Got the gardening bug? Check out these easy Zucchini Growing Tips to grow your own beautiful crop at home this year!
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I’m all about Easy Gardening Tips and this EASY guide will have you growing your best Zucchini ever this year!
Growing your own food is so rewarding… and fresh zucchini is so versatile for cooking and baking!
So are you ready to take your summer squash garden to the next level?
Here’s everything you need to know about growing Zucchini…
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Zucchini Growing Tips
When Should I Plant Zucchini?
Zucchini is so easy to grow and will get off to a great start when planted with outside temperatures averaging 70 degrees during the day.
However, to get a jumpstart, you can also start your Zucchini Seeds indoors in the early Spring.
How to Grow Zucchini From Seeds:
Zucchini plants can be fragile, so I recommend always starting them from seeds. Not only is it less expensive, but you should also have a better rate of success!
If you’ll be starting your seeds indoors, you’ll want to start your Zucchini Seeds in early Spring.
When transplanting outside, just make sure to wait until after the last chance of frost has passed.
Also, I suggest opting for Organic Zucchini Seeds. These are seeds that have come from organically grown Zucchini, so they can be hardier and more conditioned to growing just like you will be at home.
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How Many Zucchini Plants Do I Need?
Gail said: “Don’t plant too many…they take over the garden…..seriously…”
Amy said: “1 or 2 plants are plenty for a family of 4. We had more than enough.”
Growing Zucchini in Raised Beds:
Elaine said: “I planted the bush types rather than the vines and had great luck, that way you can plant in a smaller area.”
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Zucchini Trellis Ideas:
If you don’t have a large raised bed to dedicate to your zucchini, consider growing them up a trellis!
That way, you’ll be able to train the vines where to go so they don’t take over the garden bed!
Kristin said: “I grow zucchini every year. Last year I grew them so they would climb an a-frame trellis and it was my best crop yet! It kept them off the ground and prevented rot.”
What to Plant Near Zucchini: {9 Top Picks + How to Attract Pollinators}
When it comest to Zucchini plants, there are a few veggies and herbs that make great garden companions!
You’ll also want to strategically plant some flowers nearby to attract the pollinators, like bees and butterflies.
Remember, no pollinators = no zucchini.
Following are a list of some great things to plant near your Zucchini…
- Beans {add nitrogen to the soil}
- Calendula Flowers {attract pollinators}
- Corn {deters vine borers}
- Cosmos Flowers {attract pollinators}
- Garlic {repels aphids}
- Mint {deters aphids}
- Parsley {deters pests}
- Radishes {repels squash vine borers and beetles}
- Zinnia Flowers {attract pollinators}
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What Not to Plant With Zucchini: {4 Things to Avoid}
Just like certain crops are good to plant as companion plants to zucchini, other crops you’ll want to keep AWAY from your zucchini plants…
- Cucumbers
- Potatoes
- Pumpkins
- Yellow Squash
Renee said: “Zucchini are easy to grow, but keep them away from cucumbers. They will cross pollinate. I invented cukinni one year!”
Michelle said: “They grow really fast and what Renee said, lol. I have done the same thing. Also make sure you pick them early on before they get too big.”
Sharon said: “Keep them away from your yellow squash and cucumber vines. Believe me, I know this for a fact!”
More Zucchini Gardening Tips and Tricks…
Donna said: “Be prepared to eat lots of zucchini. They need very little except sun and water.”
Jamie said: “They’re a pretty fool proof plant to grow. I honestly just tossed a few seeds in a hole that I dug this past spring and that’s it. Occasionally I watered the plants a bit, but other than that they sort of take care of themselves.”
Jody said: “They’re so easy to grow, and you’ll usually get way more than you need. Good for beginners.”
Amy said: “Super easy and very productive crop.”
Zucchini Growing Problems to Avoid:
Amy said: “You’ve got to be on the lookout for vine borers. They can destroy your zucchini plant if you let them.”
Nan said: “Make sure you pick regularly otherwise you’ll have heaps of marrows to deal with.”
When is Zucchini Ripe?
And now the fun part… it’s time to pick your zucchini!
The garden is full, and all of your work has paid off! Don’t see any zucchini to pick? You’ll often finding them hiding under the large, lower leaves… so check there first.
Here’s what you’ll want to look for when picking zucchini from your garden…
- 6″ – 12″ in length
- Dark Green
- Firm
- Usually ready around 45 days after planting
- Twist off when picking, and remember to pick often!
Can You Eat Zucchini Flowers?
Yes, yes you can!
