GROWING GUIDE FOR ZUCCHINI GREEN LONG SEEDS
PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS
Sow 3 seeds in one spot at a distance of 1 inch. Maintain a distance of 18 inches to 24 inches between plants. If you are growing multiple rows of zucchini, keep a distance of at least 36” between each row. Avoid overhead watering since the wet leaves will attract diseases like Mildew. Only water the soil around the plant.
As the plant grows, remove any withered fruits. You can use these to make compost for your zucchini plants. One well-grown zucchini plant can easily produce fruits to feed an average family of 4.
GROWING REQUIREMENTS
PESTS & DISEASES
Pests: Cutworms, Cucumber Beetles, Squash Bugs, Vine Borers, Spider Mites, Aphids, White Flies. Diseases: Powdery Mildew, Bacterial Wilt, Downy Mildew, Yellow Mosaic Virus, Botrytis Blight. Watering the plants in the morning helps to avoid fungal diseases. Companion plants significantly reduce incoming pests on your crops. Watering down the plants with a strong stream of water followed by an application of diluted neem or castor oil on the pest-affected parts of the plant will help to get rid of them.
SOIL
Compost rich, well-drained loamy soil with a pH level of 6.0 to 7.5.
SPOT
Full sun; at least 6-8 hours of sunlight in a day. For transplants, start the seeds indoors in late April or May.
TEMPERATURE
The ideal germination temperature for Zucchinis is usually between 15°C to 21°C.
WATERING
Make sure to keep the soil evenly moist at all times. Zucchini plants can thrive in just 1” of water in a week. However, the crucial time to water your plants would be when they are in the bud-development stage and flowering.
HOW TO HARVEST
Zucchini should be harvested when they are young and tender, about 6 inches long, before their rinds start to become hard. Use a sharp knife to cut the zucchini fruits from the plants. Zucchini leaves are prickly. Be careful while cutting the fruits. You can wear gloves to protect your hands.
Zucchini can grow 1-2 inches in a day during harvest time. So, check the progress every day. Harvest zucchini regularly to encourage constant production of produce. If you are planning to use the zucchinis from your garden at a later time then make sure you do not wash them before storing. Simply put them in a paper bag with one end open to allow circulation. The zucchinis will remain fresh for about 1 to 2 weeks.
