When eaten small and young, marrows are called courgettes or zucchini.
Like most vegetables they are easy to grow and will reward you with a constant supply for four or five months.
On the left are a few courgettes that are ready to eat and on the right is a small marrow that is about 15 inches long. Both forms are delicious lightly cooked, and the courgettes are superb thinly sliced, like cucumber, in salads.
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For 2007 I have planted two extra varieties, both from seeds bought in Nice in the South of France. One is called Longue de Nice and it is a rather shapeless variety with an excellent taste. The other is an orange, saucer shaped variety (see below)
The seedlings grow rapidly (the centre shot is 14 days after sowing) and can be removed from the heat. It is important to keep them frost free in a frame or greenhouse ready to be planted out in mid April still under cover until May when there should be no more frost.
Courgettes can be sown in pots inside a heated propagator in March and will provide the earliest crops. The seeds are sown individually and about 6 will guarantee 3 plants that you will need for a good constant supply.
Have a look at this page for a quick review of my plot. Click in this box to view it.
You have got your allotment and are ready to start. Click in this box to begin
Outside sowing direct into the ground should wait until late April. Sow into the ground directly. Although they will grow anywhere, large quantities of manure help maintain moisture and supply nourishment.
Courgettes will not store, but if left to grow into marrows they will keep for several months when allowed to ripen on the plant and then hung individually in nets. See the photo of my butternut squashes.
Pull regularly when between three and six inches long and if you cannot use them give them away, or throw on the compost heap. If you let them grow into marrows the plant will shut down.
Courgette plants get huge very quickly and grow to occupy a space approximately 6 feet square. I put three in my 8 foot deep bed and should have put two in.
Slugs and snails will nibble the skins but a few slug pellets will cure the problem.
Mildew as shown will turn the leaves white at first, the plant slows down and eventually the leaves die. To avoid this problem grow a second crop 6-8 weeks after the first and as soon as it is productive dig up the original plants, you will get a longer growing season.
This variety, I spotted in Nice and decided to give it a try.
I like to experiment and as the pack contains about 50 seeds, I will plant 3 or 4 at 2 weekly intervals in a propagator. If the weather kills early ones, then the later ones will be planted.
As I have not seen them in England, they probably like warmer weather than we get, but if we have a good summer..... watch this space.
I have taken the plunge and planted out two courgettes. I have plenty in reserve in case of disaster. Compare with the similar photo above taken on 27th May 2006.
This year I have decided on two per 8X4 raised bed as last years were overcrowded. Remember, they are very large plants.
Potted into larger pots in greenhouse. I dare not put them out yet. The greenhouse is a home-made one that sits on half a raised bed and can be moved around the plot.
The Longue de NIce have produced courgettes before Black Beauty. I did not realise that they are a climbing variety so next year I will plant 3 to a bed and let them grow over a frame.
The Patisson Orange are much later. Watch this space.