Zucchini is probably one of the easiest vegetables to grow and it isn't much more difficult take care of, harvest, and store for the winter.
Harvest and Storage
Growing Zucchini fruit takes about 40 to 55 days. Pick zucchini when they are about 4 to 6 inches long. Watch out! Zucchini can grow inches during the night, or at least it seems so. Check them every day. The bigger ones are tough and the skin has to be peeled. The bigger once also have lots of seeds and the main goal is to have more flesh than seeds. Zucchini doesn’t last long once it is picked so you will have to preserve it to keep it or use it right away. Zucchini can be frozen but it is best to peel and shred it first before you freeze. Use it in recipes needing shredded zucchini such as zucchini bread, cake or cookies. You can also cut zucchini in 1 inch slices and sauté gently until still crisp. Pack them in freezer bags, remove the air and seal. Frozen zucchini lasts for 3 to 4 months. Zucchini will keep about 1 week in the refrigerator.
Pests and Diseases
Zucchini can be plagued with several different pests and diseases so you must inspect your plants for any signs. Cucumber Beetle is green and yellow; either striped or spotted. They eat the leaves of the plant so look for half eaten leaves. Vine Borers will bore into the vine near the base of the plant and chew right through it. Cut worms will attack your plants early in the season and cut them off right at the base of the plant. Spider mites and aphids will show up on the undersides of the leaves and they will eat the leaves.
Zucchini is susceptible to powdery mildew wilt. If you see your leaves and stems starting to wilt and a white mildew collecting on the leaves you need to go to the local nursery and get a fungicide. Follow the directions on the box and hopefully, your crop will be saved. These diseases hit in the late summer when the weather is humid. Making sure the plants get plenty of sun will help. Also do not water on top of the leaves. Snake a soaker hose around your plants and let them drip water to the ground. Good air flow around your plants (not placing them too close together when planting) will also help.
You may see some of the blossoms falling off the plant. Do not be too disturbed if this happens as many times it is just natures way of getting rid of blossoms the plant does not need (males). You may also notice that then ends of the zucchini vegetable seems to be soft and rotten. This is caused by Squash Blossom End rot and can be treated by product from your local nursery.
Varieties
There are many different varieties to choose from when you want to grow zucchini. All of them are very prolific and produce fruit that is delicious.
Ambassadoris good for smaller gardens because the plant is a little more compact than some of the others. It produces a medium sized green zucchini with gold flecks.
Costata Romanesco is an Italian variety with grayish green fruit with ribs. If you are into deep frying the blossoms of the male plant this variety will give you tons of them.
Eight Ball is a fun variety for the kids to grow. The fruit is about the size and shape of a softball but are green with gold flecks just like regular zucchini
Gold Rush doesn’t look much like a zucchini because the fruit is bright gold with green stems, but they do taste just as good.
Seneca gives a very heavy yield of dark green fruit and is the type grown in most gardens.
Spacemiser is great for those that don’t have a great deal of room. It has dark green fruit with very good flavor. This variety will grow in a large pot very well.
Whatever variety you choose, you are sure to have a lot of zucchini by the end of the season. The good thing is zucchini has a great taste and can bemade into main dishes, side dishes, and desserts.
Deborah Harding - Deborah Harding has developed recipes, worked with herbs and written home school curriculum for over 20 years.
Join the Conversation