God-awful day weatherwise (Sunday) with heaps of rain. Sowed an unusual round courgette, 'De Nice A Fruit Rond' in 3in pots topped with vermiculite, then placed on dining-room table close to window in the propagator. These ones need a temperature of 20-30C (68-86F) to germinate, but only take about two weeks. Keeping the courgettes company on dining- room table are peppers 'Hot Tepin' and 'Tropical Heat' (we love our hot food and chillis in all colours and shapes).

Meanwhile, Brian has loads of stuff on the go in the greenhouse including round-shaped carrots 'Parmex', an organic 'Cos' lettuce from Alan Titchmarsh (same seed from last year which did very well).
Broad bean 'Aquadulce' in the greenhouse has put on a poor show so far germination-wise, although broad bean dwarf variety 'Sutton' is showing signs of life. In frustration, Brian has just sown broad bean 'Medes' out in the open at the back of the veg patch as an insurance policy against the poor show in the greenhouse, he says.

In root trainers in the greenhouse are 'Jaguar' and 'Twinkle' peas (Twinkle showed germination after 10 days), and the parsnip 'Lancer' (germination up to three weeks) is also in there. No harvesting for the parsnip until September/October though, in time for those hearty stews.
Brian admits that his enthusiasm for the root veges, in terms of planting so early might be a little misplaced as they don't transplant very well. Trial and error never a bad thing, I say.

I can't really talk, though. My 'Swift' potatoes are still in their 'graves' outside (after I followed Carol Klein's advice and dug a big pit for them), having planted them way too early, even for a first early. Maybe they are so well insulated they will be okay. And mind you, if you don't push something to its limits, how do you know what it's capable of?
(Sarah B - Gardening.co.uk)

Sturdy shoots of 6 of my 8 sown courgette 'De Nice a Fruit Rond' have poked through the vermiculite. Brian and I were having a discussion about whether large seeds like these are better laid flat, or if the ridge should be sticking in the compost so it's kind of on its side. I thought flat was fine?

And Brian's just called to say all the courgettes are showing through now. That's growth since this morning!

hi sarah,
i usually plant any large seeds vertically in the compost. the roots and shoots respond to gravity and find their own way to the right place.

The seeds of Courgette 'De Nice a Fruit Rond', which I think translates as 'nice, round fruits' germinated within a matter of days and then the seedlings grew at an alarming rate and looked like triffids. They're now about 20cm (8in) long and in bigger pots in the greenhouse. I believe they keep heading northwards until they're about 2ft tall - something I wasn't expecting.

Just have to keep them protected now until the threat of frost has passed.

We have garlic showing through in pots, although no sight of those in the ground; carrot 'Parmex' in the ground; the remainder of 'Swift' first early potatoes planted (I stuck a few in pots as well). Also in the ground are Brian's spring onions growing into little shoots that are hoop-shaped; and broad bean 'Medes'.

In the greenhouse, the courgettes are looking wonderfully strong. Ditto lettuce. Brian has pea 'Twinkle' (about 60 plants) doing good and some pea 'Jaguar' showing.

We are too early of course, but Brian won't wait. Now he's making his own cloches to protect these precious crops should a frost come shortly.

Our alliums are showing through the ground, especially those in pots, and I have planted three bulbs in a raised bed of a flower I like a lot, Astrantia major (this one's 'Primadonna').

I have just recently sown corgette and dwrf french beans and they have both grown so fast french beans are about 10" and corgette not far behind I love seeing them grow like that but worried it will affect the crop will keep posting about progress

Hi Elizabeth

We're growing courgette for the first time and had a bit of a shock at how fast and tall the seedlings grew. I think they need about 2ft of space height-wise, so if you have to cloche them in the garden, remember that.
(editor - Gardening.co.uk)

I am hoping to grow them in pots, was going to harden them off then transplant them outside in mid may, will I still need a cloche?

some of my corgettes seem to be flopping over but also I think two are tying to flower, I know i had sown them a bit early but am unsure if this is them bolting? help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Elizabeth

This response comes from Elisabeth Arter, one of our Q&A experts who has years of experience in growing veg. She says:

'Courgettes, cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, French beans, runner beans, marrows, squashes, sweetcorn and any other vegetable plants that are likely to be damaged by a late frost cannot safely be planted out in the ground or in containers outside until late May in the south of England and probably early June in Scotland.

You can plant them 2-3 weeks earlier IF you cover them with glass or horticultural fleece at night and also by day if there is a very cold wind blowing. The glass can be cloches, spare sheets of glass supported by short stakes, or for smaller plants upturned jam jars.

If you are new to veg growing go to the public library and borrow a book or two, such as my book VEGETABLE GROWING,in the Salamander Master Gardener’s
Guide series; or have a look at Dr. D.G. Hessayon’s The Pocket Vegetable Expert.' (Elisabeth Arter)

Congratulations on winning the new site member prize for March, which is a set of Expert gardening books written by Dr Hessayon, and includes a book on vegetable growing.

(editor - Gardening.co.uk)

super thanks very much.
Thanks to all for your help and advice it has been invaluable

I am new to vegetable gardening and have dived in feet first by planting seeds in both my shed and 'indoors'. Because of the good warm weather recently everything has grown fast. Toms, courgettes, peas and lettuces. I have prepared raised plots can I start planting out albeit using fleese tunnels or will they all bolt?

I think they are more likley to be damaged from frost though the fleece will help. I have my lettuce outside, but have my corgette and toms inside. Also depends where you are and the weather. I planted way to early so I now have large pots on all windowsills, lol.
I am very new to gardening myself, so I am still learning.
Everyone on the site is very helpfull and will give you lots of great advice.

Hi Brian

We have started planting out our lettuce, courgettes and chard, with the weather forecast free from frost for several days on the trot.

Depending on what part of the country you live in, mid to late May is generally considered the safe period for the threat of frost to have passed.

Our lettuces were wilting in their pots and look very perky now they're outside. As we are away shortly, our neighbour has offered to keep an eye on them and cover with fleece if frost is forecast.

With the weather like it is at the moment, it's a lottery as to whether we will go from boiling to freezing temperatures overnight. If you have protection to hand, like you say, you should be fine.

(editor - Gardening.co.uk)

how long does it normally take from when the flowers start showing to when the veg starts growing on corgettes

Once the female flowers, that’s the ones with a tiny courgette visible behind the petals, have opened, they should very soon begin to grow into courgettes that you can cut. Given warm weather and plenty of water they grow fast and soon develop into marrows if you do not cut them regularly. Of course you will not get any courgettes from the male flowers

some of the flowers look ready to open soon. its so exciting

some of the flowers on my corgette have stated to open yeh, all i need to worry about is pollinating the floowers

Don't worry about that Gee Wiz the courgettes will pollinate themselves, but with most varieties you need male and female flowers open at the same time
However some of the newest ones, such as Parthenon, will produce fruit without being pollinated