Allotments 4 All

Haven’t been up the Lottie for a few days what with the bad weather and daughter wanting some decorating doing, 'my oh my' what a welcome surprise when I popped in today as I was passing.

Spuds, beanz, beanz, and more beanz oh and a couple of courgettes that my wife said I should of left to grow but what do I know, they are about 6" long. ::) :P

I have a range of (are they squashes?) big leaf plants growing on the compost heap, from memory they are marrows, courgettes, cucumbers, and pumpkins, I can’t find a label anywhere in the heap to identify these plants, I’m not sure if my marrows are cougettes or visa versa. ::) :P

How big should I have left the courgette (assuming it’s a courgette) before I pick them? And the same question for marrows. ??? ;D

(http://img319.imageshack.us/img319/2818/beanz9qg.jpg) (http://imageshack.us)

Well done Roy - glad to hear from you after the events of the other day. Hope all is well.

Courgettes are baby marrows, you pick them when they reach the size you want, simple ;D

As you say, Roy - WOW!

Those 'courgettes' are a good tender size. Some varieties can get a bit pithy if they get too big. But if you want something for stuffing, just look the other way for a day or two & you'll get it!

Later in the season, it is nice to let a few grow on to full size & let the skin harden. They'll then store for a few months.

I have to say that we pick our broadies a bit younger than yours. You may find those a bit mealy. But they can be improved by skinning after cooking. I would rather have one bean in its tender prime than 10 that are somewhat passé.

When you have an example of each, let's have an identity parade?

Thats a great haul Roy. Everyone round o yours for Sunday dinner?  ;)

Absolutely beautiful Roy !   ;D ;D
I thought your courgettes look like broad beans  ??? ???  I bet they taste lovely  :D

Lovely ;D

Looking good  - all eaten for lunch by now ?  :)

beautiful!  
I pick my courgettes at about the size of yours, I find they are easier to use up and you don't have the oh my gracious what can I do with these, syndrome like I had today after being away for a week!
Well done Roy! ;D

Lovely beans! 

This is my late sowing of runners.  The bunnies had the first lot.  I hope they're half as good as yours.

Clever rainbow??

Quote from: Merry Tiller on July 31, 2005, 01:21:56
Courgettes are baby marrows, you pick them when they reach the size you want, simple ;D

;) Thanks for that MT although still a little confused as I have sown seeds from a packet saying courgettes and sown seeds from a packet saying marrows ::) ???

Well done Roy, a great haul home from a plot that's only been in production a few months!!!!!

;D Thanks for all the encouragement ;D it is really nice of you Guys, much appreciated. ;)

Fanks  :-[ ;D

Lovely!  Perfect courgettes!!    I almost like forgetting about the plot for a bit, then going up and seeing how huge everything looks!  I get that sort of excited buzz when I get back from a holiday....I know...I am a saddo allotmenteer, but I bet you are all as bad!

Great results, Roy - wan't it worth all the waiting now? ;)

Not sad at all EJ - know exactly what you mean.......

Must make me a saddo too... I find myself chuckling when I am eating a plate of home grown goodies!

Don't be confused, Roy - you'll get a long squashy type thing in both cases but, I think, the 'marrows' are better geared to producing fruit of a more 'marrowy' shape which ripens well for store.

'Cougettes', the 'fashionable' fruit,  may have been selected for flavour, shape or productivity??

But either will do either!  Don't quote me!!

Yes Emma I do get a buzz especially this time of year and no doubt will get a Double Decker Buzz next year with me having two Lotties :o 8)

QuoteFrom Wicker. Great results, Roy - wan't it worth all the waiting now?

Sure was Megan, I'm still Buzzin ;D 8)

Looby Loo, I do love your Avitar ;D I thought it came alive when I saw its nose twitching ;D

QuoteFrom Tim. When you have an example of each, let's have an identity parade?

I fully intended to take a piccy of all these strange long (some not so long) thingies but I keep forgetting to take my camera with me, I will try harder tomorrow ::) ;D

Oh and thanks Tim I am a lot less confused ::) I think ??? ;D

Roy - That's my Megs.  Very impractical creature to have about on an allotment - apart from the rabbit chasing that is!

I finally remembered my camera today and snapped my entire stock of whatever you call em’s?

My labels have been swallowed up by these beasts and I haven’t a clue as to what they are well maybe a good guess, please help a green novice if you can. Please click the thumbs.

I think the first is a pumpkin Big Max although looking at it it’s not exactly big.

(http://img284.imageshack.us/img284/1337/bigmax3iy.th.jpg) (http://img284.imageshack.us/my.php?image=bigmax3iy.jpg)
This one not sure a marrow maybe?
(http://img284.imageshack.us/img284/187/sqsh14ad.th.jpg) (http://img284.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sqsh14ad.jpg)
And the same again maybe?
(http://img284.imageshack.us/img284/3115/sqsh26an.th.jpg) (http://img284.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sqsh26an.jpg)
Marrow again? Yes? No?
(http://img284.imageshack.us/img284/6043/sqsh30sr.th.jpg) (http://img284.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sqsh30sr.jpg)
Is this an overgrown courgette? 50p piece for scale.
(http://img284.imageshack.us/img284/4308/sqsh43im.th.jpg) (http://img284.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sqsh43im.jpg)
Same again mybe?
(http://img284.imageshack.us/img284/9134/sqsh51ws.th.jpg) (http://img284.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sqsh51ws.jpg)
Forgot the 50p piece but a lot smaller I think.
(http://img284.imageshack.us/img284/7802/sqsh62pn.th.jpg) (http://img284.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sqsh62pn.jpg)
I’m guessing another marrow?
(http://img284.imageshack.us/img284/3780/sqsh74nl.th.jpg) (http://img284.imageshack.us/my.php?image=sqsh74nl.jpg)

Many thanks Roy.

wow Roy is looking good

Roy, I've only ever known marrows to be stripey - but I may have led a sheltered life...

 ;D At a 105 years of age :o I can't believe that :P ;D

...(sigh!) it's all just a blur now... :-\

;D ;D

Pictures 2,3&4 I would say are defo marrows.  And the others are defo large courgettes.  If you leave the big courgettes, production will more or less stop as the plant is doing what it wants to do and producing seed. Oh, and the last one looks like a marrow to me.

;) Thanks Guys, I have just realised I have missed at least one plant and that is a cucumber as I have had 2 decent size telegraph cuc's so far, hope it hasn't died on me. :(

Looks like I planted too many marrows then? Will the large courgettes still make for a tasty meal? I will pick them tomorrow and hope the plant continues to produce :-[

The courgettes will be fine, but the pips might be a bit pippy, altho I found my HUGE yellow ones were still almost pipless!  ;D  And why too many marrows?  They will store for several months over the winter, just make sure you let them dry well so their skins are good and tough.

I've been eating Zeppelin sized courgettes (egged on by Tim who said they'd still make good eating) and I agree - they do.  :)  I thought they might be pippy but not at all.  Yum  :)