Growing Zucchini: Everything You Need To Know

 A single zucchini plant can produce five to ten pounds of produce in optimal growing conditions, making it an extremely abundant vegetable to include in your garden!

 

Summer weather is fast approaching, and you know what that means: it’s zucchini season in your garden! You can use this easy-to-grow, versatile vegetable in countless tasty recipes, including pasta, salads, and even a zucchini chocolate cake. The flowers are edible too! A single plant can produce five to ten pounds of produce in optimal growing conditions, making it an extremely abundant vegetable to include in your garden. 

 

The Lifecycle of a Zucchini Plant 

A zucchini plant takes approximately 45 and 55 days to start flowering, after which you’ll notice the fruit start to grow. Zucchini plants thrive in loose, fertile, and well-drained soil; note that planting zucchini in small hills or mounds is also important for success. 

 

Growing Zucchini In A Pot 

If you are growing your zucchini in a pot, you’ll want to ensure you use a potting soil mix that uses ingredients like peat, compost, or fine bark, along with either perlite or vermiculite. Zucchini doesn’t require an overly nutrient-rich soil, but it performs best in soils high in organic matter with a soil pH of around 6.5. Zucchini plants have an extensive root system, so they need big containers. For a vining plant, it’s a good idea to select a pot at least 36 inches deep so that your plants are spaced out from each other and have room to flower.

 

Planting Zucchini in the Ground 

If you choose to plant your bush zucchini in the ground, you’ll need to plant them in hills three or four feet apart. The distance is the same as vine zucchini, but these grow on a compact shrub, rather than spreading everywhere. 

 

Your Soil Matters

Zucchini need lots of organic matter in their soil to flourish, so you should ensure that the dirt you want to grow them in includes compost. Bumper crop soil is a great option to ensure that your zucchini’s have the right nutrients! Once the plants are about 3-4 inches tall, give them a fertilizer with a good amount of calcium, like Espoma Tomato-tone and Garden-tone fertilizer; this will aid in the prevention of blossom-end rot.  

 

Insect Prevention 

Squash vine borers typically attack squash, zucchini, pumpkins, and various types of gourds. If you spray insecticidal soap on the stem at the base of the plant weekly, it can smother eggs, dissolve into the insects’ exoskeleton, and cause them to dehydrate. This remedy is popular with gardeners because it is not only effective but it is also eco-friendly. Even when squash bugs threaten to take over and eat your zucchini leaves, effective, non-toxic pesticides like neem oil can keep your plant organic and safe.

 

Harvesting Your Zucchini 

Don’t wait too long to harvest your zucchini! Once they reach 5-7 inches long, you can start harvesting. When picking your vegetables, use a sharp knife, pruners, or scissors to cut your stems one or two inches from the plant. 

 

Cooking with Your Summer Squash 

There are many delicious ways to incorporate your fresh zucchinis into your summer meals, from grilling them on the barbeque to supplementing them as a healthy alternative in place of your pasta. Check out our delicious and easy garden stuffed zucchini boats for the perfect summer appetizer!

 

Garden Stuffed Zucchini Boats 

Ingredients: 

• 4 zucchinis from your garden
• 1 teaspoon sea salt (optional)
• 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
• ½ large red onion sliced 
• 1 red or yellow bell pepper diced
• 8 ounces baby bella mushrooms chopped small
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon minced garlic
• 1 ½ teaspoon italian seasoning
• ⅔ cup pasta sauce I used a tomato basil sauce
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes halved
• ½ cup black olives sliced (optional)
• ½ cup pepperoncinis sliced (optional)
• 4-5 basil leaves chopped for topping

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Cut your zucchinis into halves, scoop out the insides with a spoon, and sprinkle sea salt on your prepared pan to pull excess water out of your zucchinis.
2. In a medium-sized pan, add the olive oil and saute your chopped onion, tomatoes, and bell pepper until they begin to caramelize. Season with salt and pepper, and add garlic and additional seasoning. 
3. Wipe water off of zucchini boats and fill with your sauteed veggies. Place your stuffed zucchinis in the oven and cook for 30 minutes. Let cool for 20 minutes before eating. 

 

For more tips on successfully growing your zucchini, check out our blog or contact us at Primex Garden Center, located in Glenside, Pennsylvania.