Zucchini is among our favorite prolific summer squash in the vegetable garden, and it's easy to grow. But for beginners, accounting for the plant size can be a hurdle, especially in a small garden. Will one zucchini plant take over your entire garden? Maybe, but not necessarily! Will all your zucchinis be the size of baseball bats? With the right amount of ignoring, yes! The most important thing to remember is that zucchini comes in two main growth habits – bush and vining – and understanding these differences is important to note as you plant zucchini.
Understanding Zucchini Plant Types and Sizes
There are two main types of zucchini plants to consider: bush and vining.
- Bush zucchinis, as the name suggests, grow in a compact form, reaching 1-2 feet tall and spreading 2-3 feet wide. They tend to blossom female flowers and produce fruit earlier in a shorter season compared to vining varieties. Popular bush zucchini seeds include Black Beauty and Ronde de Nice.
- Vining zucchinis, on the other hand, are sprawling vines that can reach 2-3 feet tall but send out long vines that stretch 5-6 feet or even more. Romanesco zucchini is a classic vining variety of zucchini. While they take up more space, vining zucchinis produce fruit over a longer season and can potentially yield more overall.
Planning Your Zucchini Patch: Space Considerations
Spacing your zucchini plants (like any types of summer squash) properly supports healthy growth and abundant fruit production. Crowded plants compete for sunlight, air circulation, and nutrients, leading to stunted growth and fewer zucchinis. Here's what you need to know:
- Bush Zucchini: These compact plants require less space. Aim for 2-3 feet between each plant and 3-4 feet between rows.
- Vining Zucchini: Due to their sprawling nature, vining zucchinis need more room. Allow 3-4 feet between individual plants and at least 6 feet between rows. Trellising is also worth considering. It involves training vining plants to grow vertically on a support structure. This saves space, improves air circulation, and makes harvesting a larger crop of zucchini easier.
For container gardening, there are compact zucchini varieties well-suited for smaller spaces. Look for varieties labeled as "bush" or "container," but still choose larger pots at least 18 inches in diameter.
Common Zucchini Pests and Threats
While zucchini plants are generally easy to grow, they can be susceptible to a few common threats:
- Squash Bugs: These flat, shield-shaped insects suck the sap out of your plants, causing wilting and stunted growth. Look for them on the undersides of leaves and remove them by hand or use insecticidal soap.
- Powdery Mildew: This fungal disease appears as white powdery patches on leaves, hindering photosynthesis. Ensure good air circulation and water only at the base of the plant (drip irrigation) to prevent it. Neem oil spray can also be effective.
- Squash Vine Borers: These destructive pests lay eggs at the base of the plant. The hatched larvae burrow inside the stems, weakening and ultimately killing the plant. Row covers or protective collars around the base of the stem can help deter them.
When should you harvest zucchini?
Knowing when to harvest your zucchini is key to enjoying its best flavor and texture. You can count the number of days after planting, but it's easier to simply pay attention to the size of the ripe zucchini.
- Size: Aim for fruit that is 6-8 inches long and firm to the touch. Don't let them get too big, as they become woody and seedy. You don't want to try for baseball-bat-sized zucchini, but when you do have extra zucchini, use it in homemade juice instead.
- Skin: The skin should be smooth and slightly shiny, not dull or scratched.
- Stem: The stem should be firm and slightly hairy, not withered or brown.
