https://stream.echo6.co/videos/watch/2f0b5376-df90-4351-b5f5-2c2cd6ade923 Courgettes can crop for four months or more, from one April sowing under cover. In this video I show how I start them in rich compost and explain why there’s no rush to sow too early, as they are susceptible to frost. I talk about using fleece for protection against spring’s cold winds — sometimes double layers if needed — in the UK, this is the 30gsm fleece I use https://charlesdowding.co.uk/products/fleece?variant=54252843204931 I share tips on planting distance and watering to keep growth steady. And my favourite variety is Defender F1 https://premierseedsdirect.com/product/courgette-defender-f1-charles/ I explain why I grow F1 varieties, when to remove the very first small fruits to encourage stronger cropping later, and how to harvest so that plants continue producing. We also look at the natural silver-grey colouring on leaves, which is often mistaken for powdery mildew, and how to keep plants productive through many months. With steady warmth, courgettes crop heavily through summer and into early autumn — often giving one family more than enough from just one or two plants. You can join this channel by paying a monthly fee, to support our work with helping gardeners grow better, and to receive monthly videos made only for members: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB1J6siDdmhwah7q0O2WJBg/join #courgettes #zucchini #growyourown #vegetablegardening #nodig #gardeningtips 00:00 Introduction - timing of sowings, options 00:52 Compost for sowing 01:43 Sowing in pot or in module trays 02:23 Warmth needed for germination, and watering 04:00 Growth end of April 04:16 End May - progress of growth, using fleece 06:38 Transplanting - spacing and depth 08:12 First baby courgette - good to remove 09:07 Flowers as sign to harvest 10:49 Spacing 11:37 Kale as previous planting - moisture and nutrients taken from soil 12:47 Early June - plants under fleece 13:36 First harvests - flower dying off 14:27 Keeping seed 14:59 Harvests to come, and end of growth 16:02 Silvery leaves- natural, and mildew 17:23 Leaving stalk on fruit when cutting 17:56 Hidden marrows - need removing 19:08 July - removing lower leaves and moving plants 21:27 October - plants now cleared, garlic and spring cabbage planted 22:28 Courgettes - worthwhile plants 22:52 Compost to be spread over compost - yearly addition Wed, 15 Apr 2026 09:22:52 GMT https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html PeerTube - https://stream.echo6.co https://stream.echo6.co/client/assets/images/icons/icon-512x512.png https://stream.echo6.co/videos/watch/2f0b5376-df90-4351-b5f5-2c2cd6ade923 All rights reserved, unless otherwise specified in the terms specified at https://stream.echo6.co/about and potential licenses granted by each content's rightholder.