Kitchen Garden Forum

First time growing courgettes and would like to know when to harvest as read they can be poisonous.

Picked this one today.

Not sure what you've heard about poisonous courgettes, have you a link you can share?

You can get some strange fruits from the cucurbit family that are bitter if you grow from saved seeds that might have been created by odd crosses but the problem doesn't affect fruit grown from 'proper' seeds even if they have crossed.

That one looks well ready to eat.

Edit:

I’ve done a bit of Googling and found this:

Yes, bitter courgettes can be poisonous. A naturally occurring compound called cucurbitacin, which is present in all courgettes, cucumbers, and squash, can be produced in abnormally high levels, particularly if plants are hybridized or water-stressed. This bitterness can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and stomach cramps. Although rare, it's crucial to test and discard plants if you notice bitterness in the courgettes.

So it can happen to ordinary plants but is rare. I regularly grow squashes, pumpkins, courgettes and ornamental gourds for drying close together and it has never happened. If you have any doubts test before you eat.

Test for Bitterness: Lick a small part of the courgette before cooking or eating to test for bitterness.

I had never heard of that either!
I normally pick them a little smaller than that, Colin…around 6”/15cm long.

What variety is the Courgette, Colin….it looks more like a Marrow I grew a couple of years ago!

Thanks for your reply

They are real seeds triedt white half long cousa courgette.

It says 3" for pattypans an idea how they taste compared with full size 6"?