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 21°C and 35°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 50 - 90 cm 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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20 Mar 22, Graham (Australia - temperate climate)
I have grown trombone zucchinnis this year in amongst butternut pumpkins. Can anyone enlighten me as to whether they will cross pollinate.
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26 Mar 22, Anonymous (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
yes they can.
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22 Mar 22, Celeste Archer (Canada - Zone 7b Mild Temperate climate)
I think that your trombone will be ready to harvest in about 60 days (from seedling to harvest date - called a summer squash) -- and I think that butternut squash (pumpkins) take closer to 120 days (from seedling to harvest date - called a winter squash) ==> my best guess is they will not be flowering at the same time; so no cross pollination will occur. If for some reason you staggered the planting so they were to flower at the same time; my best guess is YES they can cross pollinate -- squash seems to cross pollinate with other squash easily....however, this is just a guess based on what I know about other squash.
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22 Mar 22, John Mauger (Australia - temperate climate)
Tromboncino and butternut are both Cucurbitus moschato so would cross pollinate. As Cucurbits are pollinated by insects you would need to have a substantial distance between them (a few house blocks) to avoid this happening. If you want to save Tromboncino seed you would need to remove ALL of the male flowers off the butternuts as they appeared. The Butternuts would then be hybrid but the Tromboncino's should be pure. Check the botanical names of all pumpkins, squash, marrows, zucchinis, etc. before interplanting. If the specific name comes up with both, they will cross pollinate. Trust this helps
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13 Oct 21, marco (Australia - tropical climate)
i brought 4 zucchini plants planted them around 4 to 5 weeks ago i harvest my first one yesterday .live on the gold coast qld .
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03 Aug 21, Robert Perkins (Australia - tropical climate)
We have some healthy looking Zucchini Plants growing but unfortunately they are only producing female flowers. Not much good for fertilization. Can anyone give me a reason or solution to this problem ?
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16 Oct 21, Jennifer S (Australia - temperate climate)
Be patient! The female flowers appear later in the season. I always plant 3-4 zucchini so that I have an abundance of flowers for pollination (which I do myself.)
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06 Aug 21, (Australia - tropical climate)
I have had the same problem - all male flowers nearly - 3 different plantings - reason I have no idea.
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22 Mar 22, Suzanne Irene (Australia - tropical climate)
Cucurbits produce lots of low energy male flowers for the first few weeks until a pollinator presence (bees usually) is established. Then, the females are produced. This is the pressure of natural selection. The ones that produce the most offspring dominate the gene pool. In this case later female flowering.
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11 Mar 21, Hettie (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
when do I start seedlings. I am new to gardening veggies but as a pensioner it keeps me busy. I am teaching my grandchildren both 8 years old to grow veggies. My 2 daughters are single parents.
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Showing 21 - 30 of 356 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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