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Post by michaeljohnson on Apr 13, 2009 1:30:02 GMT -5
Recently I have been searching for seeds for the English Marrows-(Long green Trailing type) as I personally have not grown any for a few years now, and suddenly realised that they are very hard to find these days, after trying all the local garden centres within a five mile are around where I live, I could not find any, plenty of the various bush types versions but no Long green trailing, apparently they seem to have gone out of fashion when courgettes seemed to take over the rein, and pushed them out a bit,- however I have still a couple of seed catalogue sources where I have seen some on offer, so I will have to send off for some and then grow them and keep a personal stock of the seeds going, so that I always have plenty to draw on-should anybody want any. However- there is one other source of these great marrows- from a vegetable showman collector called Medwyn Williams who grow giant vegetables for exhibition, he has some giant versions of it that reach 60lb to a 100lb in weight each, the only problem is that he is asking £5.00 five pounds for five seeds only, that is a ginormous £1.00 each per seed-almost $2.00 a seed US. I might risk buying a few to try- hoping that at least two of the seeds will germinate-apparently they are from a strain called (Richard Hope) strain, the same grower also produce runner beans a few years ago that were nearly three foot long, Here is the website- www.medwynsofanglesey.co.uk You will find all sorts of interesting reading on the website, especialy in the PDF version as a lot lore items are for sale on that-including a very interesting article on natures nitrogen source suppliment-through some form of bacteria.
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Post by grungy on Apr 13, 2009 3:13:48 GMT -5
When you get some to spare, Michael, let us know. I haven't got room for them this year so there is no rush for them. Obviously these are the kind of seeds that are need to seed bank as they are getting rare. Cheers, grungy
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Post by flowerpower on Apr 13, 2009 5:06:23 GMT -5
I know that Sandhill carries a variety called Trailing Green Marrow.
Trailing Green Marrow: 70 days. Late for a summer squash, but excellent for a season finisher and continues for the remainder of the season. Very vigorous vines produce numerous fruits that are striped and remain edible when they become quite large. Pkt. $2.00
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Post by Jim on Apr 13, 2009 6:39:25 GMT -5
I have a seed packet that on the description on the back says "italian vegetable marrow" it looks like a large green/grey striped zuke. Its 2007 seed that I'm not going to grow. I offered it to Blue but she didn't need it so it's up for grabs. PM me if you want it.
Jim
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Post by canadamike on Apr 13, 2009 15:53:03 GMT -5
I would take it, AS I orederd some from England too. I am more interested in the trailing habit, it all thruth..
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Post by deanriowa on Apr 14, 2009 8:48:22 GMT -5
I did a search and it appears "italian vegetable marrow" might be what we call "Cocozelle" here in the United States.
I am trying "Cocozelle" this season myself.
Dean
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Post by kitchengardener on Apr 15, 2009 13:31:23 GMT -5
Hi Michael,
I have got some 'English Marrow' seed from AmericanGardener 'Dave', which I am happy to share. I am afraid I don't know anything more about them that the name.
PM me if you are interested...
James
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Post by michaeljohnson on Apr 15, 2009 23:07:57 GMT -5
Hi-James, did you happen to notice that I (do) live in England, and am surrounded by english marrows of one sort or another LoL, but thanks anyway.
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Post by canadamike on May 2, 2009 3:52:20 GMT -5
Thanks for the marow seeds Michael. Want a few seeds Blue?
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Post by bluelacedredhead on May 2, 2009 6:53:44 GMT -5
Ooooo, Oui Monsieur!! And Thanks Very Much Michael. English Marrow. Jolly Good Sir
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Post by michaeljohnson on May 21, 2009 1:27:12 GMT -5
Bloody great seed leaves, have appeared on some of the very few seeds I managed to obtain of the Giant version of the English Marrows, very expensive at around £5.00 pounds english for only five seeds, but I must say that the seeds were of very good quality and gave 100% germination, from a giant veg specialist Medwyn Williams from the Isle of Anglesey in Wales UK. The seed leaves are so large as being about as big as tablespoon each, so I have high hopes for these beauties, according to the vendor they are from a special strain and are capable of reaching between 90 lb and 110lb in weight each, if I manage to just produce one marrow that should be an awful lot of seed to give away next year-I hope. I am also growing some of the Long green trailing type as well, which also grow pretty big and 10lb and 20lb marrows on them are not uncommon, but by comparison the seed leaves on those plants are not nearly as big as on the giant ones. I don't quite know as yet-what the hell I am going to do with a 100lb marrow-if I manage to grow one or two, maybe I shall go into the marrow rum business -Hick. ;D
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Post by canadamike on May 21, 2009 21:17:24 GMT -5
Michael, could you hook me up with some giant leeks seeds? I would of course take care of the ''details''. But it was asked to me by a friend. And I must admit that as much as these giants are usually not of prime culinary importance, at their early stage, they are good... and they get there fast...
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Post by michaeljohnson on May 22, 2009 0:29:52 GMT -5
Hi-Mike, Yes"- no problem, but it is far too late to sow them this year for leeks, they really need to be sown in little pots around christmas time or just after, but in november I shall be ordering some of both kinds of leeks, plus some of the giant onions that you wanted last season so I will send you some in due course-promise I can recommend the short fat pot leeks as being the best and easiest to deal with and the stems are so thick too-thicker than your arm in most cases, and quite tasty too. The other type- the giant long leeks can be up to three foot long or more and need a lot of work to get them to perfection. The best way to grow all these types of leeks is from little bulbils taken from the seed head in october-they look like little grains of corn to look at, and come up in between the seed stalks on the seed heads, I might be able to get you a few of those around mid oct/nov time, but would have to send them in a specially protected parcel/packet wrapped in bubble film as they would squash easily, with this method each leek comes an identical clone to the parent plant and is a very interesting way of growing them, you plant them in little posts just like onion sets and they sprout within two weeks or so.
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Post by bluelacedredhead on May 22, 2009 9:55:08 GMT -5
Michael, I was graced with some Giant Marrow Seeds from another Champion English grower a few years back. Unfortunately, it seems that one of the postal services that handled the package between Britain, the U.S. and Canada had a field day (or perhaps a Field Goal) with the package. All were damaged upon arrival, and I had zero germination. Another member from the club sent me his allotment, and they were exactly the same. I found two seeds still in the original envelope just recently. I suppose I could attempt germination, just one last time? I mean, what indeed, do I have to lose if they don't grow??
But today, I'm planning on planting the standard variety that you so graciously shared with Michel, who passed some along to me. Thanks again.
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Post by canadamike on May 22, 2009 20:00:52 GMT -5
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