Crop type: Courgettes
Cucurbita pepo ‘El Greco’
Common name: Courgette ‘El Greco’
Crop slug: courgettes
This Allotment Pro editorial draft summarises the cited RHS cultivar profile. Check the source and adjust cultivation decisions for local conditions.RHS cultivar profile
1 - Overview
‘El Greco’ is a vigorous, prolific courgette with an erect, open habit. That structure makes its fruits easy to find and pick, an important advantage because regular harvesting keeps the crop arriving throughout summer. The glossy mid-green courgettes are lightly speckled and noted by the RHS for superb flavour without bitterness.
Attractive edible yellow flowers precede the fruits. They also supply pollen and nectar for insects, and the RHS profile displays both the Award of Garden Merit and Plants for Pollinators status.
2 - Size
- Ultimate height
- 0.1–0.5 metre
- Ultimate spread
- 0.5–1 metre
- Time to ultimate size
- 1 year
Give the broad summer clump adequate space even though it remains low. Its erect, open centre improves visibility and airflow, but surrounding crops should not press against the leaves.
3 - Growing conditions
- Suitable soils
- Loam and sand
- Moisture
- Well-drained or moist but well-drained
- Soil pH
- Acid or neutral
Use rich, fertile soil that drains freely but does not dry out during fruit production. Add organic matter before planting to sustain vigorous growth and prolific cropping.
4 - Position and hardiness
- Light
- Full sun
- Aspect
- South- or west-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- Hardiness
- H2 — tolerant of cool conditions around 1–5°C but unable to survive freezing
Treat ‘El Greco’ as a tender annual. Plant outdoors only after frost risk has passed, choosing a sunny sheltered site where the soil can warm quickly.
5 - Colour and seasonal interest
Green foliage develops in spring. In summer, golden-yellow flowers contrast with the leaves, followed by glossy, slightly speckled mid-green fruits. Green foliage and fruits can continue into autumn where conditions remain warm and harvesting is frequent.
6 - Botanical details
- Family
- Cucurbitaceae
- Native to Great Britain and Ireland
- No
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Habit
- Bushy and clump-forming, with erect open growth
- Name status
- Accepted
Genus
Cucurbita is a small genus of climbing or trailing annual herbaceous fruiting plants native to Central and South America. Cultivated edible species generally bear palmately lobed, prickly-haired leaves and solitary golden-yellow star-shaped flowers.
Safety
If any fruit tastes bitter, do not eat it or feed it to pets. Wear gloves and suitable protection if the prickly foliage irritates skin.
7 - How to grow
Cultivation
Grow in rich, fertile, well-drained soil in full sun. From mid- to late April, sow individual seeds on their sides about 1.5cm deep in pots indoors. Harden plants off before June, then transplant them to their final positions after frost.
Water consistently at the roots and keep foliage dry where practical. Inspect the open centre often and harvest courgettes while glossy and young. Frequent picking is central to maintaining the RHS-described prolific summer crop and best eating quality.
Propagation
Propagate by seed.
Suggested locations
- Patio and container plants
- Wildlife gardens
- Sunny vegetable beds
Pruning
No pruning is required. Regular harvesting extends cropping; remove only badly damaged or diseased leaves.
Pests
May be susceptible to slugs and snails, especially while young.
Diseases
May be susceptible to grey mould and powdery mildew. Preserve the cultivar’s naturally open structure, provide spacing, water at soil level and remove decaying material.