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  1. Summer squashes include zucchini and marrow, also referred to as courgettes. They have tender skin and don't keep as long as winter squashes such as acorn, spaghetti, butternut and others. 
  2. Zucchini are a fairly easy vegetable to grow on the prairies. They are a warm season season plant that need full sun and warm soil of at least 15°C for seed germination and optimal growth. Most zucchini only need 48 - 60 days to maturity, although there are some exceptions like marrow which need longer.
  3. Zucchini are bush-type plants. For the best fruit and growth, keep them well watered and fertilized. Harvest continually when fruits are small and the plant will keep producing flowers and fruit.
  4. Both zucchini fruit and blossoms are edible. 
  5. Squashes originated and were cultivated by native people in central america. The name squash is derived from the Algonquin "askoot asquash", meaning "eaten green".

Zucchini and marrow are classified as cucurbit (Cucurbitaceae) vegetables. The cucurbit family includes cucumbers,  summer squash (zucchini), winter squash (hubbard, acorn, spaghetti, kabocha, butternut, buttercup delicata), pumpkins, melons, and gourds.

Since all of these plants share a common ancestor, they all have very similar growing needs and are prone to similar problems.

While they are quite similar, there are some key differences, so to ensure best success so we've broken these into separate articles for easier instruction.

Summer squash nutrient values vary by cultivar but are generally high in vitamin C, B6, folate and riboflavin. Check here for detailed information from the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference. 

The Canadian Food Guide recommends that roughly half of the food on your plate should be fruits and vegetables.

Canada Food Guide: What's On Your Plate?

Growing outdoors

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Zucchini grows best in rich, well-draining, moist soil. You can improve your soil's ability to hold moisture by adding organic matter such as compost or aged, composted manure. Do not use fresh manure as a soil additive. If you think your soil needs remediation, see our Soils and soilless mixes page for detailed advice.

As a vegetable grown for its fruit, they need full sun to produce well and do not tolerate shade. 

Zucchini are best grown outdoors in the ground, be it in raised beds or un-raised/ground level gardens if the soil is suitable. They can also be grown in large containers outdoors. They are not a practical plant for indoor growing. They are not typically suitable for hyrdoponic, or other alternative growing methods, but would be suitable for straw bale gardening.

Zucchini and marrow are a warm season plant that need between 48 and 100 days to maturity, depending on the type. If direct seeding, grow cultivars that mature in 80 days or less. Summer squashes with longer days to maturity should be transplanted.

They can be seeded or transplanted once the soil is warm (at least 18°C).

If you live in the far north, grow zucchini as seedlings. Seedlings can sometimes be purchased from a local greenhouse.

Starting your own zucchini plants from seed

  • Zucchini do not like root disturbance from transplanting, so it's important not to start seedlings too early. Seedlings should only be 10-14 days old before planting out (cotyledons have emerged along with only one or two true leaves).  Larger transplants will experience transplant shock when they are planted outdoors. Plants will not grow for several weeks (or at all) depending on the level of transplant shock they experience. See our video below.
  • Start seedlings about 2 -3 weeks prior to transplanting out. You can transplant seedlings as soon as daytime and nighttime temperatures are warm at least 18°C, about 2 weeks after your last average frost free date. For example, in Wollaston Lake (northern Saskatchewan) your plant out date is June 5, so start your seedlings around the first of June for planting out around June 20.
  • Jiffy-7's are good for sowing seeds because there is less root disturbance when planting. Soak the Jiffy-7's for 20 minutes in warm water to fully hydrate and expand them. Once they are planted, cover with plastic or a dome and do not water. Remove the plastic once seeds have germinated. 
  • Another way to reduce root disturbance is to use home-made newspaper pots or peat pots. Fill them with a soil-less mix that contains peat or coir and vermiculite and/or perlite. (Both of these types of pots can be planted directly in the soil, but be sure to bury the rim of these pots. Otherwise the rim acts as a wick and will dry out your seedling.)
  • Sow 2 seeds 1 cm deep per JIffy-7 or container and then thin to the strongest plant after they have grown their first set of true leaves. 
  • Zucchini and other summer squashes prefer warm soil. At 24°C, seeds will germinate in 5 or 6 days. Use a heat mat if you have one, or place pots in a warm spot like the top of the fridge for germination.
  • Take care not to over water your seedlings. Soil should be moist like a damp sponge, but not soggy.
  • Place seedlings under lights after germination, which is crucial for the growth of healthy seedlings. seedlings require a minimum of 14 hours of light each day.
  • Leave a fan blowing on your young seedlings as they grow to help to grow heartier plants and to reduce some seedling diseases. Research has shown that stem diameter can be increased by providing seedlings with constant air movement from an oscillating fan – or by lightly brushing seedling tops with a tea towel or stick at least 20 times daily.
  • For more details, check out our article on growing your own seedlings.

