Growing Zucchini, also Courgette/Marrow, Summer squash
Cucurbita pepo : Cucurbitaceae / the gourd family
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | 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.
- 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
Plant into a slightly raised, well composted bed and mulch. Needs regular plentiful water. Produces large leaves with a spread of about 1.5 m x 1.5 m. Some varieties trail a bit but don't climb. The yellow (or gold) variety is more resistant to mould damage in humid areas and remains productive even when the leaves have mildew on them. The yellow varieties sometimes have yellow patches on their leaves but it is just colour not disease. If there are no bees around and the fruit are not setting well or die off after starting to grow, try picking a male flower (straight stem) and gently brushing pollen inside female flowers.
Blackjack is the most popular green variety. At the start, the plants produce mainly male flowers. The female ones start as the weather warms up and the plants grow. A spray with a 5 gm/teaspoon Bicarbonate of Soda in 600 ml/pint of water will help slow powdery mildew when it appears.
Culinary hints - cooking and eating Zucchini
Zucchini are best picked or cut off the stem at about 15 cm / 6 inches.
Pick frequently to keep the plant producing new flowers.
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