The zucchini growing trick garden experts swear by for a bigger harvest

Plus, everything else you need to know to grow your best zucchini yet.

Key Takeaways

• Zucchini grows quickly and thrives in full sun, well-draining soil, and plenty of space, with leaves and fruit kept off the ground to improve airflow and reduce disease.
• Mulching before planting helps soil stay moist, keeps roots cool in hot weather, and supports bigger harvests alongside consistent watering and regular fertilizing after flowering.
• Harvest zucchini at 6 to 8 inches long, and pick it often to encourage steady production through late summer and, in many regions, early fall.

Zucchini is one of the most underrated vegetables out there. It instantly elevates a summer succotash, makes the most delicious bread and muffins, moonlights as a low-carb noodle, and even shines as a standalone star on the dinner plate. So obviously this veggie deserves a front-row seat in your garden.

For an impressive harvest, we asked expert gardeners how to grow zucchini so you can enjoy fresh squash all summer long. 

Meet Our Expert

• Corinne Beirne, kitchen garden coach and founder of The Nourished Garden
• John Cho, professional gardener and founder of the MyCozyPlant app

Related: A Potager Garden Might Be the Prettiest Way to Grow Your Own Food—Even in Small Spaces

How to Grow Zucchini in Your Home Garden

Zucchini is surprisingly easy to grow, making it a popular choice for home gardeners. “People love it because it’s so forgiving,” says John Cho, professional gardener and founder of the MyCozyPlant app. “It grows fast and requires very little maintenance, which makes it perfect if you’re new to gardening.”

When and Where to Plant Zucchini

This squash thrives in ample sunshine, well-draining soil, and when it has lots of space to spread out. Ideally, seeds are planted in late spring, but you can start them as late as July in many climates thanks to their speedy growth cycle. For spacing, aim for about 2 to 3 feet between plants to give them plenty of room to spread.

“I prefer to plant them in a sunny spot and let the zucchini drape over the edge of a two-foot raised bed. That way they have plenty of growing space and the leaves and squash stay off of the soil,” says Corinne Beirne, kitchen garden coach and founder of The Nourished Garden.  

Another option is to grow them in the ground and tie the plant to stakes so they grow upright. The key, Beirne says, is to keep leaves and fruit off the soil. This improves airflow around the plant, helps reduce the risk of fungal diseases like powdery mildew, and keeps developing zucchini cleaner as they grow. 

Ideal Soil Conditions

Zucchini grows best in well-draining, nutrient-rich, slightly acidic soil. Cho also strongly recommends mulching the soil before planting. 

“It’s one of the best things you can do to maximize your zucchini yield,” he says. “It does a few different things at once, like helping the soil retain moisture so you don’t have to water as often, and keeping the roots nice and cool during intense heatwaves and strong summer sunlight.” 

Simply add a layer of organic material—such as straw, shredded leaves, or untreated grass clippings—over the soil surface around the planting area. 

Water and Sunlight Needs

The rule of thumb with zucchini is to put it in the sunniest spot in your yard. It requires at least six hours of sunlight per day (ideally eight) in order to produce. 

“Consistent watering is also really important for a big harvest, and you want to make sure you water the roots of the plant directly rather than spraying water on those wide leaves,” Cho notes. Beirne adds that she likes to give her zucchini plants a good soak twice a day; once at 6 a.m. and again at 3 p.m. 

Fertilization

Fertilization is another great boost once the plants start putting out their first yellow flowers. Cho says, “At that point, it’s important to regularly use a fertilizer with high phosphorus and potassium, which encourages the plant to grow fruit instead of just more green leaves.” A weekly treatment is ideal, though you can get away with once every two to three weeks if summer months get busy. 

Handling Pests and Disease

Zucchini can be prone to conditions like powdery mildew, which easily develops if a lack of airflow leaves those wide leaves damp for too long. For that reason, Cho also recommends planting zucchini in a spot that gets a lot of airflow and breeze.

Giving the plants enough space to spread out can help, as well. Cho also recommends avoiding low areas where puddles easily form after a heavy rain, since soggy soil can cause root rot. 

Another pest to watch out for is vine borers, Beirne adds. “They will destroy the plant almost overnight. One way to help prevent this is to wrap the base of the stems in foil, so the pests cannot get inside.” 

When and How to Harvest Zucchini

When provided with enough sunlight, water, and fertilizer, zucchini grows abundantly and quickly. When planted from seed, they only take about 60 days to reach maturity. You’ll know it’s ready to pick when the squash reaches 6 to 8 inches long with tender, glossy skin and a firm skin.

“Male flowers will begin to bloom first, and often. Those flowers will fall off before female flowers begin producing fruit,” Beirne explains. “Harvesting them often will keep the plant producing all summer long.” 

That said, it’s definitely not a one and done harvest. It keeps on giving all summer long, producing fruit through mid to late summer and, in many regions, well into early fall. 

Read the original article on Real Simple