The zucchini rewards cultivation in your own garden with a rich harvest. The right variety has been selected, now the small plants should be placed in the bed. The answers below provide guidance on planting.

Zucchini are very productive under good conditions

Which plants are suitable for growing in the garden?

All zucchini varieties are easy to care for and very productive. You can easily choose the right variety based on your taste or the appearance of the fruit. You can choose between classic oblong or spherical, green, yellow or striped. A high-yielding variety is the early maturing "Mastil F1" zucchini with a long harvest period and is also resistant to powdery mildew.

Can zucchini be grown on the balcony?

In a sufficiently large bucket with a capacity of at least 15 liters, you can also grow zucchini on the balcony. Fill the bucket with potting soil and place it in a sunny spot.

Suitable varieties are the compact "Patiostar F1" and "Maraîchère" as well as "Black Forest F1", whose tendrils can be guided upwards with a climbing aid.

location

Zucchini are heat-loving plants. Your location in the garden or on the balcony should definitely be in the sun and protected from the wind. You can create a vegetable bed, use a raised bed or a free space in the flower bed. If the courgettes are planted near the compost, they benefit from the nutrients that are washed out.

How can I grow zucchini plants myself?

  • Choose seeds in the garden center or order them from a garden mail order company
  • Sow about 2-3 weeks before planting out, i.e. not before April
  • Place two seeds 2-3 cm deep in a small pot and cover with soil
  • put the pot on the window sill, don't keep the soil too moist
  • Germination time 1 - 2 weeks
  • leave only the stronger of the two plants
  • when two to four leaves have formed, you can plant the zucchini in the bed

What soil is suitable for growing zucchini?

Zucchini cultivation is particularly successful in loose, humus-rich soil. In addition, you can mix in compost and spread a layer of mulch on the ground. This protects leaves and fruit from rot and saves you from pulling weeds.

When is planting time?

The courgettes are planted out from May. You can use the ice saints as a guide. When these are over, the young plants should be safe from night frosts. If there are late frosts, cover the plants with a cone or bucket.

Does a planting distance have to be observed?

Necessarily. Zucchini plants need adequate space as they develop large leaves. You should plan about 1.5 to 2m² of space per plant. The planting distance should be approx. 80 to 100 cm.

Many varieties grow bushy and with enough space, leaves and fruits can drain well. If you only have little space available, you can select a climbing variety and guide it upwards on a trellis.

Put plants in the bed

Plants that you have bought are planted directly in the bed. Plants that have been brought forward can be planted out as soon as they have formed two to four leaves. Do not forget to water and fertilize, as the zucchini is a heavy feeder. Even if you're a zucchini lover, you'll get a bounty from just one or two plants.

harvest time

The first courgettes can be harvested after 6 to 8 weeks. The fruits taste best when they have reached a size of 15 to 20 cm. With a regular harvest, the plant develops new flowers again and again, from which further fruits develop. Harvest time is from June to October.

Good and bad neighbors

Zucchini are well suited for mixed culture. Good neighbors are leeks, onions, spinach, runner beans, nasturtiums. Bad neighbors are potatoes.

tips and tricks

Young zucchini plants are a treat for snails. You can prevent this by putting up snail fences immediately after planting or by scattering slug pellets (7.49€) around the plants.

Category:

Vegetable garden