Kitchen Garden Forum

I've got two very healthy and productive courgette plants (Striata di Napoli) growing in pots. A key reason for picking this variety was that, according to the catalogue, it doesn't sprawl too much and therefore, I deduced, would be good in pots. I like it. Unfortunately, the Chief Cook doesn't. The fruit are very long and thin. She likes to slice courgettes longways, rather than across. Can anyone recommend courgette varieties that are a) compact, b) have shortish fat fruit rather than long, thin ones, and c), of course, taste good?

I usually grow "Gold Rush" - a compact yellow variety. Very easy - I've got a couple growing in a large bucket this year and have at least 5 pickings already. Tastes great. Short and chunky (we cut ours lengthwise too).

Try the Lebanese type - first on the page
http://www.realseeds.co.uk/courgettes.html

Thanks, both! I was holding back in case of more replies. I remember growing Gold Rush some years ago, but it had gone off my radar. And the Lebanese variety sounds good - the fact that they are used stuffed suggests the shape should meet requirements.

Apologies are due to Striata di Napoli. They do grow long and thin, but if you leave them a bit longer they fatten out more. They end up a bit longer than the courgettes you normally see in the shops, for instance, but we've had some very good ones since I first wrote. I will still try the varieties you suggested, though!

I grow F1 Jemmer, a compact yellow variety. Firmer flesh than the green types. Very prolific but like all courgettes will become marrows if not picked regularly. I have tried in a large tub but I think they still do best in open ground if you can they will crop longer.

Beryl.