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             S S S S S
T T             T T T T
P                 P P P

(Best months for growing Zucchini in Australia - temperate regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed

September: Frost tender

  • 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 21°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 50 - 90 cm 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

07 Dec 12, Debbie (Australia - temperate climate)
I live in Brisbane Qld, if that qualifies as temperate. I don't have zucchinni seeds and was hoping that I could grow one from one. Can I cut the end of one, like you would a carrot and put it in water get it to sprout, and then plant that? Curious as trying to be self sustainable from what I have in the fridge, don't have money to buy seeds. If that is the only way then it will have to wait :)
29 Aug 13, Daisy (Australia - temperate climate)
I dont think so too. I bought seeds on ebay, it is pretty cheap -- $1 per pack for at least 15 seeds. I am growing capsicum from capsicum that i bought in supermarket. The rule should apply to zucchini too, but the thing is zucchini that we can easily find in the market are young fruits which means they dont have have mature seeds. The seeds i kept from capsicum are only totally matured ones.
19 Sep 13, Andrew (Australia - temperate climate)
You are right Daisy - the fruit must be mature to collect viable seed. When I want seed I generally buy it at Crazy Clark's for $1.60 a pack and Debbie, you can grow carrot from a piece of one because it is a root crop (same as growing potatoes ) but fruiting crops grow from the seeds within the fruit .
20 Dec 12, (Australia - temperate climate)
I don't think so - best way would be to dry the seeds and plant one of them but not sure as to germination rate - there should be info on the web as to how to save seeds from zuchinni - they have to be dry I am sure but not sure how long to save them or what part of the veg would be best.
07 Dec 12, Bevan (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I'm having the same problem. Could someone please help?
01 Nov 12, carmen (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi please help I planted some marrows and they are coming out like round balls and as big as a golf ball and yellow am I doing something wrong ? thanks cheers Carmen
25 Sep 13, Alex (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Carmen it sounds like you aren't getting pollination. To help this along pick the male flowers (on ling skinny stems without fruit) and remover the petals then brush the pollen into the female flowers. this should help full fruit develop.
01 Sep 13, Carmel (Australia - temperate climate)
You've just got a different variety. Zuchinnis come in all sorts of colours, white, yellow, light green, dark green and black, and sizes round, button, finger as well as small and large. Happy planting & eating!
11 Oct 12, Raj (Australia - temperate climate)
how to prevent zucchini starts to turn yellow/orange. wat is the problem if the fruit is not the normal shape .
01 Oct 12, Jo Christmas (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
For the past ten weeks I have had dozens and dozens of female flowers but not a single male. This has never happened before in all the years I have grown them. Any reason that the plants are only producing female flowers and any suggestion as to what I can do?
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