How to Grow Courgettes: A Simple Step-by-Step

I love courgettes; they are one of the most rewarding, prolific and versatile vegetables you can grow at home. They’re fast-growing, highly productive, and perfect for beginner veg growers. With just a couple of plants, you can enjoy a steady harvest throughout summer. Whether you’re growing in a garden, raised bed, or even a large container on a balcony, courgettes are a reliable and satisfying crop to add to your growing space.

Why Grow Courgettes?

Courgettes (known as zucchini in the US) are popular for good reason:

• They are easy to grow
• They are high-yielding – one plant can produce many fruits
• They grow quickly from seed to harvest
• They are versatile in the kitchen
• They can be grown in small spaces or containers
• They can be trained to grow vertically if you’re short on space

Step 1: Sowing Courgette Seeds

Courgettes can be started indoors on a warm sunny windowsill or sown directly outside once the weather and soil warms.

Top tip: Always sow seeds on their edge rather than flat to help prevent rotting.

Indoor sowing (recommended for a head start)

• Sow from April to May
• Plant seeds 1 inch deep (2.5 cm) into individual pots
• Use good-quality peat-free compost and water lightly
• Keep in a greenhouse, or on a sunny windowsill with a cloche (protective cover) if needed
• Ideal temperature: 18–24°C (65–75°F)
• They germinate within 5 – 10 days

My compost of choice is Petersfield peat-free growing medium RETAIL RANGE – it’s a bit more expensive, but I swear by it.

My last frost date is early May, so I generally start seeds under cover around mid to late April. That means they are ready to go out in mid to late May when the risk of a frost has diminished.

Direct sowing outdoors

• Sow from late May to June when any chance of a frost has passed
• Choose a sunny, sheltered spot
• Sow seeds 1 inch deep (2.5 cm)
• Space sowing positions about 36 inches apart (90 cm / 3 feet)

Top Tip: If all else fails and your seeds, for whatever reason, don’t germinate, there is nothing wrong with buying plug plants from the garden centre. Often, people see this as a failure. I see it as a viable option when either seeds fail or you don’t have the time, energy or inclination to grow from seed. Nothing wrong with that – and no one will ever know if you don’t tell them 🤫

Step 2: Caring for Seedlings

Once seedlings emerge:

• Keep compost moist but not waterlogged
• Ensure plenty of light to prevent leggy growth
• Turn pots regularly if on a windowsill for even growth – plants will always grow toward the light.

When plants develop a few true leaves, they will begin to grow quickly. They love the summer heat and should romp away nicely.

Step 3: Planting Out

If you started plants indoors, the best practice is to harden them off before they go to their final growing spot: this means gradually getting the young plants used to being outside.

• Gradually expose them to outdoor conditions over 7–10 days
• Start with a couple of half days, then gradually increase the time the plant spends outside. This should be the case whether you are planting them directly into the ground or a large pot.

Once hardened off:

• Plant out after the last frost (for me, that’s early May, but a quick internet search will tell you when the last frost date is for your area)
• Space plants 36 inches apart (90 cm / 3 feet)
• Plant into rich, fertile soil with plenty of compost or well-rotted manure

Courgettes grow into large, leafy plants, so give them plenty of room. Alternatively, you can train them to grow vertically. The plants will need plenty of support to grow vertically or over an arch, but it is possible, particularly if you are short on space. This video from ‘That British Homestead’, How to train a Courgette plant vertically’ is worth a watch if you are considering growing vertically.

Step 4: Protecting Young Plants

Young courgette plants can be vulnerable to pests, especially early on.

Common pests include:

• Slugs and snails (the most common threat and the bane of most people’s lives 😊)
• Aphids (greenfly)
• Occasionally, birds disturb young plants

Protection tips:

• Use barriers, beer traps, and physical removal as a last resort; you could try wildlife-friendly slug pellets
• Place cloches or fleece over young plants
• Check regularly, especially in damp weather
• Cover with a light netting if birds

Once plants establish, they usually grow strongly and can tolerate minor damage. My version of a closh to protect young plants is just a 5Ltr plastic water bottle with holes cut into it for ventilation.

Personally, I don’t use slug pellets, even the organic wildlife-friendly ones. I use beer traps and take a stroll around vulnerable young plants late evening, picking slugs and snails as I go. Does it help keep down the slug population – yes, is it my favourite gardening job – absolutely not!

Step 5: Ongoing Care

Courgettes are hungry and thirsty plants, so regular care is key.

Courgette plants are monoecious, which means they produce both male and female flowers on the same plant. Male flowers appear first are on a really thin stem and have no signs of swelling at the base. Female flowers appear a little later and have a swollen base, which will eventually (if fertilised) become a courgette. Rather than go into the whys and wherefors in this blog – it’s long enough already! You can read more information about male and female pollination in courgette plants here: Identifying Male and Female Courgette Flowers. It’s from ‘Simply Seeds’, a reliable seed company I use regularly (I’m not an affiliate of Simply Seeds)

To keep plants thriving:

• Water deeply and regularly, especially in dry weather
• Feed weekly with a comfrey of nettle tea (liquid fertiliser) once flowering starts
• Mulch around the base to retain moisture
• Avoid wetting the leaves when watering to reduce disease risk
• Try to keep the plant weed-free
• Give them a hand to pollinate if they are struggling – see ‘Simply Seeds’ link above

Courgette plants grow large, with big leaves and spreading stems. A mature plant typically forms a low, bushy mound with broad leaves and bright yellow flowers, followed by developing fruits. The flowers can also be eaten – many people deep fry them in a light batter.

Step 6: Harvesting Courgettes

Courgettes grow quickly – often faster than expected! But don’t worry if a courgette fruit gets too big, then essentially you’ve grown yourself a free marrow!

• Harvest when fruits are about 6–8 inches long (15–20 cm)
• Pick regularly to encourage more production
• Use a knife or twist gently to remove at the base of the fruit

Step 7: Cooking and Using Courgettes

Courgettes are incredibly versatile and can be used in many dishes; they can be cooked or eaten raw.

Simple cooking ideas:

• Slice and sauté with garlic, pepper and olive oil
• Roast with other vegetables
• Add roasted to pasta dishes or slice and use in stir-fries
• Grate into salads or mix with mashed potatoes and egg to form a fritter

Easy recipe ideas:

• Courgette fritters – grated courgette mixed with egg, flour, mashed potato and herbs, then pan-fried
• Roasted courgettes – chopped, drizzled with oil, pepper, a little salt and roasted until golden

They also work well in soups, curries, and even baking (such as courgette cake).

The internet is packed with yummy courgette recipes, so have a search and see what takes your fancy.

Final Thoughts

Growing courgettes from seed is one of the easiest and most rewarding ways to start growing your own food. With just a little care, you’ll be rewarded with a steady supply of fresh, homegrown vegetables throughout the summer. For new gardeners in the UK, and in other temperate climates, courgettes are a dependable crop that builds confidence and delivers real results.

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