What is the optimal time to plant zucchini?
Written by
Olivia Mitchell
Reviewed by
Prof. Samuel Fitzgerald, Ph.D.Zucchini should be planted at the proper time to ensure maximum success! To sprout properly, carrot seeds must be sown when the soil temperature is at least 60°F (15 °C). This is accomplished about a week or two after the last frost of spring in your own locality. If the ground is cold, the seeds cannot develop and really rot away instead of sprouting. I lost two plantings of squash from impatience.
Use simple methods to check soil temperatures accurately. Measure soil temperature by inserting a kitchen thermometer four inches into the ground in the morning only. Note plant signs of nature, such as dandelions setting flowers or maple tree leaves unfolding. Inquire about free soil test kits at a local USDA extension office. These methods will help you avoid costly planting mistakes.
Soil warming methods give you a vital head start. Spread black plastic mulch 2 weeks before planting, and it will raise the soil temperature 5-10 degrees F. and hasten growth. Solar heat will be trapped in cold frame boxes very effectively. By using these, northern gardeners will be able to match the harvest dates in the South.
Black Plastic Mulching
- Install 2 weeks pre-planting
- Raises temperature 5-10°F (3-6°C)
- Suppresses weeds naturally
Cloche Protection
- Use glass or plastic covers
- Protects seedlings from frost
- Remove daily for ventilation
Compost Heating
- Bury fresh manure 12" deep
- Generates biological warmth
- Wait 1 week before planting
To prolong the season, include succession planting in your plans. Start new seed every three weeks until midsummer. Choose such seeds as 'Tromboncino', which are tolerant of cooler weather, in the list of fall crops. With these practices, you will enjoy fresh zucchini for four to five months. My garden provides me with zucchini until the first snow, thanks to this system.
Read the full article: When to Plant Zucchini for a Bountiful Harvest
