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

(Best months for growing Zucchini in Australia - sub-tropical 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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05 Oct 16, Kimberly (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My husband has just got me to cut all the leaves off the ground and says this will help prevent the mould and produce better veggies - is this true?
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09 Jul 16, pete (Australia - temperate climate)
Try the climbing zucchini. The heirloom sort. You can by them at diggers.com.au called "Zuccini Tromboncino" they are much tougher. Always remember to make a $5 hole for a 50 cent plant. Dig deep fill with the soil you dug out mixed with compost 50/50.
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04 Jul 16, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Poor pollination
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05 Jul 16, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Agreed! All of my zucchini flowers died :( This is not normal. When I was a child my Dad grew zucchini without an ounce of trouble with pollination. Not a bee in sight nowadays. I'm scared to plant pumpkins now too.
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11 Aug 16, Chris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Now a days you have to hand pollinate zucchini, pumpkin, squashes, anything that has a large male flower just poke it into a female flower. Male flowers appear first and females on the side shoots, in pumpkins. I also do cucumbers and rockmelon (cantaloupe) with a paint brush, just brushing every flower if I don't see signs of anything happening.
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27 Apr 16, Megan (Australia - tropical climate)
I have been having trouble growing black Jack zuchini. They grow with yellowish leaves not healthy green ones what am I doing wrong. I have given them sea sole complete fertilizer every two weeks. Have prayed with watery milk for fungus. What is wrong????? Thanks Megan from Townsville.
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15 May 16, Genevieve (Australia - temperate climate)
Zucchini doesn't seem to grow well in humid conditions.
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19 Feb 16, Ted (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Hi Emily , I have the same problem with the white powdery mildew on my yellow Zucchini plants. I cut off all the worst affected leaves and and fruit and put them in the rubbish bin. Then I washed the remaining leaves with a strong jet of water early in the morning and allowed to dry completely then I applied a mixture of Eco-oil and Neem Oil to the entire plant and surrounding soil at the recommended dose. After three applications, a week apart, the mould appears to be under control and my Zucchini's are looking good and fruiting again. Hope this helps Emily, good luck.
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28 Feb 16, Linda (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Emily, WPM is annoying, I got it in my pumpkin patch a few years ago, Ted's treatment sounds effective. I got a 500ml spray bottle and put a tspn of bicarb soda in it and filled it with water, I then sprayed the leaves with it 3-4 times a week until they started to look healthier, I too removed some of the worst effected plants and burnt them, good luck and happy gardening, - Linda
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14 Feb 16, Dianne (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Best time in Geraldton Wa to grow Zucchinis
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I've noticed with pumpkin (and I asdyme zucchini) they basically have to be pollinated from another plant of the same species. Make sure you buy 2 or 3 plants. I tried several years just having 1 pumpkin plant and hand pollinating itself, with pollination always failing. Now I usually hand pollinate zucchini and pumpkin in mornings by taking the male flower from one and pollinating the female flowers on other plants and vice versa. It worked really well last season and seems to be working well this year with blackjack zucchs.

- Jason

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