I picked my first ever home-grown courgette and I must say it is very satisfying. Courgettes are such an expensive vegetable that is quite amazing to have them on tap and for free.
With this first courgette I made a quiche. For the pastry I used the shortcrust recipe from Jamie at Home
I used herbs from the garden. This garden-as-a-larder thing is most enjoyable :) I am doing a second sewing now, so that there will hopefully be things to eat later in the summer.
Gardening seems to also lead to odd behaviour – I have been out spraying watered down milk on my courgette plants leaves as I can see a little bit of mildew starting and apparently this is a good organic way to stop it. I will report back if it works. I am learning so many things this year!
I have discovered that the green aphids can be stopped with a squirt of watered down washing up liquid, but I have however not found a good way to stop the black bean aphids other than wiping them off with kitchen paper. I am loosing that battle. I am very tempted to buy ladybird larvae
This used to be my favourite corner to sit reading in the shade of the jasmine but a blackbird family have built a nest in the jasmine bush and are sitting on it so I am keeping away to the other side of the garden. Hopefully soon the garden will have new young arrivals. Yay for gardening :D
6 Comments
I use the milk fungicide on my courgette plant. Gardening Australia has a fact sheet with organic pest control methods.. I *think* it controls the mildew, but I’m not 100% sure cos I have crusty white stuff on the leaves but it might be dried up milk! I had no idea ladybird houses existed (or larvae – and yes, kinda scary looking!) but I’m tempted to buy a house – cute!!
P.S Your quiche looks very tasty :)
my mum swears by ladybird larvae. get loads of them now!
Your garden is so lovely! Every year I mentally plan a fabulous vegetable garden, but it hasn’t happened yet. I am really liking hearing about your methods for dealing with pests. I’ll have to remember for next year, when I really, truly do plant my vegetables.
Here in the U.S. courgettes are zucchinis, and they’ve always grown like weeds, so it’s funny to hear that they are an expensive vegetable. Growing up, my dad always had a vegetable garden, and I remember one year he planted too many zucchinis and my mom had to get very creative with them. She even made zucchini pickles. They were quite good! Whatever you call them, I love them, and go through 5 or 6 every week. Delicious! Your quiche is beautiful!
Congratulations on your first courgette! Homegrown courgettes taste amazing and I also am a big fan of stuffed marrow. It isn’t late summer without it! I will check out the quiche, it looks amazing. I’m very inspired by your daily dinner photos.
PS I think the ladybird larvae is a really good idea and possibly better than a ladybird house which aren’t shown to be that effective. The important thing with the ladybirds is to ensure they are a native species though.
Thanks for the encouragement! :D