The short answer
Courgettes are easy and hugely productive, so one or two plants is plenty. They are tender, so sow indoors from April in warmth and only plant out in early summer, once all frost has passed. Give each plant a warm, sunny spot and about a square metre of rich, moist soil. Then water generously and pick the courgettes small and often, which keeps them coming right through to autumn.
Courgettes at a glance
Courgettes (also called zucchini) crop abundantly over summer, three or four fruits a week from a single plant in good weather. They form big, sprawling plants, so plan the space before you sow. If you are laying out beds, our guide to planning a vegetable garden and the plant spacing chart help you fit them in.
| Courgettes | |
|---|---|
| Sow | Indoors April to early May; outdoors late May to June |
| Plant out | Early summer, once all frost has passed |
| Harvest | July to October |
| Spacing | 90cm (3ft) apart, about a square metre per plant |
| Germination | 18 to 21C (65 to 70F) |
| Pick at | 10 to 12.5cm (4 to 5in) long |
| Position | Warm, sunny, sheltered; rich, moist soil |
| How many | 2 or 3 plants feed a family |
Sowing
Courgettes are easy from seed. Starting them indoors gives a longer, more reliable season and keeps the seedlings out of reach of slugs:
- Sow indoors in April or early May. Push one seed on its side, 13mm (half an inch) deep, into a 7.5cm (3in) pot or module of peat-free seed compost.
- Keep at 18 to 21C (65 to 70F) in a heated propagator or on a sunny windowsill under a clear lid. Covering the seed with vermiculite helps stop it rotting on cold nights.
- Once seedlings appear, uncover them and grow on somewhere bright and frost-free until it is warm enough to plant out.
You can also sow outdoors in late May or early June once the soil has warmed. Sow two or three seeds 2.5cm (1in) deep at each station, 90cm (3ft) apart, about a square metre per plant, cover with a cloche or fleece, and thin to the strongest seedling. Outdoor-sown plants crop a little later.
Where to grow and planting out
Courgettes want a warm, sunny, sheltered spot and rich, moisture-holding soil. A few weeks before planting, dig in plenty of garden compost or well-rotted manure at each site, or mulch the spot if you garden no-dig.
Plant out in early summer, after the last frost. Harden plants off first, then set them 90cm (3ft) apart, about a square metre per plant, firm in and water well. Protect young plants from slugs and snails, which can strip them overnight.
Watering, mulching and feeding
Moisture is the key to courgettes. Keep the soil or compost consistently moist, especially while plants are fruiting; pots may need watering daily in hot weather. Water at the base, not over the leaves, as wet foliage encourages powdery mildew. A thick mulch around each plant (leaving a gap at the stem) holds moisture in and cuts down watering.
Plants in rich ground rarely need feeding. In containers, give a high-potash liquid feed every 10 to 14 days once the first fruits start to swell.
Harvesting
Start picking as soon as the fruits reach 10 to 12.5cm (4 to 5in), when they are at their most tender and full of flavour. Cut them off at the base with a knife or secateurs. Left on the plant they quickly swell into marrows and the plant slows down, so pick every few days.
The flowers are edible too, lovely stuffed or fried. Pick the male flowers (the ones with no small fruit forming behind them) so you do not reduce your crop.
Common problems
- No fruit, or tiny fruits that rot: in cool early summer, poor pollination means fruits fail to set. It usually rights itself once the weather warms.
- Only male flowers: dry conditions push plants to make non-fruiting male flowers. Water generously and regularly to bring on the female (fruiting) flowers.
- Powdery mildew: a white coating on the leaves, common in late summer. Space plants well, water at the base, keep them well watered, and remove badly affected leaves.
- Rotting fruits: in damp weather, rot spreads from the faded flower into the fruit. Water onto the soil, not the plant, and pick off any soggy old flowers.
- Slugs and snails: young plants are very vulnerable. Protect them from the moment they go out.
Varieties to try
Courgettes come in green, yellow, long and round, with trailing or compact plants. Varieties with an RHS Award of Garden Merit are the most reliable:
| Variety | Notes |
|---|---|
| 'Defender' AGM | Reliable heavy cropper, green fruits, good disease resistance |
| 'Parador' AGM | Early, golden-yellow cylindrical fruits |
| 'Astia' AGM | Compact, suited to large containers and small plots |
| 'Tuscany' AGM | Large dark-green fruits, good in cooler spots |
| Round types ('One Ball', 'Tondo di Nizza') | Spherical fruits, perfect for stuffing and baking |
| Climbing ('Black Forest', 'Tromboncino') | Train up a stake where space is tight |
Frequently asked questions
How many courgette plants do I need?
Just two or three plants will keep a family in courgettes all summer, with plenty to give away. One healthy plant can produce three or four fruits a week in good weather, so it is easy to grow far more than you can eat.
Why is my courgette plant not producing fruit?
Usually poor pollination. In cool early-summer weather, or when a plant is dry and producing mostly male flowers, fruits fail to set or rot when tiny. It normally corrects itself as the weather warms; keeping the plant well watered encourages female, fruiting flowers.
When should I pick courgettes?
Pick them small, at about 10 to 12.5cm (4 to 5in) long, when they taste best. Harvest every few days: regular picking of young fruits keeps the plant cropping, whereas leaving them to grow into marrows slows it right down.
Can I grow courgettes in a pot?
Yes. Choose a compact or bush variety and a container at least 45cm (18in) wide, filled with peat-free compost, with one plant per pot. Container plants dry out quickly, so water regularly and feed with a high-potash feed every week or two once fruits start to swell.
What is the white powder on my courgette leaves?
That is powdery mildew, a fungal disease common in late summer, especially on dry or crowded plants. Space plants well, keep them watered at the base, and remove badly affected leaves. It looks unsightly but plants usually keep cropping.
How we checked this2 sourcesView sourcesHide
Our guides draw on expert bodies like the RHS and Garden Organic, plus experienced growers, read at source. We check every guide against those sources on the date shown, and where advice differs between them, we say so. Garden Plans is published by Limely.
- AuthorityHow to grow courgettes, Royal Horticultural Society. Checked 22 Oct 2026.
- AuthorityHow to grow courgettes, Gardeners' World. Checked 22 Oct 2026.
