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
T                     T

(Best months for growing Zucchini in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • 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

12 Oct 13, Helen (Australia - temperate climate)
Add some potash/sulphate of potash to strengthen the flowers. It can be added to a watering can or sprinkle around the plants and watered in
12 Oct 13, Melinda (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Peter I'm absolutely no expert, but I did find info only today on yellowed, soft zucchinis meaning the plant needs help with pollination. It might not be the issue, but have a search for pollinating zucchini plants and see. There's many helpful videos and pollinating seems easy to do. Good luck, ~Mel
12 Oct 13, Steph (Australia - temperate climate)
I was watching Phil Dudman on this exact issue just now. Sound s like the pollination problem. Google his name and zucchini or corgette and there is a youtube clip. Unfortunately you can't post the link here.
21 Sep 13, Mark (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I think Brisbane is sub tropical/tropical. I think you are going to need the seeds they should be in the fruit unless the cultivar you have is an F1. Then it would be pot luck what you get. I'm growing heirloom varieties and will be harvesting the seeds from them. If you want some let me know.
04 Dec 20, Bridget Larsen (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
HI Mark, I would love some trombocino seeds if you still have any left. I live in Brisbane so sub-tropical is my season. Thanks in advance Bridget [email protected]
29 Aug 13, Daisy (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I put my zucchini seeds in wet tissue in door along with tropical tomato seeds, cherry tomato seeds, capsicum seeds, bean seeds to help them to germinate. It turned out all the other seeds have germinated except zucchini and cherry tomato. Could anyone tell me the reason please? I am in Adelaide..
10 Jul 13, hamid (Australia - arid climate)
hi may i know why we couldent plant zuccini with potatoes?
05 Jun 13, Meg (Australia - temperate climate)
I've had the same problem, I added extra compost to the bed the following season and planted both zucchinis and squash and found my zucchini went dark green and were great but now my squash won't go yellow!!!! Lack of sun light maybe?
14 Feb 13, Al (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
I started cucumbers and courgette plants at the right time, but both plants have plenty of female flowers - no male flowers 3 months later. Don't tell me I do not know the difference, I am 88 years old and have been growing them since a boy in 1938. I moved to a new home 12 months ago. The pH where they are growing is 6.0. This has me puzzled. Thanks.
18 Jan 17, Te Pi' (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Hello Sir, I was just reading through the comments further on, and it occured to me that you may have some micro-climates at your new property making things alot cooler/dryer/warmer- outdoor thermometer reads in the area for the day will tell you, and most likely the nutrient balance/microorganisms population is a lot different than your old place...I read somewhere that some squash or pumpkin can change their flowering habits due to a combination of level of nutrients/metals available and plant hormones in the soil, returning to male and female on seperate plants, maybe test the soil for nutrient levels and contaminants if you havent done so already. Is the seed your own or bought? If its not your own seed, you could take it up with the supplier, keep detailed records of these kind of issues and welcome questions about oddities etc, sometimes they purposely breed plants as F1 hybrids so you have to buy more seed to make collecting it not worthwhile
Showing 211 - 220 of 356 comments

I have sown 2 sorts of courgette. The older seed (Italian) germinated as normal. The new seed purchased this spring has done nothing (the common yellow). At this stage seed pots are indoors

- Gill

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