5 of the best courgette varieties

With so many to choose from, it’s a job to know which are the best courgette varieties to try. But you’ve come to the right place – here are some of our top picks…

Affectionately known as the glut-bringers of the grow-your-own world, courgettes are a favourite in vegetable gardens everywhere. Reliable and easy to grow, these fruits certainly give you bang for your buck, and you’ll see countless courgette offerings on doorsteps to show for it. With a variety of shapes, colours and habits, though, you’ll never grow tired of growing courgettes. There’s a type to suit every gardener’s needs, and we’re showcasing some of our favourites to help inspire you this season.

1. ‘Defender’
A popular variety among growers, ‘Defender’ is renowned for its flavour and firm texture. It’s therefore a great one to cook with, and as a high-yielding crop, you’ll have plenty to spare for experimentation in the kitchen all summer long. Another bonus of this variety is that it shows good resistance to cucumber mosaic virus, making it an easy and reliable crop to grow. Plus, its open bush habit means you’ll be able to spot fruits easily when harvesting.

2. ‘Clarion’
Pale-green ‘Clarion’ is an early-cropping Lebanese type, full of flavour which some would argue is sweeter than other varieties. The thickness of the fruits means they’re perfect for stuffing. Harvest from July onwards when the courgettes are 12-15cm long to encourage cropping all the way into October. You can begin sowing this variety indoors in March, or wait until the middle of May, or after the last frosts, to sow direct outdoors.

3. ‘Shooting Star’
This is not only a yellow-skinned variety, but also a climbing variety – the first of its colour to climb, in fact. It’s a brilliant choice for small spaces and can be grown over a trellis or a similar structure for a decorative addition to your garden. Sow seeds on their edges to prevent rotting before germination. As the plant grows, tie the stems in as often as you can to ensure it is fully supported. Picking the fruits little and often will encourage a steady crop throughout the season.

4. ‘Tromboncino Albenga’
Try this variety for long, curled fruits that look like trombones! These fruits can get pretty huge – up to a metre long if you leave them to ripen into light tan fruits – and they taste as good as they look: thin skins and creamy flesh make these courgettes a dream to work with in the kitchen. This variety climbs and its heavy yields will weigh the plant down, so make sure you have plant supports in place like a trellis or wigwam. Not only will these ensure a healthy plant, they’ll decorate your kitchen garden, too!

5. ‘Chiaro di Nizza’
If you’re looking for something a bit different to try this year, why not give this Italian heritage variety a go? It produces pale green fruits which are best harvested at the size of a cricket ball. For best results, feed weekly, but other than that, ‘Chiaro di Nizza’ requires very little maintenance! Harvest the fruits regularly, but don’t worry about gluts: there is so much you can do with them in the kitchen, from stuffing them to using them in soups.

1. ‘Clarion’ - Pale-green ‘Clarion’ is an early-cropping Lebanese type, full of flavour which some would argue is sweeter than other varieties. The thickness of the fruits means they’re perfect for stuffing. Harvest from July onwards when the courgettes are 12-15cm long to encourage cropping all the way into October. You can begin sowing this variety indoors in March, or wait until the middle of May, or after the last frosts, to sow direct outdoors.

2. ‘Shooting Star’ - This is not only a yellow-skinned variety, but also a climbing variety – the first of its colour to climb, in fact. It’s a brilliant choice for small spaces and can be grown over a trellis or a similar structure for a decorative addition to your garden. Sow seeds on their edges to prevent rotting before germination. As the plant grows, tie the stems in as often as you can to ensure it is fully supported. Picking the fruits little and often will encourage a steady crop throughout the season.

3. ‘Tromboncino Albenga’ - Try this variety for long, curled fruits that look like trombones! These fruits can get pretty huge – up to a metre long if you leave them to ripen into light tan fruits – and they taste as good as they look: thin skins and creamy flesh make these courgettes a dream to work with in the kitchen. This variety climbs and its heavy yields will weigh the plant down, so make sure you have plant supports in place like a trellis or wigwam. Not only will these ensure a healthy plant, they’ll decorate your kitchen garden, too!

4. ‘Chiaro di Nizza’ - If you’re looking for something a bit different to try this year, why not give this Italian heritage variety a go? It produces pale green fruits which are best harvested at the size of a cricket ball. For best results, feed weekly, but other than that, ‘Chiaro di Nizza’ requires very little maintenance! Harvest the fruits regularly, but don’t worry about gluts: there is so much you can do with them in the kitchen, from stuffing them to using them in soups.