The ideal zucchini transplant:

  • has no more than two sets of true leaves. The first leaves that grow are not true leaves. They are "seed leaves" called cotyledons and are round. All leaves that grow after these are true leaves.
  • is dark green in color.
  • has a good root system but is not root-bound (tight, hard ball of roots) or has lots of roots growing out of the Jiffy-7.
  • has a stem that is strong and sturdy. The internodes (spaces between leaves along the stem) will be small.  seedlings that are too tall will tend to break and dry out more easily once planted out into the garden.
  • Fertilizing recently planted seeds or young emerging seedlings is not recommended. Start fertilizing a few days after they have been planted out in the garden using 20-20-20 water-soluble fertilizer once or twice a week. Mix according to label directions.

Harden off seedlings prior to planting out by moving them outdoors into a sheltered, frost-free location at least 3 days prior to transplanting.

Don't forget to label what you planted. It's also helpful to draw a map to help you track planting locations and success each year. This information is critical if you're rotating your crops to help prevent insect and disease issues.

 

Transplanting vine crops

Timing

  • Zucchini and other summer squashes may be direct seeded in the garden or planted as seedlings. See our transplants tab for tips on growing or purchasing your own transplants.
  • You can transplant seedlings as soon as daytime temperatures are above 18°C. For example, in Wollaston Lake (northern Saskatchewan) your plant out date is June 5, so start your seedlings around the first of June for planting out around June 20. Saskatoon's plant out date is around May 13, so start your seedlings around May 7 for planting out at the end of May or beginning of June.
  • Transplants must be hardened off before transplanting outdoors. Winter squashes do not tolerate cool soil or air temperatures.

Direct sow instructions

  • One or two summer squashes are usually enough for the average family of four.
  • Sow 3-4 seeds 2 cm (1″) deep and 90cm-120cm (36-48″) apart.  Thin to the strongest seedling. 

Planting instructions for seedlings

  • When planting, cover the entire transplant “plug” or seed ball with soil to prevent the plant from drying out.  If using newspaper pots or peat pots, make sure they are quite moist before planting and remove the rims of the pots. Exposed rims, peat or coir within the plug will act as a wick, drawing water away from the transplant and drying out the root ball. 
  • Try not to disturb the roots when planting.
  • Seedlings should be spaced 25 cm apart within the row, allowing 90 cm between rows.
  • Water the transplants in with 10-52-10 soluble fertilizer, mixed according to the directions on the label. This is only done once, to encourage good root development. See the "Care Once Planted" tab for how to fertilize for the rest of the growing season.

Cutworm prevention

If you have had cutworm problems in your garden, place a collar around your seedlings right after planting. Make collars out of toilet paper rolls, or any tin can or plastic container such as a yogurt container with both ends removed. Insert the collar at least 5 cm in the ground to prevent cutworms from feeding on the stems of your seedlings.

There are a wide variety of summer squashes which come in different shapes (long and narrow, round, pattypan) and colours (green, almost black, white, yellow, gold). Most of them are 'bush' types. 

