Welcome to Marrowville

Whether it’s talking up their giant marrows, or comparing the size of their vines, what started as a bit of fun for a rowdy bunch of dads with a cheeky sense of humour has, 12 years later, become the social glue that holds these families and friends together.

Described in their Facebook group as Australia’s premier gentlemen’s marrow growing and giant vegetable appreciation society, The Yarraville Marrow Growers Association (YMGA) was started as a club for dads to attend while their wives went off to book club; however, these days, the YMGA has expanded to include not only the Marrow Men, but also the WAGS and their children, and all are a vital thread in the fabric that ties this bunch of friends and neighbours together.

Club founder and self-appointed president for life, John Weldon, speaks passionately about the YMGA and is clearly grateful for the shared experiences and bond it has brought to all involved.

While he jokes about expanding into surrounding suburbs and creating a new, bigger suburb called Marrowville, the heart of this club was undeniably built on friendship and community…oh, and whopping big marrows!

The evolution from seed to community

The idea was born, the seed was sourced from overseas, and the club and its marrows grew from there. From those first seeds and seedlings, the winning marrow was chosen and the seed from that marrow provides the seed for the following year – a tradition that continues today.

But there is more to this group than getting a seed and growing a giant marrow. Always looking for an excuse to catch up, several key events have popped up in the YMGA calendar, including the seedling lucky dip, the weigh in and the slaughter (where seed is collected for the following year), as well as impromptu
catch ups to sledge each other’s marrows and even rock out to some old punk covers from the 70s.

The competition is simple but fierce – “by hook or by crook” is the mandate. While size matters, it is the weight that ultimately determines the winning marrow. A hotly debated weigh-in inevitably ensues, with cheating not uncommon amongst friends.

The heaviest marrow ever weighed in at 21kg, but it’s not all about weight. There are two other awards up for grabs – Ladies Choice (we’ll let you imagine that one) and the Munro Award for the smallest marrow (not the award anyone wants to win).

With the 2022 weigh off scheduled shortly, who wins this year is anyone’s guess, although John admits that this year has been the toughest for the Marrow Men due to poor germination from saved seed, powdery mildew due to Melbourne’s humid summer and, also, what the YMGA thinks is inbreeding concerns from only growing the same strain in isolation year after year.

What started as an excuse for a group of dads to get together socially, now a new generation of marrow growers is coming up through the ranks and embracing a tradition that will hopefully be carried on for many generations. John encourages others to start a group and get growing – all it takes is a Facebook or WhatsApp group and a bunch of seed.

If you have giant marrow seeds that you are willing to share with the YMGA, please send to YMGA, C/O The Diggers Club, PO Box 300, Dromana, VIC, 3936.

Written by Marcelle Swanson, Diggers horticultural editor, sustainable farmer and author.