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

14 Sep 11, Jian (Australia - temperate climate)
My challenge with growing zucchini is the opposite. I had plenty female flowers but not enough male flowers opening at the same time (they are always behind) so the female flowers didn't get fertilized and the fruits will drop before growing any bigger. What is the solution?
09 Oct 11, Pru (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I agree with Ben, last year I used a cotton bud to help pollinate my female flowers. Worked really well, heaps of fruit.
23 Sep 11, Ben (Australia - temperate climate)
You can try collect the pollen from a male flower and hand pollinate the next female ones.
26 Jul 11, Jennie Gardiner (Australia - tropical climate)
I planted 2 black jack zucchini about 7 weeks ago as well as 2 yellow squash and have noticed the one of the two zucchini plants has gone very yellow and the leaves have started to die. There is no mould on the leaves and no obvious pests eating anything. The whole plant is dying. The other zucchini plant though is very very healthy and I've just gotten my first female flower. I had 2 squash plants planted nearby which also turned a sick yellow colour and died. I've sprayed for disease and pest but the plants just keep dying. Is there a chance that I'm overwatering them?? I'm in costal North Queensland.
23 Jul 11, sartaz (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
how can i fix a broken zuchini stem. does anything work for it or i have to put it in the bin.
08 Jun 11, teri Leichenger (USA - Zone 10a climate)
I have beautiful zucchini plants with huge leaves, but very tiny, not flowering buds...Is there a vitamin deficiency going on? What to do?
22 Jul 11, Patrick (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
These tiny ones seems are male, am not an expert, just guess related to tempure
02 Apr 11, brian (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
try applying calcium nitrate to correct calcium deficency.
09 Feb 11, Chander (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi, I have got one Zucchini plant where I am getting lots of male flower but not female flowers. I had some female flowers before and had couple of fruits from this plant. But now its producing only male flowers. Also too many leaves have come up in the plant and noe of the leaves are growing bigger, all the leaves are cramped in a short area. Do anyone know the reason for this? do i need to cut the leaves a little bit to allow growth for leaves? I have one more plant and thats doing well, regularly giving fruit.
17 Feb 11, Emily (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
HI there, Im having the same problem too! The zuccini plant keeps flowering but the buds are all male and then they seem to fall off and start to grow more flowers, but nothing is happening! does anyone know why this is the case? is anyone else having trouble? thanks EMily
Showing 251 - 260 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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