  • Yellow summer squash - long, thin fruits that can be smooth or warty, straight or crooknecked.
  • Zucchini types are also long and cylindrical, often dark green also lighter, yellow or even white.
  • Scalloped or patty pan squash like disc-shaped UFOs. Scalloped edges - from greenish to yellow to white.
  • Mideast or Cousa fruit is shorter and thicker than zucchini, usually with a pale green skin.

Here are cultivar recommendations from the North Dakota State University Cultivar Trials, as they share a similar prairie climate and soils. You may download their list here:North Dakota State University Vegetable Cultivar Recommendations for 2021

  • Crookneck: Gentry, Sundance
  • Scallop: Flying Saucer, Sunburst
  • Straightneck: Fortune, Multipik, Slick Pik YS 26, Zephyr
  • Zucchini: Cashflow, Desert, Easypick Gold, Gold Rush, Green Machine, Green Tiger, Payload, Portofino, Raven, Spineless Beauty.

The following cultivars are recommendations from the University of Saskatchewan vegetable program field trials which were conducted from 1989 through 2016. Although this information is no longer current, some may find it useful.

  • Green zucchini: Ambassador, Bobcat, Chongma, Dividend, H.N. Zucchini, Jemmy, Onyx, Payroll, SE 104, Spineless Beauty, Striatod'Italie, Sungreen, Super Select
  • Yellow zucchini: Butterstick, Gold Finger, Golden Rod
  • Specialty: Alexandria, Basima, Geode

Summer squashes like zucchini should have about 2.5cm of water per week early in the season.  By mid-July, provide 2.5cm of water, twice weekly. Dry soil may result in smaller squashes.

Apply soluble 20-20-20 fertilizer every week prior to fruit set. Increase fertilizing to twice a week after fruit set.

Pick weeds as they appear.

To conserve soil moisture and reduce weeding, apply a thick layer of mulch around your plants, whether in the garden or in a container. Ensure the mulch is not resting against the stems of the plants.

Summer squashes benefit from growing in plastic mulches, supported plastic tunnels or crop covers.  Crop covers and tunnels must be removed as soon as flowers appear so that bees and other pollinators can pollinate flowers.

Cucurbits have both male and female flowers on their vines.  Male flowers are the first flowers to appear on the plant.  It is normal for some of these initial male flowers to fall off – don't be alarmed.  Female flowers appear 7-10 days after the male flowers start to appear.  The female flowers are identified by what looks like a small fruit where the stem meets the flower.  This ‘small fruit’ is missing on the male flowers.

 

Summer squashes such as zucchini are not suited to fall seeding.

Summer squashes such as zucchini are best grown as transplants in the far north. Direct seed only if the soil is very warm. To pre-warm soil, cover soil with a layer of clear plastic 2 weeks before planting. Secure the edges to keep the plastic from blowing away. Remove the plastic after planting.

Zucchini do well in containers. Black or dark coloured containers help keep the soil and root system warm.

Zucchini benefit from black plastic mulch, row covers and clear low plastic tunnels to keep the environment around the plants warm. 

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Forgot what you planted? Not sure if it's a weed? Germination in pumpkin

See our preservation section for more videos.

Growing in containers

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Summer squashes such as zucchini can be grown in containers outdoors, but are not practical for indoor growing due to their large size, light and water needs. 

Select a large container: one that is at least 19 litres (5 gallons) and has drainage holes in the bottom. A half barrel or large grow bag would work for squashes. Dark containers help to keep the root system warm.

Plant 2 - 3 seeds into the container and then thin to the strongest seedling after they get their true leaves. 

Place a layer of mulch on top of the soil in the container to keep soil moisture even. 

