WHEN TO HARVEST

According to Straathof, baby marrows and patty pans are ready for picking 50 to 70 days after planting.

The more you pick the more they produce and at peak harvest time plants should be checked daily. If marrows are left to grow too big the plant loses its vigour.

Hard-skinned squash needs 100 to 110 days to mature, and unlike the baby marrows, these should be allowed to ripen fully for the best flavour.