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Courgette 'Bianca' is the pale ivory-green equivalent to 'Defender' so a very healthy, quick growing, tasty and productive variety, which looks lovely mixed up with the other two colours on a plate. It is known for producing lots of flowers, good for stuffing (see p189 Garden Cookbook).
Do at least two sowings of courgettes, splitting your packets, so that you have fruit to pick for 3-4 months at a stretch. Sow two or three different colours so they look good in the garden and on the plate.
| Variety: | Courgette 'Bianca' |
| Type: | Half-Hardy Annual |
| Site: | Need rich, well-manured ground and plenty of watering in dry weather. |
| Sowing: | Soak seed overnight and sow under cover from late March- April. Push seed, on its side (to prevent it rotting), 2-3cm deep into a 9cm pot of compost. Can be sown direct after last frosts, from May to July. |
| Spacing: | 90cm apart in each direction when the plants have 5-6 leaves. |
| Care tips: | Feed well with plenty of organic matter. Pick fruit regularly to prolong the harvest. |
| Harvest: | Late June to October.Start picking as soon as fruits are 7cm long.You can pick the flowers before this. |
| Cooking Notes: | 'Bianca' is a delicious variety for eating raw in salads when small, and perfect to add to a multi-coloured dish like Sarah's courgette risotto or to make a delicate courgette soufflé. If they grow to marrow size, make jam, chutney or soups. |
