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Cucurbita pepo 'Zucchini'
Zucchini
| Whether for jack-o-lanterns or pies, pumpkins are a sure sign that fall has arrived. Along with the large, traditional, vining pumpkins, consider growing 2 to 3 inch baby pumpkins, or bush types with 10-inch-wide fruit each weighing 5 to 7 pounds. White pumpkin varieties are also available. Sow seed mid to late spring in full sun or light shade. Grow 2 to 3 vining pumpkins on 4-inch-high, flat-topped hills, filled with compost and manure, 6 to 8 feet apart. For each person, plant 1 to 2 hills. Plant bush pumpkins in rows 2 to 3 feet apart. Avoid overhead watering to prevent mildew. To grow large pumpkins, remove new flowers after first fruits begin developing. Exhibition-sized pumpkins, some which reach more than 300 pounds, grow 1 fruit per vine. Need plenty of continuous moisture. Harvest in fall, 3 to 4 months after planting, when skin is hard and leave a short bit of stem. Stores well for a long time in a dry, warm place. |
Popular and prolific producer, varieties include glossy green, golden, gray, or dark green fruits. Grow winter-producing types in mild winter areas. Forms mounding bushes, 3 to 4 feet wide. Pick when 6 to 8 inches long or when no new fruit appears.
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Attributes - Cucurbita pepo 'Zucchini'
Plant Type: Vegetable
Height: 2 ft. to 3 ft.
Width: 4 ft.
Sunlight: Full Sun
Notes: Edible. Susceptible to Aphids, Beetles, Powdery Mildew, Spider Mites.
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Related Plants
Cucurbita pepo 'Trick or Treat', Cucurbita pepo 'Straightneck'
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