How to Grow and Care for Zucchini in Containers
Intro: Zucchini plants are hybrids with cucumbers. Growing zucchini in plant containers in kitchen gardens is easy, and your plants should produce great-tasting fruit quickly. There are a few zucchini varieties, but most are a dark green color. Some zucchini varieties are light green, yellow or orange. Because zucchini plants are large, choose a very large plant container that is at least 2 feet by 2 feet for one plant. If you crowd your zucchini plants, it will negatively affect the yield.
Check out this time-lapse video of a zucchini plant flowering.
Scientific Name: Cucurbita pepo hybrid
Plant Type: This plant is considered an annual vegetable, although the zucchini is technically a fruit.
Light: Full sun
Water: When it comes to watering your zucchini plants, provide well-draining potting soil that is constantly moist but never soggy.
Zone: The zucchini plant is a warm-weather crop.
Fertilizer: When you prepare the potting soil for planting, introduce compost or a slow-release fertilizer. Also add a slow-release fertilizer to your zucchini plants once a month for the rest of the growing season.
Pests and Diseases: Snails and slugs can be a common garden problem with zucchini plants. Powdery mildew is prevalent in crowded plants. Keep the zucchini leaves dry when watering, and cut off affected leaves.
Propagation: Sow zucchini seeds directly outside in the kitchen garden after the last frost has passed. Plant the seeds about three-fourths of an inch deep in the potting soil. You can also begin seeds indoors in March if you want to get started early. Zucchini seeds will germinate in about a week, give or take a couple of days. Thin zucchini seedlings by cutting weak seedlings (don’t pull the seedlings out) once two true leaves have formed. Fruit will not form without bees and other pollinators. Don’t use pesticides on your zucchini that will affect pollinators.
Misc. Info: Harvest your zucchini from the kitchen garden once they’re about 8 inches long and at least 1.5 inches thick. Don’t wait too long, or the zucchini fruit will dry out and not taste as good.
Zucchini blooms are also eaten, just like pumpkin flowers, and can be fried or eaten in a quesadilla. Unlike the cucumber, zucchini fruit is usually cooked. It can be cooked in many different ways. Use your zucchini within three days.
