How to Grow Organic Zucchini

Posted by admin on August 15th, 2007 at 11:15pm

Organic zucchini and yellow summer squash are fantastic summer vegetables that are best when picked fresh from the vine and cooked immediately. As a member of the cucurbita family of vegetables along with pumpkins, summer squash is a great crop to grow and harvest. If you are in an area that gets a substantial amount of heat and sunshine in the summer months, you’ll find that harvesting zucchini and yellow crookneck squash is something you need to do every day - sometimes even twice a day if your crop is growing well.

Zucchini can grow to enormous sizes in a relatively short time, and can hide themselves well under the large, fuzzy leaves of the squash plant. Make sure that when you harvest, you check closely under all of the leaves so that you can pick the fruits on time when they are at their best. A large organic zucchini is great for stuffing and baking, but the smaller squashes are the best for fresh dishes like stir frys and pasta.

How long does it take to grow organic zucchini?
Not long at all. It grows so quickly and can produce so much that you’ll be searching for different ways to cook all of the zucchini you’ve grown. With a 45 to 55 day duration from seed to ripe fruit, this is one quick-growing vegetable.

How do I plant my zucchini seeds?
The best method for planting your zucchini is to sow the seeds about 1″ into rich, moist soil. After you’ve planted your seeds, make sure to water them and then water every couple of days if the weather doesn’t do it for you. Once your zucchini plants germinate, you should keep the best little plants and remove any smaller ones. This will reduce the competition in the soil and give you more robust, healthier plants. Don’t worry - even by reducing the number of overall plants, you’ll get plenty of zucchini to eat.

How to I fight zucchini pests?
The most common insect you’ll come across is the cucumber beetle, which is a small, ladybug-sized beetle that is green and is usually spotted. These beetles love to eat the leaves not only of squash, but of cucumbers as well. You should be aware that these little bugs can bring disease to the plants, also. So how do you get rid of them? Remember the first rule of organic gardening - no insecticides! Simply remove any little beetles that you find on your squash leaves. Then take a clove of garlic, and rub it on the leaves and stems of your zucchini plants. Repeat this process every week or so as the plants grow. Insects don’t like the smell of the garlic, and will stay off of your plants if you practice this simple technique of organic growing.

When should I harvest my zucchini?
The best time to pick your zucchini is when they are between 4″ and 6″ in length. They will be very tender and should be used immediately in your best pastas, soups, or vegetable dishes. If you like, you can select a couple of your growing zucchini and let them get very large. Despite being tougher, a couple of large zucchinis can then be used to make stuffed baked squash - very tasty!

Zucchini and other summer squash are truly a summer treat. Once the harvesting time for your zucchini is over, you’ll have to wait until next year to enjoy truly fresh, organic zucchini. They are a delicate vegetable and don’t keep well, so don’t plan on storing some in your refrigerator for use in the coming weeks. Enjoy your zucchini fresh and delicious in the summer growing season, and then plan on growing your winter squash as the fall begins.

Under Organic Gardening