Marrow & Courgette

 

 

It’s a misconception that courgettes are just young marrows. They are part of the same family, along with squash and pumpkins but do have differences. Courgettes tend to be bushy and thin-skinned, whereas marrows tend to be trailing and have thicker skins, making them ideal for stuffing.

The health benefits varies depending on the variety.

100g marrow provides:

12 calories, 2g carbs, 2g sugars, 1g protein, 0g fats, 1g fibre, 11 mg Vitamin C,  Thiamin (B1) 0.08mg.

100g courgette provides:

18g calories, 2g carbs, 2g sugars, 2g protein, 0g fats, 1g fibre, 34µg Folate (B9), 341mg Potassium, 0.8mg iron.

Marrows are great fun for growing to show, aiming to harvest the biggest fruit possible. Otherwise, growing courgettes and marrows is really simple and rewarding during the summer months.

Marrows

Marrows can be sown directly into the ground outside or started off in pots inside.

Sowing outside can be done from late May – June by planting two or three seeds 2.5cm deep. Cover with a cloche and leave for two weeks or until germination has occurred. Once germinated thin the seeds so that only one strong seedling is left.

Sowing indoors has the benefit of creating earlier crops and is a better option in colder regions. To start the seeds indoors aim to sow from mid-late April sow the seed on  their side 13mm deep in 7.5cm pots. 

Courgettes

Best started off inside in pots, courgettes can be grown easily from seed. 

Sowing outside should be done from late May – early June. Dig over the site you’re planning to grow the courgettes in and mix in plenty of compost or well-rotted manure. This should be done to the depth and width of a spade’s blade. Once the seed has germinated, cover with a cloche for two weeks or for as long as possible.

Sowing indoors is ideal for colder regions and can be done from mid – late April. Sow the seeds individually on their side in 7.5cm pots filled with compost at a depth of about 1.5cm.

Marrows

A sunny position is best for growing marrows and the soil should be moisture-retentive. 

Avoid planting in a windy location.

       

Courgettes

A sunny position is best for growing courgettes and with a rich soil prepared with compost or well-rotted manure.

     

Marrow

Make planting pockets 1.2m apart with a spade, about two weeks before planting or sowing seeds outside. The hole should be about the depth and width of a spades blade and fill with well-rotted manure and soil or compost. Over the soil sprinkle a general fertiliser and plant one plant per planting pocket.

Indoor raised seedlings should be planted into the plant pockets from early June after hardening off.

Alternatively grow up to two marrows per growbag or one per large container.

Marrows like to have the soil consistently moist, but make sure to water around the plant not over the plant itself.  A high potash liquid fertiliser should be used every 10 -14 days once the fruit starts to swell.

Keep the fruit clean of soil by resting on a piece of glass or tile, or something similar.

 

 

 

 

Courgettes

Harden off any indoor-raised plants before planting out in June. This can be done simply by moving the plants into a coldframe for about a week prior to planting out. Alternatively move the plants out during the day and bring inside at night for a week, followed by a week or leaving them outside in a sheltered spot.

Prepare the planting location by making a hole about a spade’s depth and width, fill with compost or well-rotted manure and sprinkle over with a general fertiliser.
In the centre of each hole plant a courgette, spacing them 90cm apart.

Alternatively courgettes can be grown from a growbag or large container. If so, plant 1-2 per growbag and 1 per container.

The key to great courgettes is regular and generous watering as they grow. They don’t react well to having their leaves splashed so make sure to water the soil around the plant rather than the plant.

Once the fruits start to swell feed every 10-14 days with a high potash liquid fertiliser.

No fruit or rotting when small

Marrow

Having the fruit not develop or rotting whilst it’s very small is a result of cool weather during the early summer, causing inadequate pollination. 

Pollination tends to pick up again when the weather warms up and therefore the issue is usually only temporary. Alternatively to ensure pollination you can hand pollinate the plants by removing the male flower and brushing the central parts against the centre of a female flower. Male flowers have no swelling at their base where as female flowers do.

Courgette

You may find that the courgette plant is only or predominantly producing male flowers. This is common in the early stage of the courgettes growth but usually female flowers do form later on.

Powdery Mildew

A white powdery deposit appears over the leaf surface and leaves become stunted and shrivelled. The best way to avoid powdery mildew is to maintain moist soil and grow in cooler locations.

Grey Mould

Grey mould can be recognised as a fuzzy, grey fungal growth, beginning as a pale or discoloured patch. This is common in damp or humid conditions and is a result of the botrytis spores entering the plant through damaged tissue, wounds or open flowers, subsequently the ripening fruit can be damaged.

Any damaged areas of the plant should be removed before the infection can take hold and clear away any debris. Reduce humidity in greenhouses by opening the vents and windows and avoid overcrowding young plants.

Marrow

Marrows make for great show plants. If you’re growing yours to show then take off all developing fruit and leave just one on the plant. The plant will therefore put all of its energy into ripening that one remaining marrow.

For those who are growing to consume, pick as needed when the fruit is about 20cm long. By harvesting often you will encourage repeat fruiting.

We suggest wearing gloves for protection when harvesting as the vines have sharp spines and can cause damage.

Courgettes

Harvest courgettes regularly when they small will encourage a long cropping period, otherwise it’s best to harvest when the fruits are 10-12.5cm long.

                               

 

 

 

                         

 

 

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