Zucchini Floridor F1 - Cucurbita pepo

The Floridor F1 courgette is an original and colorful variety that will seduce with its slightly ribbed round fruits of a warm and uniform yellow, revealing a sweet and delicate flavor. This early and non-trailing variety offers a good yield, and its courgettes are easy to harvest. It is an easy-to-grow vegetable plant in open ground or under cover. In the kitchen, it is often used cooked and stuffed like other round courgettes. It can also be sautéed, fried, baked, used in soups, in ratatouille or in vegetable tians. The courgette can also be consumed raw, grated and mixed with other raw vegetables. The plants of Floridor 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, patidou, butternut, acorn squash, pattypan, kabocha...). All of them originate from America and were introduced to Europe in the 16th century. Easily hybridizing, 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, i.e. before it fully develops. The majority of varieties are non-trailing, but there are some trailing varieties that spread on the ground and will need to be pinched. Courgettes can be round or long, generally green but sometimes yellow or white.

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

These are fruit vegetables that need regular watering to give their best. They like heat and sun and appreciate sheltered areas.

Harvest: It takes place from July to October, by cutting the fruits with pruning shears. Pick 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 pick 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 thin 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 cut into pieces and frozen for several months.

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.