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Growing Zucchini, also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash

(Cucurbita pepo)

Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
P	P						S		T	T	T

(Best months for planting Zucchini in Australia - sub-tropical regions)

S = Plant undercover in seed trays. T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings. P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.

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: Corn, beans, nasturtiums, parsley, Silverbeet, Tomatoes
Avoid growing with: Potatoes

a) seedlings
b) Six or seven weeks old
Zucchini flower

Plant into a slightly raised, well composted bed and mulch. Frost tender, and needs regular plentiful water. Produces large leaves with a spread of about 1.5m x 1.5m. Some varieties trail a bit but don't climb. The yellow (or gold) variety is more resistant to mould damage in humid areas and remains productive even when the leaves have mildew on them. The yellow varieties sometimes have yellow patches on their leaves but it is just colour not disease.

Blackjack is the most popular green variety. At the start, the plants produce mainly male flowers. The female ones start as the weather warms up and the plants grow. A spray with a 5gm/teasp Bicarbonate of Soda in 600ml/pint of water will help slow powdery mildew when it appears.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Zucchini

Zucchini are best picked or cut off the stem at about 15cm / 6 inches.
Pick frequently to keep the plant producing new flowers.

Your comments and tips

14 Jan 12, Wendy (Australia - temperate climate): In previous years I had problems with my zucchini turning yellow and getting a kind of rot at the flower end. The fruit almost always fell off when still too small to be useable. A friend (local garden guru) suggested that it could be a calcium deficiency in the soil and to use dolomite in the soil before planting. Before planting this year I dug dolomite into the soil and I have had few problems. Hope this is helpful.
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07 Jan 12, margaretcoghlan (Australia - temperate climate): It is january and very hot what plants can i prepare for planting or is it too hot and should i wait until weather gets a bit cooler towards March and what do I plant then and is it to hot to plant zucchini have had great success with pumpkins.
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05 Jan 12, Heather (Australia - temperate climate): Hi. Does anybody know why my zuccs are pale green when the picture on the packet has dark green ones. Also mine are getting very fat at about 10 cm which I'm thinking will mean that they are going to be woody. Any ideas? Thx
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02 Jan 12, marlene (Australia - temperate climate): my zucchini, newer, leaves have gone very limp hanging down from the stem,they have been well watered , wonder if it could be too much, l have grown these plants for years without this happening. They do have some potatoes close , also tomatoes carrots and beetroot.
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15 Dec 11, vantruong (Australia - temperate climate): Hi I am about growing zucchini in the soil that used to grow potato before , I would like to know if it is any broplem and if there is any way to solve the broplem. I am very appriciate for your advice.
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18 Dec 11, Sarah (Australia - cool/mountain climate): I've just planted zucchini where my potatoes used to be... I don't think it's a problem because they aren't from the same family so shouldn't have the same diseases, nutrient needs, etc. :) Hope that helps!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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See planting calendar for these countries and climate zones

Australia - arid, Australia - cool/mountain, Australia - sub-tropical, Australia - temperate, Australia - tropical, New Zealand - cool/mountain, New Zealand - sub-tropical, New Zealand - temperate, South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical, South Africa - Humid sub-tropical, South Africa - Semi-arid, South Africa - Summer rainfall, United Kingdom - cool/temperate, United Kingdom - warm/temperate, USA - Central West Coast, USA - Maritime Northwest, USA - Mid-Atlantic, USA - North East, USA - South East and Gulf States, USA - South West, USA - Upper Midwest

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This planting guide is a general reference intended for home gardeners. We recommend that you take into account your local conditions in making planting decisions. Gardenate is not a farming or commercial advisory service. For specific advice, please contact your local plant suppliers, gardening groups, or agricultural department. The information on this site is presented in good faith, but we take no responsibility as to the accuracy of the information provided.

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