Marrows; How do you keep them off the ground?

[Parsons Jack]

Hi All,

I've never had any problems with courgettes over the years and am growing Defender this year. They are going well with fruits nicely pointing upwards or horizontal. However, this year I thought I would grow a couple of Long Green Bush Marrows as well. They have been growing well, and the first one got to about 4 inches long and then dropped off. What I have noticed is that this one and the others that are growing, are pointing down into the ground. Is this usual? How do you keep them up?
I await with baited breath the many sensible ( and not so sensible ) answers.

[Beryl]

I don't grow marrows but had a similar problem with Butternut squash and used some old roof tiles to rest them on.

Beryl.

[Mike Vogel]

The first ones often go yellow and drop off because of the cold weather. I use all sorts of things to keep the fruits off the ground, including straw, cardboard, an old draining unit, plastic trellis roled up, bits of wood, etc.
mike

[oldherbaceous]

Dear PJ, luckily you have three sensible people answering first.

As Mike said the first marrows often do this, but the following ones should swell to a much better size.
I don't put anything under mine and they seem just fine.

[Parsons Jack]

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies. I was hoping it wasn't anything too serious. Now, do I follow Mike and Beryl and support them, or OH and just leave them

[oldherbaceous]

Dear PJ, i would go with the wiser ones.

[Beryl]

Why not do both and see what works best for you.

Beryl.

[Parsons Jack]

Why not do both and see what works best for you.

Beryl.

Hi Beryl,

I think I might just do that

[John]

Hello PJ
I don't grow marrows but for my squashes I put straw under them in much the same way that you would do for strawberries. In fact my squash row looks like a large strawberry patch. I cover the whole squash area with straw about the same time as I put the plants in the ground. It does mean that wherever the fruits eventually form they will be resting on straw.

I agree with the others about the first fruits often not forming. This family of plants seem reluctant to set fruit until the plant is at a mature enough stage to support full development of the fruit hence the first fruits are often aborted.

John

[alan refail]

PJ

Nothing to add to the sensible folk above. I put mine on an old slate (plenty of that round here)or just leave them.

The reason for the early ones dropping off is, I'm sure, lack of pollination, male and female flowers not coinciding in the early stages. Later ones are nearly always fine.

[Parsons Jack]

Hi John and Alan,

Thanks for your replies. I'm sure mine will be fine as the season progresses.

[Colin_M]

Hello PJ
...for my squashes I put straw under them . I cover the whole squash area with straw about the same time as I put the plants in the ground. It does mean that wherever the fruits eventually form they will be resting on straw.

Hi John, I too have used straw in the past, but just under the fruit. Seeing your picture, it looks like the complete blanket of straw might act as a mulch too, so I can see some advantages in that (though I guess it could also be a haven for slugs).

[Mike Vogel]

Dear PJ, I am not as wise as OH suggests, because sometimes I don't bother to support things like courgettes, and they do just fine with a bit of mud on their bottoms.

mike