Fothergill's Courgette Romanesco Seeds

Details:

• Botanical Name: Cucurbita pepo, a premium and highly distinct heritage heirloom selection within the Courgette genus.
• Plant Class: Half Hardy Annual, establishing with great speed in the spring to deliver high-volume, gourmet harvests all summer long.
• Distinctive Ribbed Fruits: Produces unique, eye-catching, long cylindrical fruits with prominent, raised structural ridges running down the length of the pale green skin.
• Robust Nutty Flavour: Widely regarded by chefs as one of the best-tasting varieties available; it boasts a firm, dense flesh with less water content than standard courgettes, offering a rich, distinctively sweet and nutty flavor.
• Vigorous Bush Habit: Naturally forms a sturdy, non-trailing bush framework. This space-saving habit makes it highly versatile, allowing it to thrive successfully in traditional vegetable plots, raised allotment beds, or large patio containers.
• Gourmet Edible Blossoms: Famous for producing large, robust, vibrant yellow male flowers that remain attached to the young fruit for an extended period—ideal for picking early to make traditional Italian stuffed and battered blossoms.
• Kitchen Versatility: Due to its low water content, it doesn't become soggy when cooked, making it the ultimate choice for slicing into stir-fries, roasting, grilling on the barbecue, or slicing thinly for a gourmet pizza topping.

Care Instructions:

• Sowing Position: Start seeds indoors from April to May by sowing individual seeds on their edges 2cm deep in pots of moist compost. Alternatively, sow directly outdoors in late May or June into rich, warm soil once all danger of frost has fully passed. Position in full sun.
• Moisture & Nutrition: Courgettes are incredibly hungry and thirsty plants. Plant them out into a sunny spot enriched with plenty of well-rotted manure or garden compost, and water them deeply and regularly at the base of the plant, especially during dry summer spells.
• Harvesting Tip: Use a sharp knife to harvest the courgettes when they reach about 10–15cm (4–6in) long, ideally with the magnificent flower still attached. Regular and frequent picking is vital to stimulate the plant into pushing out a non-stop supply of new fruits.