Zucchini Care

Zucchini can be a great plant for beginning gardeners to use in their first few gardens. The reason for this is that the plant is relatively forgiving plant, and one that can take a fair amount of abuse and still produce a respectable harvest. To get the most out of your zucchini harvest, you need to know what the basics of zucchini care are.

• Where to plant your zucchini. To grow properly, your zucchini's will need two things in a location—plenty of water, and plenty of sun. Choose an area of your garden that will receive around six hours of direct sunlight each day, and also an area that will provide proper drainage for your plants. You do not want your garden to become a swamp, so ensure that there is a slight slope away from your garden to ensure that it will drain properly.
• Preparing to plant your zucchini. Prepare your garden bed by planning on two or three rows dedicated to the use of zucchini. Dig and till the soil to a depth of about a foot and a half, mixing your soil with fertilizer and potting soil. This will allow your zucchini to get the proper amount of nutrients. However, when you are planting the zucchini itself, only plant them down about three inches.
• When to plant your zucchini. If you are going to initially begin growing your zucchini outdoors, then you will need to wait till after the last frost of the year has come and gone. Frost can hurt, damage, or even kill your young zucchini, so don't plant it outdoors while there is still the chance that the frost can come around. If you plan on starting your plants indoors, and then transfer them outside later on, begin growing the plants one month (four weeks) prior to transferring them outside. You will know that it is time to transfer the plants when they begin to sprout.
• Caring for your zucchini. When watering your plants, you will need to ensure that you water them deeply, and regularly. The best way to ensure that you water them properly is through the use of drip or seep systems. If you don't have those, then make sure that you water the base of the plant directly, and avoid watering the leaves. Fertilizer is a great way to ensure that your plants will get all the nutrients that they need, but avoid using anything that contains fish, since it will have too much nitrogen. Too much nitrogen can create problems such as improper fruiting, delayed growth, and others.