Zucchini is a backyard favorite for a reason! But instead of grabbing those pricey nursery starts this year, why not try starting them yourself from seed? It’s super easy, requires very little gear, and—best of all—it gives you a massive head start on your summer harvest.
Sowing Your Seeds
Zucchini are total sun-worshippers and hate the cold. If you’re planting directly in the garden, you have to wait until at least mid-May (after the last frost). However, if you start them indoors, you can get a jump on the season in mid-April.
Grab an 8-10 cm (about 3-4 inch) pot and fill it with seed-starting mix. Poke a hole about an inch deep and drop in your seed. Pro tip: Plant two seeds per pot just to be safe. If they both sprout, simply snip the smaller one with scissors. This ensures you aren’t left with empty pots!
Location and Light
While your babies are growing, they need a spot that’s warm and bright. Light is the most important factor here—without enough of it, your plants will get “leggy” (tall, thin, and weak).
If you notice your seedlings leaning toward the window, just give the pots a turn every day. Once the weather warms up in late April, you can let your plants spend some time outside during the day.
This process is called “hardening off.” It toughens them up for the real world! Just be careful not to put them in direct, scorching sunlight right away, or they’ll get a “sunburn.” Start with a shady, sheltered spot and gradually increase their outdoor time.
Give Them Some Elbow Room
Before you go planting a whole field of zucchini, remember that these plants are space hogs! One plant needs about a square yard of space to thrive. You should also consider how much squash you can actually eat. A single healthy plant will produce a new zucchini every two or three days. For a small household of two or three people, one plant is usually plenty!
Moving Day: Planting Out
By mid-May, your seedlings should have a great root system and be ready for their forever home. Once the threat of frost has passed, it’s moving day!
If you’re planting in the garden, choose a sunny spot with rich soil. Zucchini love nutrients, so make sure the bed is well-fertilized. No garden? No problem! You can grow zucchini in large containers, just keep in mind they’ll need more frequent watering and a bit more fertilizer to stay happy.
- Dig a hole slightly larger than the root ball.
- Toss in a handful of compost or organic fertilizer.
- Carefully remove the plant from its pot and set it in the hole.
- Cover with soil, but make sure the plant isn’t buried deeper than it was in the pot.
- Press the soil down firmly and give it a good soak. Done!
Quick tip: If you are planting more than one, space them about 3 to 6 feet apart so they have room to breathe.
Why bother starting your own?
Starting your own seeds means stronger plants and a much earlier harvest. If you wait to sow seeds directly in the ground in May, you won’t be eating zucchini until mid-July. By starting indoors, you’ll be firing up the grill about four weeks sooner!
Plus, it’s the best way to try out cool heirloom varieties you won’t find at the big-box stores. Different colors and shapes often mean different flavors! There’s also a special kind of pride that comes from seeing a plant go from a tiny seed to a delicious meal on your table.
