Zucchini Tarmino F1 plants - Cucurbita pepo

The 'Tarmino' F1 courgette is a vigorous and productive hybrid variety, producing long, smooth, slender, and dark green courgettes of very good taste. This disease-resistant variety notably exhibits intermediate resistance to CMV virus. The Courgette is an easy-to-grow vegetable plant that allows for abundant harvesting. In food, it is often used cooked: sautéed, fried, in gratin, in soup, or stuffed, and of course, it is an ingredient in ratatouille. Courgette can also be consumed raw, grated and mixed with other raw vegetables. The young plants of 'Tarmino' F1 Courgette are planted from April to July, after the last frost, for harvesting from July to October.

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

Courgette is an annual plant with an upright habit, offering beautiful yellow flowers from May to October. It is harvested immature, that is to say, before its full ripeness. The majority of varieties are non-vining, but there are a few vining varieties that spread on the ground and will require pinching. Courgettes can be round or long, generally green but sometimes yellow or white.

In food, Courgettes are often consumed cooked: sautéed, fried, in gratin, in soups or stuffed, and they are of course part of the ingredients in ratatouille. Courgettes can also be consumed raw, grated and mixed with other raw vegetables.

They are fruity vegetables that need regular watering to give their best. They love warmth and sunshine and appreciate sheltered spots.

Harvesting: It is done from July to October by cutting the fruits with secateurs. Harvest the Courgettes when they are young and tender, without letting them grow too big (on average every 2 days during the peak season). Regular harvesting will promote the development of new fruits. You can also harvest the male flowers (preferably in the morning) which can be eaten fried or stuffed. The male flowers, which will not produce fruits, 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 can be cut into pieces and frozen for several months.

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