Table of Contents[Hide][Show]
With minimal investment, zucchini plants will reward you with their generous abundance!
Types of Zucchini
When most people think of zucchini, they picture a green cylindrical veggie but in fact zucchini varieties can vary in color, texture and shape. Colors range from various shades of green, to golden yellow squash, including bi-coloured veggies. Zucchini can be smooth or have pronounced ridges that produce star-shaped slices. And, even though many zucchini are shaped like long, thin cylinders, some varieties of zucchini are bulbous at one end such as crookneck, while others can be completely round! There are bush types which are compact and vining plants which require more space.
Ask Anything
Get personalized content recommendations and answers drawn from our website. Simply type your question or topic of interest, and our AI assistant will help you find relevant articles, tips, and insights. You can also have a natural conversation to explore topics in more depth.
Getting Started
Zucchini plants work well in temperate climates and thrive in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9 (to find out what zone you are in, check here). You can sow seeds directly outside in the vegetable garden or garden bed an inch deep a week after the last frost date, as long as the soil is at least 60 °F (16 °C) and nighttime temperatures are reliably above 55 °F (13 °C). Alternatively, you can start zucchini seeds indoors two to 4 weeks earlier before moving young plants into your garden space.
Where Best to Plant
Zucchini plants require full sun, shelter from wind to ensure good pollination, and well-draining soil (loamy with slightly acidic to neutral pH of 6 to 7.5). These plants require organically-rich soil, so for best results add plenty of garden compost or well-rotted manure to the soil before planting. Plant seeds in a ‘hill’ of 3 to 4 seeds close together on a small mound. Zucchini plants should be at least 2 feet (61 cm) apart, in rows spaced 3 feet (91 cm) apart. Thoroughly water after planting, adding a top layer of mulch to lock in moisture once plants have formed two sets of true leaves. In general, zucchini thrive in soil that is kept consistently moist. Frequent and consistent watering is important for development – make sure to water deeply once a week with at least one inch (2.5 cm) of water. A soaker hose works well as too much moisture on the leaves can lead to disease. Continually top up mulch to help roots stay cool and moist. When the first blooms appear, add a small amount of fertilizer and after harvest begins, fertilize occasionally to increase fruit production.
With these plants, pollination is key. If your plant produces lots of flowers but never bears fruit or if it bears fruit that stops growing when it’s very small, pollination is likely the issue. Zucchini plants produce both male and female flowers separately on the same plant. Typically, male flowers appear several weeks before female flowers (fashionably late to make an entrance!). Male blossoms sit on a straight green stem, while female flower blossoms sit on top of a tiny bulbous growth (the eventual fruit). In order for fruit production to happen, pollen from the male flower must be physically transferred to the female flowers so “bee” kind to the bees (for instance, consider planting companion plants that attract bees!) However, if there aren’t enough pollinators in your area, you can always encourage zucchini production by pollinating by hand. To do this, use a cotton swab or small paint brush to gently remove pollen from the male flower and gently dust inside the female flower. The pollen from one male flower is sufficient to pollinate several female flowers.
If you have a small space, there are compact varieties of zucchini which are ideal for container gardening in the backyard or on a balcony. You can also save space by adding a trellis, stake, or tomato cage to encourage vertical growth – same as can be done for squash plants in general.
Pests & Diseases
Common pests and diseases affecting zucchini plants include squash bugs, squash vine borers, cucumber beetles, powdery mildew (fungal disease), and blossom-end rot. To reduce the risk of soil-borne diseases, it is best to avoid planting zucchini in soil previously used to grow other cucurbits, such as cucumbers, winter squash, melons, and pumpkin to name a few.
Harvest Time
Unlike winter squash which are harvested in the fall after their skin hardens into a tough rind and the seeds have fully developed, zucchini and other summer squash, from the same family, are ripe during the summer, and are harvested when immature. As zucchini fruit begin to swell, it is a good idea to place something underneath the fruit to help prevent rotting in wet weather. Harvest zucchini when they reach a usable size by cutting them free from the plant with a sharp knife, leaving at least an inch of stem on the fruit. Don’t let them get too big!! Smaller fruit are more tender and flavorful so aim to harvest when zucchini are between 6 and 8 inches (15 to 20 cm) long. Picking frequently will also encourage the plant to produce more fruit. On average, you can expect approximately 8 pounds (~3.5 kg) of fruit from each plant over the course of the growing season. Oftentimes these plants have a reputation for overwhelming production which will have you scrambling to find ways to use up all of your harvest – zucchini bread anyone?
With minimal investment, zucchini plants will reward you with their generous abundance!
Grow Your Own Garden
If you’re looking for help on how to grow other foods check out these posts!
