Zucchini (courgettes) are a great way to fill your containers because they grow and spread rapidly. They have large, bright flowers and big leaves that provide a great background for displaying the other plants in your small urban space to great advantage.
If you are a novice gardener, zucchini are a great vegetable to grow and you’ll probably find that they will also prove one of the most productive in your urban garden. I should point out that they can grow quite large (which may be something to bear in mind if you only have a small balcony), but there are some great varieties to choose from that are perfect for containers if you start them off from seed.
Like most vegetables, zucchini enjoy a sunny, sheltered spot away from the wind. They’re not fond of chilly temperatures, so avoid planting them toward the end of winter when there is still a risk of frost. You could always start your zucchini seedlings indoors in smaller pots and, once the plants have matured and it’s slightly warmer outside, you can transfer them to an outdoor container.
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It’s important to use a free-draining potting mix because you will need to water your zucchini regularly. When the flowers start appearing and the fruits start to swell, it’s crucial to keep watering the plants. This will probably happen when the weather is warmer and the plants are thirsty. Also watch out for slugs! They really love zucchini, so I would suggest using either copper feet on your containers, or copper rings around the base. Another trick is to use crushed eggshells, although I have not had such great results with this method. Harvest the zucchini as soon as they reach a usable size (normally between 4–6in/10–15cm).
You can grow yellow as well as green zucchini. Green varieties include ‘All Green Bush’, ‘Nero Milan’, and ‘Patio Star’. Reliable yellow varieties include ‘Buckingham’ and ‘Jemma F1’.
cooking with flowers Zucchini were one of the first vegetables I grew because I was particularly interested in getting hold of some of the flowers to cook with. Personally, I think that the flowers are the best part of the plant because they are a great delicacy (which you cannot buy readily) and fantastic for a dinner-party appetizer to wow your friends.
When to sow and plant: Sow late sprint to early summer; plant out in the early summer.
