The zucchini is an annual plant and must be grown from seeds every year. Then it's time to get seeds and plant pots to grow, sow the seeds, prick out and care for them until the zucchini can be planted out.
How do I successfully grow zucchini plants from seeds?
To successfully grow zucchini, you need zucchini seeds, suitable plant pots, sufficient light and heat, and regular watering. Start sowing at the end of April and plant the zucchini outdoors after the ice saints in May.
Get seeds
Zucchini seeds are available at garden centers or via online shipping. The range of varieties is large. You can choose between green or yellow zucchini, oblong or round fruits.
Prepare pots
You can use special growing pots or simple flower pots to grow zucchini. They should be at least 9 – 10 cm tall as the plants grow quickly. They are filled with potting soil or commercial potting soil.
It starts at the end of April
The end of April is a good time to start growing zucchini plants. Depending on the variety, the seeds take about a week to germinate. The plants grow quickly and can be placed outdoors after a total of 3 weeks.
Pre-germination is possible, but not necessary
Zucchini seeds do not need to be pre-germinated. If you still want to do it, soak the seeds in lukewarm water for a few hours.
This is how sowing works
- Put 2 seeds in each pot
- cover with approx. 2 cm of soil
- pour on
On the windowsill
Zucchini seeds need light to germinate. It doesn’t necessarily have to be the greenhouse in the garden or the indoor greenhouse. A place on the bright windowsill is well suited.
Don’t forget to keep moist
The soil in the cultivation container must always be moist. Soil that is too wet can easily lead tomould formation. Instead of watering, you can moisten the soil with a spray bottle.
Pricking out plants
The two seeds usually produce two seedlings. The weaker of the seedlings is removed so that the stronger one can grow better.
Light, water and heat
the young seedlings now need to grow into stately plants. Temperatures around 20°C are ideal. The plants tolerate short trips outside in the sun well. In the evening we go back to the windowsill.
Out into the open after the Ice Saints
Ideally, planting takes place after the Ice Saints in May, as the zucchini is sensitive to frost. This also applies if you want to sow the zucchini directly into the bed.
