Marrows

[andrewo]

I am growing marrow dainty and it is getting monstrous. Anyone got tips on marrows, first year we've grown them. Do you pinch out the growing tip or just let it go?

[Nicos]

No idea!!

but.... I just wanted to say HELLO!!!!

great to hear from you

[Hazel at the Hill]

Good grief - hello from me too!

I haven't experience of that particular variety, but I'd be inclined to let it set 2 or 3 three fruits, then stop all the fruits beyond those. I think I'd maybe keep the vine growth though, as I think that as they root, they will help feed the fruit you have.

A gut feel, however, rather than advice.

[Alison]

I've always just let my marrows do their own thing

[snakeshack]

I just let mine have free rein,point the vine in the mos convenient direction,light the blue touch paper and retire to a safe distance.I do stop my large pumpkins however,2 leaves after the fruit

[bearded bloke]

Ahhh,Table Dainty they are lovely & called Dainty for a reason they should be cropped at 10 - 12 inches long,cropping like that they are very sweet & cook quickly,cut in half length ways & well stuffed should take 15 - 20 mins in a moderately hot oven.
Back to your question - Let it ramble,during the season it will grow to approx 4 metres & will produce upwards of 14 fruit,it is also very easy to hand polinate,if you can a good way to maximise your growing area is to make a short tepee at each end of the bed & lay a pole between them,then train the plant along the pole & the fruit will suspend itself underneath,done that way you can grow veg underneath that will tolerate partial shade,currently I have lettuce,beetroot & celariac under mine


Edit : tepee can be anything between 2 - 5 feet high,the plant is happy to grow upwards but after 8 feet is a bugger to harvest due to needing silly long step ladders,I will see if I can find a picture from the year before last when I added an old 3.5 metre fishing rod to the top of a 6 foot tepee

Edit : Mine today ......

[mrswadders]

I tend to let mine get on with it, so far i've cropped 4 yellow marrows approx 3-4llbs each, first time growing yellow marrows but have been really impressed thus far

[andrewo]

Thanks everyone for the replies and great tips.

[Snadger]

And hello and welcome from I Don't do marrows (only if my courgettes get away on me!)