What is the best time to plant zucchini and summer squash? - Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard - University of Maine Cooperative Extension (2024)

FAQs

What is the best time to plant zucchini and summer squash? - Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard - University of Maine Cooperative Extension? ›

We recommend planting zucchini and summer squash from late May to early July, depending on the season's temperatures and rainfall.

For example, don't plant cucumbers and zucchini together, as the vines will become enmeshed and may even choke one another out. Similarly, it's not a good idea to plant zucchini next to other types of squash, such as pumpkins, for the same reason.

An all-purpose N-P-K fertilizer like 10-10-10 will provide zucchini with sufficient nutrients. The fertilizer you opt for should provide enough nitrogen to promote vigorous foliage growth.

Watering Zucchinis

Summer squash prefers consistently moist soil but not soggy. One inch of water per week should suffice, but water more often if the weather is particularly hot and dry. Well-draining soil is a must—if it water pools and remains stagnant around the roots, they will start to rot.

We recommend planting zucchini and summer squash from late May to early July, depending on the season's temperatures and rainfall. It's a warm season crop, so it needs warm air, warm soil, and no chance of frost.

Potatoes can also spread diseases such as late blight, which can also affect zucchinis. Cucumbers and pumpkins should not be planted next to zucchinis as they belong to the same family (Cucurbitaceae) and therefore attract similar pests and diseases.

Verdict: Unless you have a magnesium deficiency in your garden, there is no need to add Epsom salts. Doing so could even be harmful to soil, plants and water.

Yes, and yes! Coffee beans are rich in minerals such as magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium. Phosphorus and potassium improve yields, and nitrogen is involved in photosynthesis, which helps plants grow faster. Ground coffee is excellent for both house and garden plants.

A month after planting, begin fertilizing your zucchini plants with Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® Edibles Plant Nutrition Granules, which will deliver continuous food during the growing season. The result? A bigger harvest than you'd glean from unfed plants! Be sure to follow label directions.

Do zucchini like wet or dry soil? ›

Zucchini thrive in moist soil. Water thoroughly, frequently, and consistently, with at least 1 inch per week. Water diligently when fruit form and throughout their growth cycle. The soil needs to be moist 4 inches down, so long soakings are best.

Zucchini and tomatoes can be grown as close neighbors and will make satisfactory companion plants. Both vegetables thrive in the same environmental conditions, so a garden plot that is ideal for one plant is therefore ideal for the other. They both need a location with full sun and benefit from nutrient-rich soil.

Preparing Soil for Zucchini

Choose a location that gets plenty of sun and has well-draining soil. Test your soil: Use a soil test kit to determine the pH level of your soil. Zucchini plants prefer a slightly acidic soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.5. If your soil is too acidic, add lime to raise the pH level.

Zucchini, Yellow Crookneck, Acorn, Spaghetti, Patty Pan, Delicata, Pumpkins and Gourds (except edible snake gourds) all may cross with each other. Butternut, Buttercup, Banana, Hubbard and Turban squashes may cross with each other.

Because they are botanical cousins, crookneck yellow squash and zucchini — both are summer squash and in the cucurbit family —can be used interchangeably in most sweet and savory dishes.

We do not recommend canning summer squash or zucchini. We recommend preserving summer squash or zucchini by pickling or freezing. Summer squash is good for you. It is low in calories and many varieties provide vitamin C, potassium and, if the skin is eaten, beta carotene.

Option 2: Use a trellis frame

Nets and wires aren't sturdy enough to hold up squash vines. That said, a trellis frame is the perfect support for growing plants. Build or purchase a frame at least six feet tall, so it's not hard to harvest. Usually, we like to leave the middle of the trellis open.