Courgette varieties for a summer of picking

One well-grown courgette can keep you picking for weeks. Choose the fruit you enjoy cooking, then give the plant the space and regular attention it needs.

These four bush varieties suit different priorities, from familiar green courgettes to fruit set under cover. All are summer crops that need warmth, sun and protection from frost.

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Four varieties, four good reasons

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Defender F1

Latin name: Cucurbita pepo

Open bush · mid-green fruit

Best for: dependable green courgettes

In general

Choose Defender F1 for a steady supply of familiar green courgettes. Its open growth makes the fruits easier to find before they become oversized. It is a practical starting point for summer meals, from quick pan-fried slices to a tray of roasted vegetables. Resistance to cucumber mosaic virus is a useful extra, though the plants still need regular care.

Conditions: Sunny, sheltered outdoors. Rich, well-drained soil; water regularly at the roots.
Height & spread: Up to 45cm tall × 90cm wide
Containers: One plant in a large pot; allow room for the leaves
Difficulty: Easy · regular watering and picking
Sowing time: Indoors: April–May. Direct outdoors: late May–June, after frost.
Planting time: Late May–June, once hardened off and frost risk has passed.
Harvest time: July–October, until the first frost

Pests & diseases

Resists cucumber mosaic virus. Watch for slugs, aphids and powdery mildew.

Bear in mind: Frequent picking matters: missed fruits soon grow large and can slow further cropping.

View seeds at Thompson & Morgan

Black Beauty

Latin name: Cucurbita pepo

Bush · glossy dark-green fruit

Best for: a traditional dark-green courgette

In general

Choose Black Beauty if you enjoy the familiar dark-green courgettes used in everyday cooking. Picked young, they work well in stir-fries, pasta and roasted vegetable dishes. This traditional variety suits a vegetable bed or a roomy patio pot. The linked packet contains organic seed, which may appeal if that is how you prefer to start your crops.

Conditions: Sunny, sheltered outdoors. Rich, well-drained soil; water regularly at the roots.
Height & spread: Up to 45cm tall × 90cm wide
Containers: One plant in a large pot; allow room for the leaves
Difficulty: Easy · regular watering and picking
Sowing time: Indoors: April–May. Direct outdoors: late May–June, after frost.
Planting time: Late May–June, once hardened off and frost risk has passed.
Harvest time: July–October, until the first frost

Pests & diseases

Watch for slugs on young plants, aphids and powdery mildew on older leaves.

Bear in mind: A bush plant still spreads widely; leave space around its leaves and keep picking.

View seeds at Thompson & Morgan

Sure Thing

Latin name: Cucurbita pepo

Bush · speckled green fruit

Best for: fruit set when pollinators are scarce

In general

Choose Sure Thing where cool, cloudy weather often limits insect activity. It can form courgettes without pollination, which also makes it useful under glass. Its green fruits have a more pronounced flavour, so it is worth considering if you like courgettes to stand out in a dish. Allow the same generous space and regular watering as other bush varieties.

Conditions: Outdoors or a greenhouse. Rich, well-drained soil; water regularly at the roots.
Height & spread: Up to 45cm tall × 90cm wide
Containers: One plant in a large pot; allow room for the leaves
Difficulty: Easy · regular watering and picking
Sowing time: Indoors: April–May. Direct outdoors: late May–June, after frost.
Planting time: Late May–June, once hardened off and frost risk has passed.
Harvest time: July–October, until the first frost

Pests & diseases

Has powdery mildew resistance, but late-season infection remains possible. Check for slugs and aphids.

Bear in mind: Fruit set without pollination does not mean cold tolerance: this is still a frost-tender plant.

View seeds at Thompson & Morgan

Parador F1

Latin name: Cucurbita pepo

Bush · golden-yellow fruit

Best for: yellow fruit and early picking

In general

Choose Parador F1 to add golden-yellow courgettes to your summer harvest. They bring colour to a mixed tray of vegetables and are easy to spot among the leaves. This early variety is useful when you want to start picking sooner, provided spring conditions allow. Harvest little and often to enjoy young fruits and encourage the plant to keep producing.

Conditions: Sunny, sheltered outdoors. Rich, well-drained soil; water regularly at the roots.
Height & spread: Up to 45cm tall × 90cm wide
Containers: One plant in a large pot; allow room for the leaves
Difficulty: Easy · regular watering and picking
Sowing time: Indoors: April–May. Direct outdoors: late May–June, after frost.
Planting time: Late May–June, once hardened off and frost risk has passed.
Harvest time: June–October with an early start; weather dependent

Pests & diseases

Watch for slugs, aphids and powdery mildew; yellow fruit is not a sign of disease.

Bear in mind: An early crop needs a warm start. Yellow fruits still become oversized if left unpicked.

View seeds at Thompson & Morgan

Sizes are approximate mature dimensions, not planting distances. Difficulty is our practical guide to the care involved, not an official rating. “Easy” still means regular watering and feeding.

Compare at a glance

All four are bush varieties with a generous spread. Compare fruit colour and pollination needs before deciding where to plant.

Courgettes compared by best use, growing place and mature size
Variety	Choose it for	Growing place	Height & spread
Defender F1	Dependable green courgettes	Sunny, sheltered outdoors	Up to 45cm tall × 90cm wide
Black Beauty	A traditional dark-green courgette	Sunny, sheltered outdoors	Up to 45cm tall × 90cm wide
Sure Thing	Fruit set when pollinators are scarce	Outdoors or a greenhouse	Up to 45cm tall × 90cm wide
Parador F1	Yellow fruit and early picking	Sunny, sheltered outdoors	Up to 45cm tall × 90cm wide

Swipe the comparison sideways to see all four columns.

A note on UK timing

Start seeds indoors in April or May, or sow outside in warm soil from late May to June. Move young plants out after gradually hardening them off and once frost risk has passed. In a colder or exposed garden, that may mean waiting until June.

June harvests need an early, protected start; July is a more realistic first picking for many gardens. Pick young fruits regularly and continue while plants remain productive, usually until autumn cold or frost ends the crop.

Most courgettes need insects to pollinate their flowers. Sure Thing is parthenocarpic, meaning it can set fruit without pollination. F1 identifies a first-generation hybrid; saved seed may not produce the same variety.

Keeping courgettes healthy

Check seedlings for slug damage and look beneath leaves for aphids. Powdery mildew can appear as a white coating later in the season; keep roots evenly moist and allow air to circulate between plants.

Small fruits that stop growing may reflect poor pollination or growing stress. For varieties needing pollination, let insects reach the flowers once plants are established. Disease resistance reduces risk but does not replace regular checks.

Make it work for your plot

Use your growing space and local weather to plan the next step, from sowing to planting out.

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About this selection

Growing guidance and seed listings checked on 19 September 2026. The four retailer links above lead to the named seed varieties. We do not monitor stock or show live prices.

Variety details are based on the linked Thompson & Morgan seed listings and their courgette growing guide. Container, difficulty and seasonal planning notes are our editorial interpretation of the growing advice.