h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

These are the ones I planted this year:

http://www.parkseed.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10101&catalogId=10101&langId=-1&mainPage=prod2working&ItemId=5295&PrevMainPage=textsearchresults&scChannel=Text%20Search&SearchText=squash&OfferCode=SH1

http://www.parkseed.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10101&catalogId=10101&langId=-1&mainPage=prod2working&ItemId=5678&PrevMainPage=textsearchresults&scChannel=Text%20Search&SearchText=squash&OfferCode=SH1

http://www.parkseed.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10101&catalogId=10101&langId=-1&mainPage=prod2working&ItemId=5331&PrevMainPage=textsearchresults&scChannel=Text%20Search&SearchText=squash&OfferCode=SH1

http://www.parkseed.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/StoreCatalogDisplay?storeId=10101&catalogId=10101&langId=-1&mainPage=prod2working&ItemId=5321&PrevMainPage=textsearchresults&scChannel=Text%20Search&SearchText=squash&OfferCode=SH1

The last one is the one that looks like your marrow.

The first one, the scalloped squash, has a white variety that I prefer, but it is getting harder and harder to find the sed for the white.

Gem squash http://www.capeflowerfields.com/protea_2_gems.gif

The white version of the yellow scalloped one we call a custard marrow.

I don't think you have marrow - the long zucchini are fat enough and look as though they'd grow club shaped rather than zeppelin shaped like a marrow.

The enormous marrow is a monstrosity that's probably been fed on some liquid secret recipe, probably involving beer.

PS the HDRA are running an 'adopt a veg' scheme. I had a look and there are no marrows waiting adoption, unfortunately. But there are some broad beans and some squashes.

Ah! The Gem squash is a winter squash. The white scalloped squash is a summer squash we call a patty pan.

I have Kentucky Wonder beans that I am letting go to seed. Since they are not hybrids, I plan to plant my own seeds next year.

Are broad beans used green or is the bean seed allowed to mature before using?

Not too sure about broad beans - I think you use just the seed, but without drying it. And they're quite large, flat and pale coloured.

Further research is required on that one.

At one time I disliked all beans. Now young fresh runner beans are great. I still don't like french beans.

I am cooking a big pot of ham hocks and beans, as we speak. I have several kinds of beans in the pot including: pinto, Great Northerns, black beans, red beans, black-eyed peas and a few big lima beans. We can buy a mixture here, but it usually contains split peas and lentils. They cook more quickly than the others and get all mushy. I like bean soup rather than thick bean stew so I mix my own. Besides, it's cheaper in the long run.

Dad called the limas "butter beans". He really liked them. A few of them is enough for me.

I'll have to try that - making a mixture of my own.

If you make your own mixture, you are sure to get the beans you like. Right? Black beans rule.