edenhana

Zucchini

Famously prolific once it starts fruiting; pick young and often, as oversized zucchini quickly turn into marrows.

Sun
full sun
Water
moderate
Spacing
90cm
Harvest
Ready in 55-65 days
Difficulty
beginner
Grows in
Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Hamilton / Waikato, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne, Napier / Hawke's Bay, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Tasman, Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago, Invercargill / Southland
Expected yield
5-10kg per plant over the season
Cost to grow
~$6 NZD
Grocery value
~$45 NZD
Companion plants
Basil, Sweetcorn, Marigold, Nasturtium
Plants to avoid nearby
Potatoes, Fennel, Pumpkin
Common diseases
Powdery mildew
Common pests
Whitefly, Aphids

When to plant by region

In Whangārei / Northland, Auckland, Tauranga / Bay of Plenty, Gisborne and Napier / Hawke's Bay: January and September-December. In Hamilton / Waikato, New Plymouth / Taranaki, Palmerston North / Manawatū-Whanganui, Wellington, Nelson and Tasman: October-December. In Blenheim / Marlborough, West Coast, Christchurch / Canterbury, Dunedin / Otago and Invercargill / Southland: November-December.

Growing stages

  1. Germination & sowing

    • Needs warm soil to germinate; direct sow after the last frost
    • Space seeds widely (90cm) to allow for its sprawling growth
    • Damping off risk in cold, wet soil

  2. Seedling & establishment

    • Whitefly and aphids can target young seedlings
    • Give plants plenty of room as they spread
    • Water in well to establish strong roots

  3. Vegetative growth

    • Powdery mildew can appear on leaves, especially later in the season
    • Whitefly and aphids can build up on the undersides of leaves
    • Moderate, consistent watering keeps growth steady

  4. Flowering & fruiting

    • Fruit grows rapidly once flowering starts, from small to oversized within a couple of days
    • Powdery mildew often worsens once the plant is fruiting heavily
    • Poor fruit set can occur if pollinators are scarce

  5. Harvest55-65 days from sowing

    • Pick young and often, as oversized zucchini quickly turn into marrows
    • Expect 5-10kg per plant over the season with regular picking
    • Powdery mildew on ageing leaves reduces plant vigour but doesn't usually spoil fruit already set

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