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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12 Aug 17, Marie Groizard (Australia - tropical climate)
Can I grow zucchini in Townsville from packet seeds...in a pot....in the shade or in a sunny spot, I have grown pumpkins and how and when should I prune a papaya tree, because I don't want it to grow too tall, it is fruiting at the moment and it is getting too tall for me to reach the fruit....when is the best time to prune. Thanks Marie
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13 Aug 17, Mike (Australia - tropical climate)
The notes here say August is the latest month you can plant (too hot after that). Would have been preferable to have planted seeds 1-2-3 months ago. You could try seedlings - that would have you a couple of weeks ahead of seeds. Probably some shade during the middle of the day might help. Plenty of water at the root zone and not the leaves. Read the notes on this website for zucchini. I would say you have given your papaya trees too much nitrogen. I doubt if you can prune it. If you cut the top off it probably would die.
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16 Jun 17, Delores Victory (USA - Zone 5a climate)
When is the last month to grow zucchini?
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26 Apr 17, Maree (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Can you sucessfully grow zuchini plants in containers, and if so, how deep + wide should the container be for one plant please?
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26 Apr 17, John (Australia - temperate climate)
Yes you can. I have done it but the biggest challenge is to keep them moist enough so you don't get any setbacks. I used 400 mm (16") diameter plastic tubs.
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05 Apr 17, Aloese Lefono (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Can they still grow and produce from April on?
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07 Apr 17, John (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
By April, zucchinis and other members of the Cucurbit family (pumpkins, cucumbers, etc will be starting to die off. You may get a few more days that will ripen some of them but you are probably better to remove them and plant cabbage, cauliflower, etc or prepare the soil for broad beans. Check the page for your climate zone for other things to plant.
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09 May 22, Katherine (New Zealand - temperate climate)
I am in Tauranga and still have zeeks growing. Yellow variety. This is the plant that really keeps on giving.
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30 Dec 16, Chris (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
As soon as my zucchinis flower and produce fruit they quickly seem to die off, stop growing and die off before they are even 120mm long?
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31 Oct 17, (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Pollinate by hand with a cotton bud or break off the male flower and rub it on the female flowers. Check if bees are about in the morning - put some water out for them. Plant some flowers near by to attract the bees.
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