Zucchini
Cucurbita pepo
Vegetables Difficulty: Easy
📖 About this plant
An incredibly productive summer squash producing cylindrical green or yellow fruits harvested when immature (15-20 cm). Zucchini grows so abundantly that gardeners often have surplus to share. The fruits, flowers, and even leaves are edible. Rich in vitamins A and C, potassium, and fiber. Best harvested small for tender texture.
🧑🌾 Care requirements
☀️
Light
Full sun (6-8 hrs)
💧
Water
Every 2-3 days
💨
Humidity
Moderate (50-65%)
🌡️
Temperature
18-30°C
🪴
Soil
Well-draining, fertile loam rich in organic matter; pH 5.5-7.0
🧪
Fertilizer
Balanced fertilizer at planting; side-dress with compost or balanced fertilizer when fruits begin to set
🌐 Common Names
HI
Hindi
जुच्चिनी
BN
Bengali
জুকিনি
MR
Marathi
झुक्किनी
TE
Telugu
జుక్కిని
TA
Tamil
சுக்கினி
GU
Gujarati
ઝુક્કિની
UR
Urdu
جucchini
KN
Kannada
ಜುಕ್ಕಿನಿ
OR
Odia
ଜୁକିନି
ML
Malayalam
സുക്കിനി
PA
Punjabi
ਜੁਕੀਨੀ
AS
Assamese
জুকিনী
📋 Plant facts
- 🌍 Origin
- Central America, Mexico
- 📏 Max height
- Vining types spread 1-2 m; bush types 45-90 cm
- 📐 Spread
- 60-120 cm
- 🕰️ Bloom time
- Summer
- 🎨 Bloom color
- Yellow, Orange
- 🍃 Foliage color
- Green
- ⏳ Lifespan
- Annual
- 📈 Growth rate
- Fast
- ☠️ Toxicity
- Non-toxic edible fruits, flowers, and seeds. Bitter zucchini may contain cucurbitacin — discard if extremely bitter
- 🌱 Propagation
- Direct sow seeds 2.5 cm deep after last frost when soil reaches 21°C; sow in hills of 2-3 seeds, thin to strongest seedling; space 60-90 cm apart
🛡️ Health & Safety
🐾 Pet safe
✅ Non-toxic
Non-toxic edible fruits, flowers, and seeds. Bitter zucchini may contain cucurbitacin — discard if extremely bitter
Common issues
- Powdery mildew on leaves in humid conditions
- Squash vine borer larvae in stems
- Blossom end rot from calcium deficiency or uneven watering
💡 Care tips
- Extremely prolific producer harvest daily at peak season
- Pick fruits small at 6-8 inches for the best flavor and texture
- Compact bush varieties work well in containers
- Companion plant with nasturtiums to deter squash bugs
🪴 Add to My Plants
One click — added instantly. Watering every 3 days, fertilizing every 30 days.
