Classy Courgettes
The courgette is a variety of cucurtbit, which means it’s from the same family as cucumber, squash and melon. It is the most popular vegetable of the squash family, being extremely versatile, tender and easy to cook. Just don’t boil them! They have a deep green skin with firm pale flesh and are also known as zucchini.
Grow courgettes
Courgettes are easy to grow and can get pretty big, so leave plenty of space when planting (separate by around 3ft). It’s a good idea to put courgettes into a container like a tub – that way they will only grow to the size you want. Courgettes grow quickly and unless you want them to turn into marrows, check and pick regularly.
Nutrition
Courgettes have a high water content and are low in calories. They are a source of folate, potassium, and vitamins A and C.
Origins
Courgettes were not widely eaten in Europe before the twentieth century and some sources claim that it was developed from the squash, first brought to Europe from the Americas during Christopher Columbus’ crusades. Squash have been cultivated in Central America for more than five thousand years and courgettes play a prominent role in Mexican cuisine today.
