Squash - Summer 'Golden Zucchini' (Squash - Summer)

Scientific name: Cucurbita pepo
Cucurbita pepo
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Type:
Annual
USDA hardiness zones:
-
Days to maturity:
50 - 57
Type:
Zucchini

Open-pollinated. Bushy plants bear slender, bright golden-yellow fruits.

  • Easy

Squash are warm soil and weather plants and are very susceptible to frost. It is recommended that you wait 2 weeks AFTER the last frost free date, until the soil has warmed to about 70F (21C). Direct seed 1/2 - 1 inch (1 - 2 cm) deep into hills or rows which warm and drain earlier in the season. 4 - 5 seeds per hill is ideal, and space hills 3 - 4 feet (90 - 120 cm) apart. When the plants are 2 - 3 inches (5 - 8 cm) tall, thin to 2 - 3 plants per hill by cutting unneeded plants without disturbing the remaining roots. Sow seeds 4 inches (10 cm) apart in rows 4 - 5 feet (120-150 cm) apart. Snip off plants to thin one plant every 12 - 24 inches (30 - 60 cm). Remove or till-in vines to reduce mildew at the end of the season. To discourage squash borers from laying eggs, mound soil around the base of the crop. Mulching also helps to suppress weeds and retain moisture. To discourage squash borers from laying eggs, mound soil around the base of the crop. Mulching also helps to suppress weeds and retain moisture. Row covers are good for protecting plants and preventing insect problems, but remember to remove the cover to facilitate pollination before flowering.

Be careful not to interplant summer and winter squash in the same area, otherwise there may be cross pollination.

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Gardens with this plant

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Groundskeeper replied almost 2 years ago
The plant breeders have transformed the humble zucchini plant into a near-alien. It grows super fast, soon makes a big clump of spiky leaves, flowers early and continuously and the little squashes inflate fast, like party balloons. My neighbor Maureen showed me one from her plant yesterday that was big enough to make a T-ball bat. So what to do, aside from picking earlier? Grated, braised zucchini, zucchini bread, T-ball?
Groundskeeper replied almost 2 years ago
Picking zucchini young keeps the crop coming; the new flowers make new fruits. Picked young, zucchini can be steamed, sliced and sauteed, or blended into soup, hot or cold. When you saute slices they tend to weep a lot (young zucchini are watery). The remedy is to remove the slices when they’re cooked and simmer the water until it reduces to a succulent syrup. A little butter is good, or olive oil. Getting hungry.

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