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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: littlebabybird on October 08, 2008, 09:20:29

Title: marrows
Post by: littlebabybird on October 08, 2008, 09:20:29
someone from another plot left their courgettes while on holiday and gave some of the resultant
"marrows" to me, the kids loved them so i want to grow them next year
so does any one know a good marrow variety?
or do i just leave some courgettes to grow on?
lbb
Title: Re: marrows
Post by: PurpleHeather on October 08, 2008, 13:45:57
Why not take the seeds out of the ones you got and dry them by leaving them exposed, on kitchen paper. Don't worry if they stick to the paper, it will come off after planting and watering Keep the seeds in a paper envelope.

Then plant them next year.

I do not think that there is enough taste in marrows or courgettes to worry about variety they all seem to grow with great vigour.

It is a personal view and others may disagree.
Title: Re: marrows
Post by: thegreatgardener on October 08, 2008, 14:58:55
Are they courgettes or marrow since the two are not same plant.

Title: Re: marrows
Post by: littlebabybird on October 08, 2008, 17:32:45
hi Purple heather
the only reason i havent done that is they were just someone elses over grown courgettes trhat could be crossed with anything

if it is ok just to let courgettes go then i have my own properly saved courgette seeds, but will normal courgette plants carry on if the fruits are left to grow? or do i need to get real marrow seeds? and are they different?

lbb
Title: Re: marrows
Post by: thegreatgardener on October 08, 2008, 22:56:39
courgettes are  small zucchini.  Marrows look similar but are not that same thing.
Title: Re: marrows
Post by: star on October 08, 2008, 23:09:28
Courgettes = English
Zuccini = American

Both are the same, if courgettes / zuccini are left to grow they will become marrows LLB ;)
Title: Re: marrows
Post by: littlebabybird on October 09, 2008, 00:53:36
star is there a variety that will be most productive?
lbb
Title: Re: marrows
Post by: Eristic on October 09, 2008, 01:06:46
All Green Bush is pretty good for sheer yield and in a hot summer will embarrass you with a kilo per week or more.
Title: Re: marrows
Post by: littlebabybird on October 09, 2008, 01:19:55
thankyou Eristic
that will be the one then
would marrows store if the skin is ripened?
lbb
Title: Re: marrows
Post by: thegreatgardener on October 09, 2008, 03:37:19
Star you wrong
zucchini/courgette can not grow to be marrow because they are different plants.

If want I will explain difference to you I will. they may look similar
but are different. Even guinness book recognizes there is difference between a zucchini/courgette and marrow because they have separate records for each.
Title: Re: marrows
Post by: Eristic on October 09, 2008, 03:47:53
If it looks like a marrow, smells like a marrow and tastes like a marrow it is a marrow.

Courgettes grow up to be marrows. Marrows are overgrown courgettes.

Show rules are for shows, nothing more. Courgettes are for little people, marrows are for men.
Title: Re: marrows
Post by: Barnowl on October 09, 2008, 11:34:37
Quote from: Eristic on October 09, 2008, 03:47:53
Courgettes are for little people, marrows are for men.

Not too sure about that  Eristic. I'm 17st and I grow courgettes :)

Courgettes have their place:  try making ratatouille with marrow or grilling strips of marrow on a griddle and you'll soon see why.
Title: Re: marrows
Post by: thegreatgardener on October 09, 2008, 12:34:53
the first 3 picture are are marrows and second 3 are of courgette/zucchini
I will post the defining differences later.

Marrows
(http://www.bigpumpkins.com/Gallery/GalleryImg/BL_109lbs_marrow_2005_r.JPG)
(http://www.mammothonion.co.uk/images/gianttrailingmarrow.jpg)
(http://blubberbegone.files.wordpress.com/2007/08/spaghetti-squash.jpg)

Zucchini/courgette:

(http://new.alaskabountea.com/images/giant_veg_zucchini.jpg)
(http://www.vermeulenfarms.com/images/yellow%20Zucchini%20210705.jpg)
(http://www.vermeulenfarms.com/images/Zucchini%20120705%20001.jpg)
Title: Re: marrows
Post by: raisedbedted on October 09, 2008, 13:05:26
Zuche in Italy is a marrow, Zuchini is a courgette, the italians will often add -ini to determine small.
Courge is the orginional derivation in France, Courgette is the name of a small Courge -ette is used in france to determine small.

All these countries are so wrong and we can be very grateful to thegreatgardener for his internet researched photos, he truly is a useful resource.

Should it be trollette or trollini by the way?
Title: Re: marrows
Post by: Kea on October 23, 2008, 17:35:00
seed size...no matter how big a courgette/zucchini grows the seeds stay small while a marrow has bigger seeds...quite a lot bigger. Just one obvious difference.
Title: Re: marrows
Post by: OllieC on October 23, 2008, 17:54:24
Aren't there some that are better suited to being picked for a marrow (thick skin), and some better suited to a courgette (prolific flowerer)? I'm 99.9% certain that there is almost no more botanical difference than with any 2 varieties of something.

Still, it's good to be corrected, that's how we learn. I am drafting a letter to the French & Italian embassy to demand that they correct their stupid mistake.

It certainly starts with a "t", rbt  ::)  :)
Title: Re: marrows
Post by: caroline7758 on October 23, 2008, 17:58:40
Dr Hessayon says "There are no exact definitions for each type and the dividing lines are blurred....Courgettes are nothing more than marrows cut at the immature stage".

And what's good enough for Dr H is good enough for me! ;)
Title: Re: marrows
Post by: OllieC on October 23, 2008, 17:58:55
I've just remembered, I have some seeds for "F1 Tiger Cross" - a dual purpose plant that says "Use as courgettes or Marrows" on the packet. It has 9 seeds so I can pop you over a few if you don't find something...

TGG - it's interesting to see that Suttons get it wrong as well. Would you like their address so you can write & tell them?!?!  :P
Title: Re: marrows
Post by: thegreatgardener on October 23, 2008, 18:37:39
Dr Hessayon is not an squash expert. And has lots more incorrect info in his book.
Title: Re: marrows
Post by: OllieC on October 23, 2008, 18:48:39
Does anyone know what his doctorate is in? I've never been able to find out... It could be in origami..



Found it! Soil ecology!
Title: Re: marrows
Post by: realfood on October 23, 2008, 19:09:50
Marrows and Courgettes are both in the family Cucurbita Pepo, as are some of the other Summer Squashes and the Winter Squashes. However, each type has been selected over the years for different tastes, textures, habits and uses.
Title: Re: marrows
Post by: littlebabybird on October 23, 2008, 21:35:15
Ollie thank you for the offer, i just wanted to know what would be best to grow
if it realy is just a matter of letting some courgettes go, i just wont worry about getting someone to pick them when we go on summer hols next year
but if there is a good type then i would rather get them :)

lbb