Marrow Seeds 'Badger Cross' F1

• Cream-striped green fruits
• Matures early
• Harvest young as courgettes or leave to mature
• RHS Award of Garden Merit

British-bred Marrow ‘Badger Cross’ grows fast and matures early, producing cream-striped green fruits that can be harvested young as courgettes or left to mature. This top-quality marrow has good resistance to cucumber mosaic disease and holds the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

Sow indoors

Sow seeds individually on edge in small pots of firm, moist seed compost 2cm (1in) deep. Place in the warmth 15-18°C (60-65°F). Keep moist. As seedlings develop, grow on under cool, light conditions, but not in direct sunlight.

Plant out

Gradually accustom young plants to outdoor conditions for 2-3 weeks before planting out to their cropping positions, after the risk of frost has passed. Water and feed regularly.

Sow outdoors

Water sowing positions, then sow two or three seeds close together in a group 2cm (1in) deep, 90cm (36in apart). After germination, leave only the strongest seedlings in each group. Keep well watered in dry spells.

Aftercare

Keep well watered and feed regularly with a liquid fertiliser.

Caution

Extremely rarely, marrows may produce very bitter fruit that may cause stomach upset. This can be tested by licking the cut surface of one fruit per plant; bitter fruit should not be eaten.