White Zucchini Lorea F1 plants - Cucurbita pepo

The 'Lorea F1' courgette is a hybrid variety, highly esteemed for the light colour of its fruits, which are pale white to green, cylindrical, slim, with a sweet and sugary flavour. This hardy and semi-late variety is very vigorous and productive, making it a reference courgette on the market. The courgette is an easy-to-grow vegetable plant that allows for abundant harvesting. In cooking, it is often used cooked: sautéed, fried, in gratin, soup or stuffed, and of course, it is part of the ingredients of ratatouille. The courgette can also be consumed raw, grated and mixed with other raw vegetables. The young plants of the white 'Lorea F1' courgette are planted from April to July, after the last frost, for a harvest from July to October.

The Courgette (Cucurbita pepo) is a summer squash belonging to the Cucurbitaceae family, like other squashes (pumpkin, butternut, acorn squash, pattypan etc). All are native to America and were introduced to Europe in the 16th century. Easily hybridising, squashes present a great diversity of colours (orange, green, red, yellow, black, or even blue), sizes, and shapes.

The courgette is an annual plant, with an upright habit, offering beautiful yellow flowers from May to October. It is harvested immature, that is, before its full development. The majority of varieties are non-trailing, but there are, however, a few trailing varieties that will need to be pinched. Courgettes can be round or long, generally green but sometimes yellow or white.

They are fruit vegetables that need regular watering to give their best. They love heat and sun and appreciate sheltered places.

Harvesting: It is carried out from July to October, by cutting the fruits with pruning shears. Pick young and tender courgettes, without letting them grow too big (harvesting on average every 2 days in peak season). Regular harvesting will promote the development of new fruits. You can also pick the male flowers (preferably in the morning) which can be consumed in fritters or stuffed. The male flowers, which will not produce fruit, appear on the slender and long, non-swollen stems.

Storage: Courgettes can be stored for a few days at room temperature or in the bottom of the refrigerator and several months when cut into pieces and frozen.

The gardener's tip: Place a slate or tile under the fruit. It will no longer be in direct contact with the ground, thus avoiding rotting due to moisture.