Organic Courgette Seeds 'Cocozelle'

'Cocozelle' is a productive courgette variety that benefits from steady growth and plenty of space, making it well suited to summer harvesting.

For an early start, seeds can be sown indoors or under cover in individual pots filled with a good-quality organic seed compost in April/May. Courgettes prefer warmth to germinate, so aim for temperatures of around 18–22°C. Seeds usually germinate within 7–14 days.

Once seedlings are well established and have developed a few true leaves, they can be hardened off to be planted out. Courgettes are not frost-hardy, so plants should only be moved outdoors once the risk of frost has passed and the soil has begun to warm.

Plant into a sunny, sheltered position, spacing plants around 60cm apart to allow for their spreading growth habit and good airflow.

Seeds can also be sown directly outdoors once the soil has warmed and frosts have passed. Sow seeds individually and thin to the strongest plant if more than one seed germinates.

Water regularly, particularly during dry spells, and keep soil evenly moist to support steady growth and fruit development. Harvest fruits while young and tender to encourage continued cropping throughout the season.

Try to pick courgettes regularly when they are quite small, between 10 and 15cm long, to ensure a regular supply throughout the summer. They are an underrated vegetable that soaks up flavour, ideal for adding to stir frys and salads. If you can harvest them when very small and tender with their flowers still attached, they can be battered with tempura and fried for a light, crispy addition to your meal.

Seed compost: When sowing, a small amount of frass soil improver can be mixed into seed compost or added to planting holes. This helps provide a slow, steady source of nutrients as young courgette plants establish, supporting early root growth without overwhelming seedlings.

During the growing season: As courgette plants move into active growth, regular, gentle feeding can help support steady development and fruiting. Liquid seaweed fertilizer can be watered into the soil every couple of weeks, or used as a foliar feed to support plants during periods of strong growth or mild stress.

Frass can be used alongside this as a surface dressing through spring and summer, applied every 4–6 weeks and watered in. This helps maintain soil structure and long-term soil health as plants continue to grow and crop.

Protect young plants from slugs. Courgettes can be affected by Cucumber mosaic virus. CMV is spread by aphids and causes stunted growth and mottled leaves with alternating light green and dark green patches, but don’t confuse this with the natural colouration of courgette leaves.

Like many plants in the cucurbit family, courgettes can also be susceptible to powdery mildew, particularly later in the season or during warm, humid spells. Good spacing and airflow can help reduce its impact.

Cucurbita pepo var. cylindrica

Courgettes belong to the species Cucurbita pepo, a diverse group of plants that also includes pumpkins, squashes and some marrows. They have been grown and valued for centuries, particularly in Mediterranean regions where slender, striped varieties are traditionally favoured for their flavour and versatility in the kitchen.

Varieties can range widely in shape, colour and texture, from smooth dark green fruits to striped, dual colour and pale varieties like Cocozelle. When grown in the right conditions, they are known to produce a glut of fruits that will keep going until the first frost of the year.