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

11 Nov 08, Billie (Australia - temperate climate)
Do I mix pollens from flowers on the same plant or different plants? Thanks Liz
12 Nov 08, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Billie, check behind the flowers. The ones with a miniature fruit are female. You can use pollen from the others. If all the flower stems are straight, you have male flowers only. That seems to happen when the weather is a bit cool as the plants start flowering.
19 Nov 08, Georgia (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Paul, the white spots are powdery mildew. You can treat it without spraying chemicals by mixing full cream milk and water together so that there is 2 parts water and 3 parts milk. There are antibacterial properties in milk that will kill the mildew. But you need to do it once a week and the milk mix must dry on. If it rains you need to spray with the milk mix again. Also make sure that you don't wet the leaves when you water the plant...
20 Nov 08, Sam (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My zucchinis have been going great guns, until recently. the ends are going soft and then rotting. Can anyone help with what causes this and how I can fix it? Thanks.
06 Dec 08, Judy (Australia - temperate climate)
Some of my zucchini aren't growing out properly, they have a round ball on the end, not a nice long even shape. does anyone have any suggestions?
10 Jan 09, hagges (New Zealand - temperate climate)
hi i grow a lot zucchini and mine to started to rot on vine so i increased calcuim nitrate to the plant and this fixed my problem (i make my own food hydroponic) hopw this helps
12 Jan 09, Eddie (Australia - temperate climate)
Judy, the uneven shape is probably due to irregular watering. Try to water regularly and they should grow more evenly.
24 Jan 09, Ray Griffith (Australia - temperate climate)
Where can I buy seeds for large marrows?
27 Jan 09, Chrystal Iker (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My yellow zucchini plant is growing gang busters, but the fruit gets to about 3inches then starts rotting on the flower end. I have grone them successfully before, don't know what to do?
30 Jan 09, Liz (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Chrystal, I think you will find possible answers to your problem amongst the previous comments.
Showing 31 - 40 of 356 comments

I am having trouble with rot on my zucchini as soon as the vegetable starts to develop. Do you have any ideas.

- Kirsten

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