See: Vegetable container gardening

 

An early-maturing, compact, bush type of zucchini would work best in a container, such as: Raven,  AAS Peter Pan hybrid, Goldy Organic hybrid, Gold nugget (orange)

Saving seeds

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Seeds are expected to be shelf-stable for one year from date of sale if purchased from a reputable retailer. If you wish to save your seeds beyond that, you should store them in the fridge in a jar. Seeds lose viability quickly if they dry out too much or get too warm.

The life expectancy of summer squash seeds stored under favourable conditions is about five years.

Seeds stored under less favourable conditions will show poor germination after just a single year of storage. Beyond this, you can expect your germination rates to go down (ie. not all of your seeds will grow, but some might). To test your seeds, you can do a simple germination test. Follow the link for instructions. If you are still getting some seeds germinating, seed more thickly and thin any extra.

Saving zucchini seed is tricky because certain squashes can cross pollinate:

  • Delicata, acorn and sphaghetti are related closely enough to zucchini and pumpkin that they can cross pollinate: all are Cucurbita pepo.

All squashes have separate male and female flowers. The female flower requires pollen in order to produce fruit, but the pollen can come from other compatible species of Cucurbita as described above. Pollen is moved by insects such as bees, bumblebee, hoverflies, ants and others.

Here is an example of cross-pollination: If you grow acorn squash in the garden and it is pollinated by a nearby zucchini, this year's fruit will still look like an acorn squash. But if you harvest the seed from that squash, the seed will contain genes from both the zucchini and the acorn squash. If that seed is grown next year, the resulting fruit will look very different – with a combination of characteristics of both parents. This is called a hybrid.

Summer squashes need to be isolated from related Cucurbit species in order to get seeds that will produce the same type of winter squash next year. Commercial seed producers grow acres of different curcubita plants for seed production. What they do is group like with like in very separate areas – with at least 800 or more feet of separation to prevent cross-pollination. This is not feasible in urban areas but there is a solution.

Controlling pollination

If you plan on saving seeds from a heritage or open pollinated summer squash in your home garden, you'll have to control pollination. Here's how:

  • It’s best to do this early in the morning as cucurbit flowers open early and before bees and other pollinators are active.
  • Use a small brush or cotton swab to dab the center of a male flower – these are the flowers with a large anther in the middle which contains the pollen. The pollen will stick to the brush as it would on a bee.
  • Next, transfer the pollen to the centre of one or more female flowers from the same plant. Female flowers lack an anther and have what looks like a small swelling just beneath the flower. Or, you can simply pick a male flower and gently touch the anther to each of the female flowers you want to pollinate. 
  • Next, cover the pollinated flower with a muslin or paper bag and secure it so that insects cannot access the flower and accidentally introduce different pollen. The bag can be removed once the fruit starts growing larger. 
  • Mark the fruit with a piece of yarn so that you remember which one is the controlled cross.

How to save seeds

Harvest seeds from overgrown and over mature squashes because their seeds tend to be fully mature. Carefully cut the squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Wash seeds well to remove as much of the stringy flesh as possible. Spread on a dish towel on a tray and allow to dry completely. Drying can take up to a week.

 
How to store seeds

Vegetable seeds can keep for several years if you store them properly. Seeds should be stored in a cool, dry, dark place. Moisture, heat and light can cause seeds to sprout or rot.

  • Place your seeds in envelopes or make your own envelopes out of foil or waxed paper. Label with name of the seeds and the date (month and year) you harvested them.
  • Place your envelopes inside an airtight container. To help keep seeds dry, place about a tablespoon of dry powdered milk in a paper towel or piece of cloth, secured with a twist tie or piece of string. The powdered milk will absorb humidity and keep seeds dry inside the airtight container.
  • Put the container in the refrigerator. Do not store seeds in an unheated shed or garage. These places are either too moist and/or too cold for seed storage.

Harvest

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Check your seed package for days to maturity. 

Most summer squash such as zucchini are short season crops and will continue to produce flowers if the fruit is picked on an ongoing basis. 

Pick fruits when they are 15-20cm long, fruit will be more tender when they are smaller. 

