Growing Zucchini, also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash

Cucurbita pepo : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S                  
      T                
      P P P            

(Best months for growing Zucchini in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 70°F and 95°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 20 - 35 inches apart
  • Harvest in 6-9 weeks. Cut the fruit often to keep producing.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Corn, beans, nasturtiums, parsley, Silverbeet, Tomatoes
  • Avoid growing close to: Potatoes

Your comments and tips

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10 Apr 15, maz (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
are zucchinies only a t certain times? i have had no luck of late . I used to grow huge ones .fertilized and watered and mounded just seem to fade and die
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24 Mar 15, Trinity (Australia - temperate climate)
I have planted zucchini once in pots then planted in bed & once direct into the ground. Both times the plant has split & opened up weeping gaps on the stem which then drops off. This has happened after the plant has been established & fruit has already been harvested. Hoping someone might have some idea as to the cause.
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24 Apr 16, Kim (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Trinity, I had the same thing happen to my zucc & pumpkin plants where I use to live (sub-tropical area) I found that it was Slater's (aka woodlouse, roly poly, pill bug) eating the stems which start the splitting. I have read that they don't eat living plants just decaying plant/fruit waste BUT that isn't true esp if you keep your garden & pots clear of dropped fruit/veg & old plant leaves etc because they will turn to living plants when there isn't much food source. I don't recommend leaving that sort of food for them. Best option is make traps from hollowed out orange halves or seedling punnets filled with potato peelings, to distract slaters. I used the orange method and it did help a lot & when an orange half is full with slaters I'd bin them because they were everywhere in large, plague like numbers. Also keep mulch away from the stems. Cheers Kim
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17 Jun 15, (USA - Zone 6b climate)
If you zucchini are splitting check for bugs. called zucchini borers. they will eat the stem and root of the plant . When you water them, see the many bugs crawling from the bottom of the stem and climbing on the branch to escape the water. In N.C USA plants will produce for about 5 weeks and die. You will know this by the leaves turning yellow . It is very hot in NC above 97 F or 37 C in the summer. dg
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12 Dec 14, Anna Dicker (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have had male flowers on my zucchini plants for a few weeks but no female - well1 only off 6 plants flowers. Any solutions or answers??
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31 Oct 14, michele (Australia - temperate climate)
how do i know when to pick my zucchini they seem very small
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25 Oct 14, Liz (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Michelle, The female flowers have a tiny zucchini shape behind them and the male flowers have a straight stem.
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24 Oct 14, Michelle L (Australia - tropical climate)
I haven't seen a lot or any bees to pollinate the zucchini flowers, as advised by D. Afford, how do we find recognise which is the make and female flowers to hand pollinate? This also happened to my strawberries, again, lack of bees.
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08 Oct 14, Maegan (Australia - temperate climate)
We plant direct seed and within weeks they are pushing through the soil. I planted my zucchini seeds three weeks ago and have already thinned them out with the remaining plants strong and vigorous
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13 Oct 14, Mick (Australia - temperate climate)
How do I thin them?
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Showing 181 - 190 of 356 comments
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Hannah, I have grown huge zucchinis too and what I do is just cut the top off and hollow them out then you go down to your local chinese and get your favourite takeaway or even just some fried rice and stuff them. pop it in the oven wrapped in foil until the zucchini is cooked and you will never look back!!.

- Brodes

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