Courgettes

Description

Courgettes’ characteristics

Courgettes are generally cylindrical, although they can also be more rounded. Their size varies from the smallest ones, which are about 10 cm long, to the largest ones, which can reach up to 60 cm. The taste of courgettes is mild and sweet, with a slight bitter touch. The skin is thin and smooth and varies in colour from dark green to pale yellow. The colour of the flesh is white and the texture is spongy but firm. The seeds are edible.

Although there are different varieties of courgettes, which are the ones that change their characteristics, the most common is the green courgette, whose skin is bright dark green, so it is very easy to recognise.

The consumption season of courgettes goes from July to September, and its cultivation must be done between April and May.

Ho we grow our courgettes

At Huerta de Pancha we grow courgettes in the traditional way, as we have done all our lives. Therefore, these courgettes are grown without the use of pesticides or chemical fertilisers, which makes them healthier and more nutritious. In addition, organic courgettes are more resistant to pests, which makes them more durable than conventional courgettes.

The cultivation process of our courgettes takes into account the characteristics of climate, temperature, soil and amount of light.

The cultivation of courgettes in the Huerta de Pancha begins with the preparation of the soil, so that its capacity to retain water is improved. Care should be taken to ensure that the soil is kept moist, but not waterlogged.

Weed control is an essential step in the care of our crops. Weeds are removed so that the courgette can receive the right amount of sunlight and water. In this process we also have to remove courgette plants that are susceptible to diseases or pests.

Finally, we carry out the harvesting process manually, always selecting the best specimens and discarding those that are not at the optimum point for consumption.

How to eat courgettes from La Huerta

Courgette is a vegetable that is very easy to introduce into any diet. First of all, because of its taste; it is neither too sweet nor too bitter, and it goes well with a wide range of foods, and can be used as an ingredient for sweet and savoury dishes.

With our courgettes, you can prepare lasagne, creams, sauté them, bread them or even stuff them. You can also make courgette spaghetti, for which we recommend a spiraliser.

Courgette’s properties

Its main characteristics are its sweet taste and smooth texture. This vegetable is very nutritious, as it contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin A, vitamin C, iron and potassium.

In addition to their high nutritional content, courgettes are also rich in fibre, which makes them an excellent choice for those who wish to improve their digestive health. This vegetable also contains a good amount of antioxidants, which helps to prevent diseases such as cancer.

The composition of the courgette stands out for being 95% water, making it a vegetable with a very low caloric intake.

It should be noted that organic courgettes from Huerta de Pancha have a higher concentration of nutrients than conventional courgettes.

How you will receive Huerta de Pancha’s courgettes

Our courgettes are harvested at their optimum point. This point, in the case of courgettes, coincides with the point of ripeness. In other words, they are ready to eat once the order arrives at your home (ready to eat). These courgettes keep all their natural flavour as they do not go through cold storage. For packaging, we use 100% recyclable cardboard boxes and we always try to ensure that they are as well protected as possible to prevent them from being damaged during transport. We strive for quality for the consumer.

How to preserves courgettes

This vegetable keeps for quite a long time without the need to do anything. Moreover, if you have started it and you see that the first slice has become ugly or wrinkled, it will be enough to remove that first piece to see that the courgette is still perfectly fine. Avoid separating it from fruits and vegetables that expel ethylene (bananas, melon, avocado, tomato or onion). This gas is responsible for its ripening.

Another way to store courgettes for a long time is to freeze them. We can cut it into cubes, julienne, slices or however we think we are going to use it the most.