When do you plant marrows

We recommend placing each marrow on a flat surface like a tile to keep it away from the soil. This prevents scuffing on the bottom, and should lead to better looking veggies at harvest time. When the marrow is at the size you want it, simply pluck it from the stem.

Marrows are ready to harvest in July and will continue to ripen until October, giving you a long harvest season. In years with poor weather in the early summer, you may find that your marrows are small or non-existent.

This is caused by lack of adequate pollination and will, when the weather gets better, resolve itself. Just be patient and prepare for the eventuality of harvesting a little later than initially planned.

If you do see mould, remove and destroy the infected areas to prevent the issue spreading elsewhere in the plant. This is the dish that changed my mind. Roasted veggies are simple and delicious, just chop them up, add your favourite seasonings, drizzle with oil, and roast on a high heat. Thanks for reading our guide to growing marrows in the UK. Chris is interested in nature and the good things that happen when people are in it.

He is a freelance writer, with writing published about cycling, green living, and ways to make a difference without fundamentally restructuring your lifestyle. See his personal website here. Size Height 0. Chris Lee Chris is interested in nature and the good things that happen when people are in it. Marrows and squashes may be susceptible to the following problems: Poor fruit set, young fruit rotting. Interest in grows your own continues to rise and growing your own tasty and healthy fruit and veg at home are easier Growing your own vegetables is often cheaper than shop-bought produce, but for most of us the real benefits are far From chunky soups to winter salads, there are so many ways to use winter vegetables.

Including yummy creamy pumpkin Most families only need 1 or 2 plants of each to be self-sufficient in these prolific producers. How to grow marrows and squashes Cultivation Marrows and squashes need a sheltered position in full sun and a fertile soil that holds plenty of moisture. Marrow and squash varieties Study the seed racks and choose your preferred shapes and colours.

Related products. Buy now. Find a store. Related articles. What are the easiest vegetables to grow? Read more. Full sun and well-composted soil that drains well suits the cultivation of baby marrow. An area where there is good air movement will allow the leaves to dry off quickly after watering or rainfall and ensuring there will be sufficient space between plants will also help with airflow around the leaves.

Plants that are too close together can create a humid microclimate that makes the leaves susceptible to disease. Plant seed 7 cm deep, with two seeds per hole for in situ planting but one seed if you are planting in small pots.

For those in the ground, once the seeds have germinated and produced one true leaf then cut off the weaker seedling at ground level rather than pulling it out. Individual seeds should be spaced 50 cm to 1 m apart and the rows 1 m to 1,5 m apart. Baby marrow plants consist of a single thick stem with leaves; the flowers and fruit are borne off the stem.

Most are bushy plants that only require a little support but there are some trailing varieties that can be grown up a trellis or tepee. The first flowers are usually male and will not produce fruit, they can be picked for eating and are the nicest of all the squash flowers. The female flowers can be distinguished from the males by the small swelling at their bases. The plants have a shallow root system and are drought-sensitive, so they need plenty of water.

They will not flower if there is not enough water, which obviously affects the harvest. The method of watering is very important. Water the plants deeply around the base and not from above so that the leaves remain dry.

If they get wet they become susceptible to mildew. A mulch of straw around the plant should help to keep the leaves off the moist soil.

As the plant grows the thickened stem can be slightly supported so that all the new growth is off the ground. Feed twice during the growing season with a potassium-rich fertiliser like steer clear of a nitrogen-rich feed as this produces leaves at the expense of flowers.