On 9 Aug, 12:31, Janet wrote:
In article , kay.6d56646
@gardenbanter.co.uk says...

But reading the courgette thread in particular, I can't help wondering
-
wouldn't it be easier just to plant fewer plants?

* Yes; except that (at least in the north) *how they perform varies
considerably from year to year. Some wet years they either rot off or *
are all leaf and minimal flowers /fruit. This year we had two months of
sunny unusually dry weather so they flowered their socks off.

* Janet

I am amazed at all this talk of wasting so much "Surplus" food,
Doesn't anyone have friends, neighbours who wouls appreciate some
"Eresh" fruit and veg, also one or 2 local OAP's, then there is
freezing, salting and jam and chutney making.
If your courgets are to many then let some grow into marrows, when
properly ripe they will last well into the winter.
I always keep my best peas and beens on the plant to ripen for next
years seed( on this subjuec I use a blue flower spray to mark the pods
I am keeping so that they dont get picked by accident).
With runner beans I do 2 sowings, with the 2nd sowing end of June/
early July so that they will crop almost till the frost.
David Hill