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 Aug 10, Sirie (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Am a bit confused by crop rotation. I live in Perth. The crops you should plant after zucchini are things like tomatoes & capsicums. But how can you follow with these if they are meant to be planted in the same season?...you can't plant tomatoes in Autumn
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07 Apr 10, Leah (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I had yellow andblack beetles similar size to ladybug eat all my zuchinni leaves. What are they and how do I get rid of them??
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02 May 10, Barb (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Leah, Those yellow & black beetles similar to ladybugs are fungus eating-ladybugs. They don't eat plants, but they do eat the powdery mildew on the zucchini - they're good guys! It must be something else eating your zucchini (maybe microscopic stuff like mites or thrips)
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19 Jan 10, Jo (Australia - temperate climate)
i have just read about blossom end rot, which is the rot some of you have described. this is caused by lack of calcium which can be inproved by adding lime to the soil. I'm wondering if this can be done when the plant is fruiting and if it will help at all on the current crop. i know it can sometimes help with current crop of tomatoes.
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09 Jan 10, jack (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Barb.. thanks for the information. very much appreciated.. when growing in Denman I had no problem,, plenty of bees I suppose,,, but here in Newcastle had no luck with zucchinis or apple cucumbers.. now I know what to do I might get luckier.. thanks again.
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06 Jan 10, Barb (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Jack, The female flower has a little baby zucchini attached, while the male flower is just on a stalk and has a single stamen within the flower. I find it's best to use a little paint brush to gather the yellow pollen from the stamen in the male flower and gently deposit onto the stamen in the female flower. Keeping the plant well fertilised with seaweed and fish emulsion will also help the plant stay healthy enough to help the fruit to form properly.
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04 Jan 10, jack (Australia - temperate climate)
also have problem of zucchini rotting from flower end.. i read cross polination is the answer.. which is male and female flowers??? or do i cross polinate all the flowers??
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28 Dec 09, leonie (Australia - temperate climate)
Can I cut off some of the big zucchini leaves to stop them smothering tomatoes etc.? Heaps of zuccs. and growing 10cms. a day.Best ever this year!
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11 Aug 10, Amy (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
Don't cut off the leaves, because it will let too muchh sunlight onto the fruit and it might end up making the fruit rot of burn
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22 Dec 09, Tui (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
my plants are looking quite pale and stunted (light green to yellow) and I am getting male flowers that twist up and die before they open. What is going wrong?
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Showing 281 - 290 of 356 comments
See comments for all plants

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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