemodeker21043 жыл бұрын

    You can ferment the courgettes: kzread.info/dash/bejne/ZaF4zsSvqdSqnNo.html

  • @freedomwoodgasandoffgridin8925
    @freedomwoodgasandoffgridin89253 жыл бұрын

    Love your channel! Butttt.... Your videos contain adds that fund the very people who want to end FREE SPEECH Publish on a different platform that is not You tube, twitter, facebook, or anything connected to Amazon