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

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18 Dec 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You pick it, the size you want. An example is - zucchini 3 to 8-9 inches . Marrow 12-18
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27 Oct 18, (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
When planting seeds, which end of the seed should be facing the surface?
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27 Oct 18, Cesare Stella (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
I never bothered, I just lay them down
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17 Oct 18, Gill (New Zealand - cool/mountain climate)
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
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23 Oct 18, Mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Check to see if the seeds have rotted or not. Maybe they need a little sunlight to germinate.
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19 Sep 18, Bess (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Is it advisable to pinch out the growing tips to stop the plants from getting too big? Thanks!
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20 Sep 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
NO!!! The longer it grows the more zeeks you pick.
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12 Oct 18, Mike (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have plants that are 5-6' long and still bearing zeeks. i want to pull them out but a fellow at the men's shed keeps hand pollinating them and they keep producing fruit. They are 5.5 months old.
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06 Apr 18, Gaynor (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
How can I grow zucchini’s in Auckland in the winter thanks.
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09 Apr 18, mike (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I don't believe you can grow them during winter, maybe with a good glass house and heater but you'd also probably need to hand pollinate.
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Showing 21 - 30 of 61 comments
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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

- Te Pi'

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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. GardenGrow 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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