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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for New Zealand | for all countries
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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10 Jul 18, Teri (USA - Zone 6a climate)
Should I cut back to make flowers to make females produce more?
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07 Jun 18, Dale (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Well I have got some beaut zucchini plants coming along and I have been caring for them.I even made sure they were all fertilized.But now there is something eating all the flowers.I can't see anything around. I did squash a couple of 28 spot lady bugs.HELP. Also something has eaten all of one of my cauliflower plants. I can't seem to win the war!.More HELP please.But... I am picking some snow peas,Hooray!
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08 Jun 18, Mike L (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Either go to a shop and buy a insecticide/spray for grubs etc for cabbage/caulies etc or look on the internet for an organic spray for them.
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13 Jun 18, dale (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
Thanks once again Mike for your comment .I am going to give Eco oil a try. I like it, as is natural and organic and hopefully does the job.
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05 May 18, Dale (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I have just bought some blood and bone , Can I dig in a little around my 6 week old zucchini plants ,then water it in?
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Showing 81 - 90 of 356 comments
See comments for all plants

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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