Courgette Atena Seeds, average packet contents :  10 seeds

Courgette Atena is a new early hybrid variety that produces heavy crops of yellow courgettes. The plants are semi-compact, meaning great for smaller gardens and making the fruits easy to pick.

The fruits themselves are best picked when typically 15-20cm in length and have a good sweet flavour.

Atena replaces courgette taxi in our range.

General Courgette Growing Tips

Courgettes belong to the same family of vegetables as squashes and pumpkins. From seed to harvesting, you can plant and start picking in as little as 6 weeks. Courgette plants are prolific and will grow in abundance almost anywhere - chances are you will end up giving away many of the vegetables to family and friends because you will have more courgettes than you care to eat.

• We recommend sowing into pots and then planting out after the risk of frost has past. Fill a 9 cm pot with good compost and place the seed approx. 1cm deep, water and place then pot in warm position.
• After a week you should see the first leaves emerging. Move to a light but frost free position and grow on until big enough to plant out.
• Before planting hoe the garden patch to loosen and aerate the soil. Once planted water in well, then water again every other day until the plants are established.
• Avoid using too much fertilizer, Courgettes are so robust that over fertilizing the plants could cause them to take over your garden, whilst producing only a few fruits.
• Prune the plants once the vegetables begin to develop. Remove offshoots from the main vines and some of the leaves to let in more sunlight. This diverts plant energy to the developing vegetables.
• Courgettes are best harvested when they are about 15cm long and still tender.
• The main problem you may encounter is mildew - usually from september onwards.