Pick fruit often, at least every 2nd day as zucchini grow very quickly and will oversize.  Oversized fruit is usually very seedy.

Tip: It's easy for green or dark coloured zucchini to oversize because the fruit colour blends in with the leaves. Check your plants daily or try growing yellow zucchini - they are easier to spot on the plant.

 

 

Use a sharp knife or pruners to cut the squash from the stem. Leave at least 3 cm of stem intact to avoid problems with stem end rot.

Be careful when harvesting zucchini and other tender summer squashes. They damage easily.

Zucchini and other summer squashes have a fairly high respiration rate, harvest early in the day and keep them in the fridge until you use them.

 

Storage

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Store squash in the fridge where they can keep for 1 - 2 weeks.

If you're hoping to store them longer than a month, you will need to use other preservation methods such as freezing, fermentingcanning or drying.

For detailed advice on other potential spaces or methods, see our cold storage page.

Cooking and preserving

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Summer squash can be canned (pickled)fermented, dehydrated (dried) or frozen.      

 

Coming soon

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Dehydrating zucchini

Alternative ways to eat common vegetables

 

Troubleshooting

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Summer squash are relatively low maintenance. Providing their water, light and soil needs are managed they don't tend to get a lot of issues.

They need a good supply of water and fertilizer to do well.

Ensuring that you maintain healthy soil with adequate organic matter and use row covers to prevent insect problems will go a long way towards preventing most issues.

See the Common problems tab on this page for advice on other specific squash issues.

Common problems include powdery mildew and pollination problems.

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Common questions

Image courtesy of Lorraine

Pumpkin, gourds and several types of squash including zucchini are all cultivars of a species called Cucurbita pepo. Squash are monoecious, which means they produce separate male and female flowers on the same plant. The female flowers can only be fertilized by the male of the same species – so, they can cross pollinate. Bees carry pollen and transfer it from flower to flower and plant to plant.

Although your pumpkin was probably pollinated with zucchini pollen, last years fruit still looked like a pumpkin. However, it is the seeds you harvested which inherited both pumpkin and zucchini genes.

Those genes were expressed in the fruits you grew from those seeds this year. This is why the fruit looks very different – with a combination of characteristics of both parents. This is a hybrid. Or in your case, a "zumpkin".

The fruit you have is quite edible. Apart from how they look, you may find some variation in flavour – who knows, it might even be better than you expect.

Poor fruit set on female flowers can happen when there is a lack of female flowers on the plant and/or poor pollination by bees or insects. 

All cucurbits have both male and female flowers on their vines.  Male flowers are the first flowers to appear on the plant.  It is normal for some of these initial male flowers to fall off – don't be alarmed.  Female flowers appear 7-10 days after the male flowers start to appear.  The female flowers are identified by what looks like a small fruit where the stem meets the flower.  This ‘small fruit’ is missing on the male flowers.

Poor pollination can also be due to a lack of pollinators. Cold, rainy or cloudy weather discourages bees and other insects from flying around to pollinate. Insecticide use in the garden kills pollinators and can be another cause. 

If you are using row cover, remove the covers when the plants are flowering to allow pollinating insects to access the plants. Similarly, if you are growing in a greenhouse, open doors and vents to allow pollinators to enter. 

You can help pollinate your plants. Using a small brush or q-tip, dab the center of a male flower – these are the flowers with a large anther in the middle which contains the pollen. The pollen will stick to the paintbrush as it would on a bee. Transfer the pollen to the centre of the female flowers. Female flowers lack an anther and have what looks like a small swelling just beneath the flower. Or, you can simply pick a male flower and gently touch the anther to each of the female flowers. Repeat for all of the flowers. It’s best to do this early in the morning as cucurbit flowers open early and only last for one day. Do the pollination before the bees and other pollinators are active!

Female squash blossom. Note the immature fruit behind the flower. Image: Marc Pascual on Pixabay.

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