Guide to Planting and Growing Zucchini and Summer Squash

My mother and I had great success last summer when we planted zucchini and summer squash in our garden. We had excavated a trench. We filled the trench with water every day. We sat back and watched as these amazing plants flourished. Now, I wouldn't suggest that everyone use a trench like we did. The water bill will be insane. The moisture may draw all kinds of bugs and bacteria to your garden. But, we figured that if the major produce producers can do, we can do it.

I never thought I would enjoy the taste of zucchini or summer squash so much in my life. When we cut up the fruit, threw the slices into a microwavable bowl and cooked them in some butter, it was delicious. We basically had zucchini and squash every day. And, according to my Zone Diet, both fruits are extremely good for you. You could probably live off of these two quickly maturing fruits throughout the summer.

For outdoor planting, here are some helpful tips for getting the best garden of zucchini and summer squash possible

Tip No. 1

Make sure the temperature is just right. If you plant your seeds too soon, the frost may kill them before they can sprout.

Tip No. 2

Find a good location. Supposedly, squash and zucchini flourish in full sun. So, if you have a big, open yard with very few shadows, you'll probably find a lot of great spots.

Tip No. 3

Make sure the soil is rich with compost or fertilizer. This will help them get started, faster and healthier.

Tip No. 4

Space the seeds about a meter apart. These plants get pretty damn big. You don't want them crowding each other when they reach maturity.

Tip No. 5

Create a small mound of dirt and sow three to four seeds in groups about 3 inches deep. Once the plants start to sprout, you'll have to thin them out by cutting out the excess, leaving only one seedling behind. Remember, you don't want to pull out the extra seedlings. You may pull out every one of them. Then, you'll have none and that would suck.

Tip No. 6

Don't water heavily for the first few weeks. You may wash the dirt and the seed away before the plant has a chance to root. But, depending on your climate and your weather, you may have to at least give your plants a drink every day.

Tip No. 7

Summer squash need to have around 60 days without being exposed to cold weather.

Tip No. 8

Tie some string to both ends of your garden. Hang some bright and shiny things from the string. Wind should reflect the sun, but don't worry. This might help keep smaller animals like birds from attacking your garden, but it won't hurt anything else. My mother and I couldn't figure out what kept eating away at our garden. Then, when we realized what it was, we tried this tactic and nothing bothered any of our plants again.

For indoor planting, here are some more great tips to get you started

Tip #1

Find a good, warm spot with sunlight to place these indoor plants. If you have a warm, sunny day, it may actually be a good idea to take them outside and set them somewhere they won't be disturbed.

Tip #2

Make sure you start your indoor gardening about 3-4 weeks before it's time to plant them outside.

Tip #3

Use individual pots. Peat pots are preferred. If you use plastic pots, there can be a lot of damage to your roots when you go to plant them outside. Although, I will say this. My mother and I did not find anything wrong with our zucchini when we pulled them out of their plastic containers last summer. The plants still went crazy.

Tip #4

Plant the seeds about a half an inch deep.

Tip #5

Plant one seed per pot.

Here are some more great tips to keep your zucchini and squash flourishing

Tip #1

Zucchini will probably grow about 15 leaves before you see any flowers.

Tip #2

The flowers on these plants are commonly male and female. The first flowers will be male. They will not produce any fruit. You can pick the flowers off early and actually eat them.

Tip #3

Female flowers will have a swelling at their base.

Tip #4

Water the zucchini and squash deeply. Let the top soil dry a bit before soaking it again.

Tip #5

Don't water too often. Try to water them 2 to 3 times a week. Again, you don't want a giant water bill and you don't want diseases to flourish.

Tip #6

Try to water the base, instead of the plant itself.

Tip #7

Don't add extra fertizer to your squash. They're what you might call, "light eaters".

Tip #8

You still might give your plants a boost by adding some extra compost later in the season.

Tip #9

When you go to pick the fruit, make sure they're not too big and not too small. If they're too young or too old, they can be flavorless. Bigger fruit can be tough and cause problems for the newer, smaller fruit.