
This summer my gardening friend, Tamsyn, has been growing a wide variety of courgettes in her new greenhouse. Tamsyn has something of a passion for courgettes, so of course my expectations were high when I visited her recently!
She did not disappoint. There were patty pan courgettes, yellow bumpy courgettes, white courgettes, as well as the more familiar green and yellow ones. I was also amused to see that she had some snaky monsters growing - Trombas, or curling courgettes.
Monster Trombone
Her Trombas were over 1.1m long. Tamsyn tells me they're yummy to eat, especially younger and smaller, when they are more delicate skinned and cook faster.

However,Trombas come with a "warning" on some websites, along the lines of, this courgette will take over the world.
I once planted two seedlings of Squashkin, a cross between pumpkins and squash, in my London garden. They galloped around my perennial beds, smothering everything in their path. Eventually I declared war and ripped them out. The warnings about Trombas rather reminded me of that unfortunate battle. So, courgette lovers, exercise caution!
Top courgette varieties in Oxfordshire this season
Tamysn's top courgettes this season are:
- Tricolour F1 hybrid (her favouriteL small round balls, good for steaming, or if you grow them a little bigger, good for stuffing)
- Tromba
- Defender (a regular green)
- F Atena (a regular yellow) and Rugosa (yellow, with bumpy skin, and a firmer texture)
- Patty Pan sunburst & custard white (easy to grow, tender and light when younger).
Cheers, courgette lovers!