Courgette-Base Pizza

Courgettes

• Plant courgette seeds or seedlings in a sunny spot after the last frost, ensuring plenty of space as they are vigorous growers.
• Provide consistent watering, especially once fruits start to form, aiming for deep watering at the base of the plant.
• Consider providing a sturdy trellis or cage to support the heavy vines and keep fruits off the ground.

Tomatoes

• Sow tomato seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost, then transplant to a sunny spot with rich, well-draining soil.
• Stake or cage indeterminate varieties early to support their growth and prevent sprawling.
• Water deeply and consistently at the base of the plant to prevent blossom end rot and cracking.

Oregano

• Plant oregano in a sunny location with well-draining soil; it thrives on neglect once established.
• Water sparingly once established, as it is drought-tolerant.
• Grow in pots to contain its spread if you don't want it taking over garden beds.

Basil

• Plant basil in a warm, sunny location after all danger of frost has passed, as it is very sensitive to cold.
• Ensure consistently moist soil, but avoid overwatering, and provide good air circulation to prevent fungal issues.
• Pinch off the central stem and any flower buds regularly to encourage bushy growth and prevent the plant from going to seed.

• Inspect courgette and tomato plants regularly for aphids and spray them off with a strong stream of water.

• Place yellow sticky traps near basil to catch whiteflies and other flying pests.

• Use companion planting, such as marigolds, near courgettes and tomatoes to deter nematodes and other pests.

• Hand-pick slugs and snails from courgette and basil leaves, especially in damp conditions.

Courgettes

• Harvest courgettes when they are young and tender, typically 6-8 inches long, for best flavour and to encourage more fruit production.
• Check plants daily once they start producing, as courgettes can grow very quickly and become seedy if left too long.

Tomatoes

• Pick tomatoes when they are fully coloured and firm but yield slightly to gentle pressure.
• Harvest in the morning after dew has dried for best flavour and storage.
• If frost threatens, pick any mature green tomatoes to ripen indoors.

Oregano

• Snip off stems and leaves as needed, harvesting before the plant flowers for the most intense flavour.
• Cut back about one-third of the plant to encourage new, bushy growth.
• Frequent harvesting prevents the plant from becoming woody and leggy.

Basil

• Harvest basil leaves regularly by pinching off the top sets of leaves, which encourages the plant to branch out.
• Avoid stripping all leaves from one stem; instead, harvest from different parts of the plant.
• Harvest before the plant flowers to maintain the best flavour, as flowering can make the leaves bitter.