trying to grow a big marrow!!!

[chilli_grower]

I have a marrow plant 'long green trailing' variety, growing in one of those large bendy builders buckets from B and Q.

I am trying to grow a very large marrow, just for the challenge.

THe plant has grown in a peculiar way in my opinion, it has simply thrown out a single massive 'BRANCH' around 6 foot long!!! I will post pic tonight hopefully.

It is currently sprawled across my patio in a very untidy fashion.

It also seems to be growing little horns from the branch!

Is this normal???? As the plant looks as though it should belong on another planet....

I have lots of male flower buds on there, and 2 or 3 females.

THe females are right at the very end of the 6 foot branch!!!!

Will the plant struggle to get water to the end of this branch to feed them? Should I pick the females off, and wait until females grow around the base of the plant instead?

Any help welcomed...

[rustylady]

Trailing marrow plants grow huge. The clue is in the name "LONG green TRAILING".

Don't pick off any of the female flowers or you won't get any fruit.

[chilli_grower]

yes, I had already concluded that the name was a give away!

I just didnt think it would get this big so fast!

Ok, I will leave the females.

My thoughts were that if the females are 6 feet away from the base of the plant, then that is a long way for the water/feed to travel...

[rustylady]

The plant is designed to cope with it's size, so don't worry about it.

[chris]

Feed it once the fruit forms - if you want it to get large, you're going to have to meet its demand for food and water

[chilli_grower]

thanks for the advice Chris, here are some pics of the beast!

[chris]

You're definitely going to have to feed and water it well in that trug!

[chilli_grower]

will do!!!!!

[Normans Mum]

I have one that's starting to trail along the path. How do you distinguish between male and female flowers though?

[chilli_grower]

male flowers have a thin green stem, females have a small marrow or courgette behind the flower...

[mrbadexample]

When trying to grow one large marrow, should other fruit be removed to ensure maximum growth of the big one?

[chilli_grower]

that is what I have done

[The Allotment Shed]

Grow two in case one of them rots

[darcyvuqua]

I have two plants each holding a small pumpkin each hope I get at least one I can use for Halloween don't think I will set any records


Anyone feed there if so with what??

[The Allotment Shed]

Phostrogen is what mine get