You know to stop and smell the roses, but have you ever stopped to eat the zucchini flowers?
I first learned about eating zucchini flowers when I visited Rome. They are EXTREMELY popular in Italy, and can be regularly found at the little markets and produce stands.
They can be eaten raw {chop and add to salads}, or baked {often enjoyed with a creamy Ricotta cheese filling}.
Related:
- 40 Top Rome Italy Travel Tips! {What to Know Before You Go}
How to Use Up Zucchini {Preserving the Harvest}
Now that you know how to grow a gorgeous crop of amazing Zucchini, check out these delicious recipes to make with your fresh Zucchini!!
Freezing Zucchini:
Elisabeth said:“I shred and freeze to make bread whenever we want it.”
Frugal Tip: I recommend shredding your leftovers and freezing in 1 cup portions. You can then use those thawed out later for Zucchini Bread, Soups, Stews, etc.
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So do you have any favorite Zucchini Growing Tips?
Leave a comment below & share?
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Christie says
I am going to forward this to my husband because he’s planning to plant zucchinis and he will find this useful!
Heidi says
Oh good… enjoy your zucchini crop this year, Christie! 🙂
Becky says
I have found that if u put newspaper around the zuchinni plant once it’s big enough & then put straw on top the paper it keeps them off the wet ground preventing rot.
Becky says
I found that if u put a piece of newspaper around the zuchinni plant once it’s big enough & then cover the paper with straw it keeps them from touching the wet ground preventing rot.
courtney says
For starters, it does not matter if you plant your zucchini next to the cukes, unless you are saving the seed for next year. The long stem with a flower is the male flower, so if you want to pollinate them yourself take a bit of pollen from the long-stem one and brush it on (really, with a paintbrush!) onto the short stubby stem flower. Lastly, I had problems with the bunnies eating the flowers and young zucchini so I plant them in tall tire stacks with lovely compost. Make sure you fill the tires completely and water the soil to settle it a couple weeks before planting.
Dennis says
i think much depends on climate as well as pests. We have more success with pumpkin than zucchini. Very wet weather can ruin a crop with mould.
It can be useful to nip the end off long runners, this will promote flow of a hormone, auxin, that encourages both cross branches and flowering. Of course you are always likely to produce crops just when shop prices hit the bottom, but the quality is different. It is important to pick the zucchinis often. If they remain on the vine they grow rapidly and go past best taste. Also, if really mature fruit are left there, the plant may sigh and say to itself it’s done with being pregnant thank you and leave this world. Trim as with deadheading roses.
It’s easy to identify male and female fruit, the female fruit have a swelling at the base, the beginning of the marrow which will not grow without pollination. You need male and female flowers open on the same day. They only flower briefly. If not pollinated, the baby zucchini at the base of the female flower yellows and falls off.
If you do not have crawling or flying insects doing the pollinating, pick a male flower, strip off the petals and undertake the intimate task of introducing it to the inside of the female flower, gently dusting with pollen from the male flower. And if you have a lot of males hanging round looking useless, look up a recipe for stuffed zucchini flowers.
Here in Australia of course, these things grow upside down. Makes it difficult. Being left handed helps.
roberta says
On my zucchini plants there is a long stem,then the blossom and no zucchini,I got two medium ones,then this started happening. What am I doing wrong
Mae says
You are not doing anything wrong. Some of the flowers grow on a stem and some on the end of the fruit. They are male and female. Zucchini plants have both on each plant. As do all the squash varieties. Sometimes the first glowering will be all makes. This will fall off and then you will get all new blossoms with a mix. Just be patient and keep bugs away. Except for bees and butterflies for pollination. You can cut away leaves, if you find that too many bugs are hiding out or laying eggs all over them, cut it if at the very base on the stalk stem.
Stanelle says
Phoenix isn’t an easy place to garden. Last year I grew zucchini in a big pot with few fruits. This year I am using a straw bale. I have a soaker hose around it and water daily. Having much better luck with lots of fruit. I did have to net it to keep the birds from chomping on them though.
JoAnn says
If you pick the first 2 or 3 baby zucchini off your plant it will give you a bigger yield.
Mary Ann says
Gave up planting zucchini because of squash bugs always killing my plants despite my best efforts to kill the bugs and their eggs.
Barbara Rae says
I’m with you. Sneaky squash bugs and vine borers ruin all the fun of growing any type of squash/cukes/pumpkins, etc. I have tried picking them off, squashing the eggs, planting inside tires aways from the garden, replanting later, sevin dust or spray. Nothing seems to really work.
barb