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 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

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?
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.
04 Jul 16, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Poor pollination
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.
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.
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.
15 May 16, Genevieve (Australia - temperate climate)
Zucchini doesn't seem to grow well in humid conditions.
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.
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
14 Feb 16, Dianne (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Best time in Geraldton Wa to grow Zucchinis
Showing 101 - 110 of 255 comments

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