Courgette Goldena organic seeds

The organic Yellow Courgette 'Goldena' is a productive, non-running variety, with a bushy habit, sought after for the taste quality and the beautiful intense golden colour of its courgettes. Its elongated and cylindrical fruits have a skin that doesn't even need to be peeled before cooking. Ideally, they are harvested when they reach 15 to 20 cm in length. Prolific and compact, the plant also produces edible flowers. 'Goldena' courgette adapts to many culinary preparations and adds a colourful and tasty touch to dishes. You can save seeds (from very ripe fruits) to sow them the following year. Certified organic seeds.

Squashes and courgettes, with their multiple shades – orange, green, red, yellow, black, even blue – and varied textures, whether smooth, ribbed, or warty, surprise with their diversity of shapes, colours, and sizes. This variability is explained by their great ability to hybridise easily, resulting in a multitude of varieties. In everyday language, "winter squashes" include pumpkins, potimarrons and other varieties with hard skin and soft, sweet flesh. Conversely, "summer squashes" or courgettes are harvested young, with still thin skin and edible seeds.

Originally from America and belonging to the cucurbitaceae family, they were introduced to Europe as early as the 16th century. Most of these plants are runners, climbing easily thanks to their tendrils. The female flowers, identifiable by their ovary below the flower, are distinct from the male flowers. They are often picked to be eaten stuffed or in fritters. The ways to cook squashes and courgettes are endless: they can be sautéed, fried, baked, in gratins, soups, or stuffed. Courgettes are also essential in typical Mediterranean dishes such as Provencal ratatouille, Italian caponata, and couscous.

Harvest: Courgettes should be harvested young and fresh, still immature. They must all be handled with care and remain free of any cuts or bruises, which would limit their storage.

Conservation: Courgettes can be cut into pieces and then frozen. Their delicate skin is not suitable for storing as is.

Gardener's tip: place a slate slab or a tile under the fruits to keep them from the ground: this protects them from humidity, reducing the risk of rotting. Courgettes also prefer slightly moist soils; mulching around the base, especially in midsummer, helps retain this moisture. Be careful, these plants are very sensitive to powdery mildew, a fungus that forms a white veil on the leaves; to limit this risk, avoid watering the foliage and flowers. For beneficial associations, plant your squashes with garlic, chives, onions, or shallots, or legumes, such as beans and peas. Conversely, avoid pairing them with cucumbers, as this can harm both crops.