Plus, hilling allows you to dig compost in to the soil. Zucchini plants like rich soil, and hilling gives the plants an extra boost of nutrients they'll appreciate. Make sure plants receive an inch of water per week. The reason this is important when growing zucchini is because its flowers need to be pollinated to form a viable fruit, and each female flower is only open for one day.
No pollination means no zucchini. So, if you have multiple plants growing near each other, your chance of pollination greatly improves. In addition to having to manage the short lifespan of zucchini blossoms, you also will need both male and female flowers open at the same time.
Only female flowers set fruit. The male flowers are there strictly for pollinating purposes. New zucchini plants tend to produce a lot of male flowers at first. Be patient. Once the plants mature a little, they will start setting flowers of both sexes. And thanks to the early male flowers, there already should be plenty of pollinating insects in the area.
You will know you have female flowers when you see tiny fruits directly behind the base of the flower. You can remove the male flowers and dust their pollen onto the female flowers to help ensure good pollination takes place. You can also use an artist's paintbrush to transfer pollen from the male flower on the the female bloom. You can still pick them, dip them in batter, and fry them up for a great treat. Zucchini does not tolerate frost or cold temperatures.
Even if fruits form during cold weather, they will have pitted skin from chilling injuries. Thus, you should wait until at least mid-spring to plant when the soil warms, depending on your climate. Once pollinated, the tiny fruit at the base of the female flower grows up to 1 inch per day. It should be harvested when it is still young and tender, usually between 6 and 8 inches long. Fruit is usually ready to pick in about 60 days.
Picking zucchini encourages growth. To slow fruit production, leave one or two zucchini on the plant. When left on the plant too long, the seeds become tough and the flesh too fibrous to enjoy. Zucchini plants grow best in temperate climates, in temperatures up to degrees but not less than 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Plants flourish in garden spots that receive six to 10 hours of sunlight each day.
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First time zucchini grower. Thank you. Rose Kennedy rosekennedy. Reply to Oupa Nteta Nteta 1 year ago. Let me know how it goes and good luck! Last edited 1 year ago by Rose Kennedy. You are going to send email to.
Move Comment. Plant Type:. Annual vining vegetable. Water Needs:. Native To:. Heat, drought. Soil Type:. Organically rich, fertile. Full sun. Soil pH:. Time to Maturity:. Soil Drainage:. Companion Planting:. Beans, corn, dill, nasturtiums, parsley, peppermint, spinach. Our Garden Planner can produce a personalized calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. Keep plantings small, to fewer than a dozen plants. Other types of summer squash help pollinate one another because they are of the same species.
Harvest zucchini when they are young and tender, about 6 inches long, before the rinds begin to harden. Use a knife to cut fruits from the plants.
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