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

15 Dec 11, Sandra (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, my zucchini is growing very well and has lots of both flowers. the problem is that when the flower falls off the fruit, the fruit still being very small, if I don't pick the fruit straight away it rots, but they are so small they're not much good. My husband put wire around them so the foliage would not spread across the rest of the vegies in the garden, could that have something to do with it. There are no grubs or anything.
12 Dec 11, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Push a short length of thin uncoated copper wire through the stem when it is about 12 mm thick this helps greatly with mould and mildew.
04 Dec 11, greenie (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi, just making a comment on the troubles with growing zucchinis in sub tropical climates. We have had most of ours going rotten overnight, and is also infested with grubs. Our problem is due to a fruit fly which looks like a tiny wasp with yellow stripes. We have decided to net our plants, as we are organic growers and don't use sprays. Fingers crossed that this will be effective.
01 Dec 11, Noleen (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi my question is first time growing zucchini's and we are having a grub/worm problem, the zucchini starts growing very well then within a day the turn yellow and when we pick it off it is full off little worms that go all the way into the bass, i dont know what to do any ideas would be really great thanks.
04 Dec 11, Dan Webster (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Noleen, I'm having the same trouble as you. Can anyone help us?????? Was getting excited about picking some, then overnight they went yellow and squishy. As with Noleen's mine were also riddled with grub/maggot looking things.
21 Nov 11, Nicole (Australia - temperate climate)
First time really growing veges in my back yard. We attempted tomatoes earlier in the year with a bit of success, so graduated to lettuce, carrots, tomatoes, cauliflower and zucchini. The zucchini is going great guns! We have had heaps of fruit come on. ONLY now, for some reason, we are getting weird shaped ones! They start out narrow, and grow fatter on the ends! Whats happening to my lovely zucchini?!
26 Nov 11, Alana (Australia - temperate climate)
The bulbous shape comes from varying water levels. When they haven't had much water for a while, they grow more slowly and thinner, then there is a downpour or extra watering, they shoot out and the new bit grows fast and fatter. Happy gardening.
23 Oct 11, marcus (Australia - temperate climate)
do i plant zucchini seeds pointy end down or round. does it matter? thanks marcus
29 Oct 11, Pru (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Marcus, it does not matter. I have planted seeds lying flat and they all sprout.
20 Sep 11, (Australia - temperate climate)
I plant three plants together. This way I have an abidance of both flowers, and by planting about 500cm apart and training up metal fence posts the leaves crisscross cross and help support the plants.
Showing 241 - 250 of 356 comments

Hannah, it sounds like you didn't pick your zucchini early enough. Once the fruit are set I find that you need to pick them as soon as they reach an edible size. That's anything over about 5cm, depending how we're planning to use them.

- Chris

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