[tangojulie]

One of my courgettes failed to germinate this year so I bought a replacement small plant from the market. It wasn't marked with the variety, but by the time I got around to buying it, I was grateful for what I could get. It is now trailing all over the place and has produced fruit that are bigger and fatter than any courgette I've ever seen.

I'm now wondering
a) is this a different kind of courgette that I should have picked smaller
b) is it a marrow that I should pick about now
c) is it a winter squash that I should let grow and ripen?

Any ideas anyone?

[JayG]

I'll stick my neck out and say it's a marrow, but I'm bracing myself to be disagreed with! 

[Steveharford]

Yes I'd say marrow too. Looks quite a delicate plant but you can get smaller varieties of marrow than the monsters I aim for. Does look quite nice actually. Courgettes tend to be more compact rather than trailing. As far as I'm aware. Also the fruit look more marrow shaped. There you are....sorted! Haha!

[rowan57]

Courgettes =/= Marrows. Marrows are just big courgettes, courgettes are just small Marrows.

[Mother-Hen]

I would say it is definitely a marrow......

[mumofstig]

and I'd agree 

[ghost61]

It looks more like a squash to me, the shape seems to be like a melon shape rather than a marrow.

[Madame Cholet]

Pick it small its a courgette pick it lrg its a marrow

[Auntiemogs]

Just reminding you that you did ask...

[Floody]

My fiver's on it being a marrow... 

[tangojulie]

OK so on the back of everyone's replies we ate one tonight! And the result is ....




it cooks like a marrow and tastes like a marrow. Seeds are distributed in a courgette/marrow like all lined up way rather than a clustered in the middle squash like way. So I think it's not a squash.

I understand the theory that courgettes are just small marrows but in my experience, marrows are more watery and courgettes are more fibrous, regardless of size. It is definitely on the watery side.

I will be eating the rest of them at this size or smaller. Luckily the original 3 courgette plants are doing their thing as if there's no tomorrow (I don't suppose there is, for them) so we're adequately supplied without this one.

And I will be searching for interesting marrow recipes because at the moment I reckon that marrow is probably the most tasteless vegetable/fruit in cultivation.

Thanks all!

[Auntiemogs]

Marrow rum? 

[New shoot]

And I will be searching for interesting marrow recipes because at the moment I reckon that marrow is probably the most tasteless vegetable/fruit in cultivation.

One of my plot neighbours always tries to off load marrows on me and I've always ended up feeding them to the chickens, as I've never managed to make them tasty enough for OH to be pursuaded to eat them.  I don't mind them, but prefer courgettes.

However, there have been a couple of mentions of marrow rum on here recently that have caught my attention.  I am now secretly looking forward to the annual marrow gift   

[DD.]

Courgettes =/= Marrows. Marrows are just big courgettes, courgettes are just small Marrows.

Not quite.

An overgrown courgette is often called a marrow, but a true marrow has a tougher skin and will store longer. In fact I've still got one of last years now!