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Half-hardy Annual
FROM £3.49
Awarded an RHS Award of Garden Merit
Customer favourite
Excellent resistance to Cucumber Mosaic Virus
Height Up to 45cm (17.7in)
Spread Up to 90cm (35.4in)
Half-hardy Annual
patiokitchen garden
Full sun
This customer favourite crops early, offering a long picking season and yields almost twice that of other varieties. Courgette 'Defender' has an open habit which lets you easily see and pick the heavy, solid mid-green courgettes. This RHS AGM variety also has excellent resistance to Cucumber Mosaic Virus. Height: 45cm (18"). Spread: 90cm (36").
Culinary note: Some parts of these flowers are edible. For more details about edible flowers click here.
Companion planting: Try growing courgettes with Calendula to attract pollinating insects which will in turn pollinate your courgette flowers.
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Companion Planting?How to sow courgette seeds
Reasons to buy your seeds from Thompson & Morgan
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1 Packet (12 Seeds) (23655)
2 packets (24 seeds) (TM65082PC)
Sow courgette seed indoors from April to May for transplanting later on, or direct sow outdoors from late May to June. Prepare the soil in early spring by adding plenty of well rotted farmyard manure to improve its structure and fertility.
Indoors, sow seed at a depth of 2cm ( 3/4") in 7.5cm (3") pots of free-draining, seed sowing compost. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a plastic bag at a temperature of 20-25C (68-77F) until germination which takes 5-7 days. Do not exclude light, as this helps germination. Once germinated, grow courgettes on in cooler conditions until all risk of frost has passed and courgette plants are large enough to be transplanted. Gradually acclimatise them to outdoor conditions over 7 - 10 days before planting courgettes outdoors in rich fertile, well drained soil in full sun at a distance of 90cm (36") apart. Cover with a protective netting or fleece to prevent attack from birds and insects. When growing courgettes, a thick mulch of organic matter spread around the plants will help to conserve moisture at the roots.
Alternatively direct sow courgettes outdoors at a depth of 2cm ( 3/4") and a distance of 90cm (36") apart. Sow 2 seeds per station and thin out the weakest seedling per station after germination.
Seeds and garden supplies will normally be delivered within the time period stated against each product as detailed above. Plants, bulbs, corms, tubers, shrubs, trees, potatoes, etc. are delivered at the appropriate time for planting or potting on. Delivery times will be stated on the product page above, or in your order acknowledgement page and email.
Orders for packets of seed incur a delivery charge of £2.99.
Orders which include any other products will incur a delivery charge of £6.99.
Where an order includes both packets of seeds and other products, a maximum delivery charge of £7.99 will apply - regardless of the number of items ordered.
Large items may incur a higher delivery charge - this will be displayed in your shopping basket.
Please see our Delivery page for further details, and more information on different charges that may apply to certain destinations.
For more information on how we send your plants please visit our Helpful Guide on plant sizes.