Courgette Flowers

[Engel]

A family member has given me some courgette plants they've started off. I have never grown them before but have grown cucumbers and was reading up on the removal of 'male' flowers in regards to courgettes. I stumbled across the fact we can eat the flowers, male flowers a best for it and this had me thinking, could pigs eat the flowers too?

 

[Swissgreys]

Not sure about piggies (although all of mine did love rose petals as an occasional treat) but you should eat them.
They are delicious and a bit of an expensive delicacy!

 

[piggieminder]

Not sure about piggies (although all of mine did love rose petals as an occasional treat) but you should eat them.
They are delicious and a bit of an expensive delicacy!

I didn't know that! I've been putting them in the compost. Off to hunt for males flowers to put in tonight's salad.

 

[Betsy]

I've had battered and deep fried courgette flowers before they were delicious.

 

[Princess Dustmop]

You can stuff the flowers with things like goat cheese or ricotta (for you, of course) ... then batter and fry them!

 

[piggieminder]

Don't take them off the plants too soon though or you won't get any courgettes, the male plants are needed to fertilise the female ones.
I had some with my salad tonight they were delicious, almost worth growing courgettes just for the flowers!

 

[Wiebke]

A family member has given me some courgette plants they've started off. I have never grown them before but have grown cucumbers and was reading up on the removal of 'male' flowers in regards to courgettes. I stumbled across the fact we can eat the flowers, male flowers a best for it and this had me thinking, could pigs eat the flowers too?

Hi

As far as know courgettes and courgette flowers are edible for guinea pigs. They are generally not a favourite, though.

 

[Betsy]

My original 5 piggies would only eat courgette if it was peeled!

 

[piggieminder]

My original 5 piggies would only eat courgette if it was peeled!

I've never had one that would eat it at all!

 

[Engel]

Don't take them off the plants too soon though or you won't get any courgettes, the male plants are needed to fertilise the female ones.
I had some with my salad tonight they were delicious, almost worth growing courgettes just for the flowers!

Ok, thanks, I will keep that in mind. I haven't even checked to see how many (Fe)male flowers I have so I should probably do that.

 

[Engel]

Hi

As far as know courgettes and courgette flowers are edible for guinea pigs. They are generally not a favourite, though.

Thanks Wiebke. Do you know if they dry well to add to dry forage for winter? (If they like them of course).

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks Wiebke. Do you know if they dry well to add to dry forage for winter? (If they like them of course).

Sorry, no idea. Personally, I would rather use courgette flowers for human consumption than guinea pigs.

 

[teddymouse]

The flowers will not dry,as they only live for a few hours, and a very high water contents.

 

[Engel]

Ah ok @Wiebke, don't like to share?

Thanks @teddymouse.

 

[Wiebke]

Ah ok @Wiebke, don't like to share?

Thanks @teddymouse.

There are other things from the garden that my piggies like much better.