Plant Zucchini

2023 Author: Hannah Pearcy | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-08-25 03:36

Courgettes are now one of the most popular plants in the vegetable patch and there are good reasons for this: They are easy to grow, require little maintenance, but deliver a particularly high yield. The “little pumpkins” also make a good visual impression. Their yellow flowers are a real eye-catcher in the bed in spring.

Zucchini: sowing and planting

You can prefer zucchini in a saucepan. To do this, cover a seed about two centimeters deep with soil and place it in a sunny place. As soon as the first leaves have formed, they can be planted out. As it only takes two weeks for the plant to be ready to be planted out, wait until the end of April before moving on. Before the ice saints in mid-May, the heat-loving plants should not be placed outdoors. From this point on, you can also sow directly outdoors.

Location and soil

Zucchini like it warm, sunny and sheltered from the wind. The soil should be loose, rich in humus and nutrients. So that the heavy feeders are adequately supplied with nutrients, work mature compost into the soil before planting. Don't save, plan ten liters of compost for one plant.

If zucchini plants get a lot of sun, water and nutrients, they also grow accordingly. Plan a good two square meters of space per plant. Don't worry: The plant makes up for the relatively large space requirement with a particularly high yield.

Caring for and harvesting zucchini

Zucchini plants do not require extensive maintenance, but a lot of water and nutrients. Water the plant regularly and a lot as soon as it forms flowers and fruits. If watering is neglected, the vegetables will become bitter and inedible. To meet the nutritional needs, add nettle slurry to the irrigation water once a week.

The plant needs a little more care if it does not want to work with pollination. The female flowers are often thrown off after a short time. The male flowers are affected by high heat and humidity. You can help by cutting off the male flowers, removing the leaves and dusting the female flower stems with the pollen brushes.

The first plants are ready to harvest six weeks after planting, then you can cut them off about a centimeter after the stalks with a knife. Although zucchini are known as "small pumpkins", they can reach a considerable size. But you shouldn't let it come to that. Harvest the zucchini as soon as it is 10 to a maximum of 15 cm tall. Larger zucchini lose their taste and prevent the formation of additional fruits. With a regular harvest, however, the plant will continue to produce fruit for months. From June to October you can get up to five zucchini a week.

Growing zucchini: diseases and pests

Snails especially love young zucchini plants. Therefore, take appropriate precautions before planting. A snail fence can help. Often it is also advantageous to pull the zucchini in the raised bed, so that the snails do not have it so easy.

Powdery mildew can also become a problem. Mostly, however, it only affects older leaves, while the plant cheerfully forms new ones. Horsetail manure helps prevent this.

Bed neighbors and crop rotation for zucchini

Zucchini go particularly well in the bed with nasturtiums, runner beans and onions. Potatoes are also heavy feeders and should therefore not be planted together with zucchini. The plants otherwise compete for the nutrients in the soil. Even pumpkins should never be planted with zucchini. You can cross with the zucchini. The offspring often contain bitter substances that not only make the vegetables inedible, but above all poisonous.

Since zucchini are strong consumers, crop rotation is also crucial. Radishes and lettuce are suitable as precultures. Zucchini should only be planted in the same place after about three years.