Marrow, Zucchini and Squash
The bush varieties have gained popularity
now it is appreciated how much nicer they are when used young, cooked
whole or sliced for sauté or salads.
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Requirements to Grow Organic Marrow,
Zucchini and Squash
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Warm conditions; a sunny well-drained
aspect with the soil prepared as suggested for cucumbers.
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Planting time for Growing Organic Marrow,
Zucchini and Squash
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In temperate climates sow or plant out
from October January; in cooler areas from October-December; in
semi-tropical regions from September-February, and in the extreme north
from autumn to spring.
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Cultivation for Organic Marrow, Zucchini
and Squash
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In slow-draining soils and particularly
when sowing seed early in the season, sow or plant as suggested for
cucumbers or plant in clumps of 3 or 4 plants or in rows, leaving 75 cm
between the plants. When the fruits are to be used young, pick every
second day to maintain an even size and prolong cropping.
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Special problems in Growing Organic
Marrow, Zucchini and Squash
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Check for powdery mildew as suggested for
cucumbers.
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Failure of fruit to set can be due to
lack of bees so hand-pollinate by picking the male flowers, breaking
them away from the petals then dusting the centre stamens over the
stigma or centre of the female flowers. Pollination is best carried out
early in the cool of the day. Some plants produce a succession of up to
10 male or female flowers and pollination is less of a problem when you
have a number of plants. Shriveling of embryo fruit due to mildew can
be controlled by adding 1 tablespoon of sulphate of potash per sq. m of
soil around the plants when flowering commences and watering in.
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