Two factors are of great importance for good zucchini growth - warmth and sun. Both can be used even better if the zucchini is sown in the cold frame. A positive side effect is the earlier zucchini harvest.
When and how do you sow zucchini in the cold frame?
Sowing zucchini in the cold frame begins at the beginning of April. For optimal growth, place 3-4 seeds per planting hole, about 3 cm deep in well-insulated soil. After emergence, weaker seedlings are removed and the strongest plants are further cultivated.
Both can be used even better if the zucchini is sown in the cold frame. A positive side effect is the earlier zucchini harvest.
Preparing the cold frame
If the cold frame is placed in a sunny location, the floor must be well insulated. To do this, you spread manure on a layer of leaves and cover the whole thing with leaves and approx. 20 cm of soil. This creates a fermentation process that heats up the soil in the cold frame.
Sowing
Zucchini seeds can start at the beginning of April. Place 3 - 4 seeds about 3 cm deep in each planting hole and cover them with soil. Don't forget to water. After about a week the first seedlings will appear.
If several seeds have sprouted in one place, the plants must be pricked out. To do this, you pull the weaker ones out of the ground so that only the strongest plant remains in each spot.
Care in the cold frame
If the sun shines through the glass or foil of the cold frame, it is heated like a greenhouse. At the same time, the covers act as wind protection. To ensure that the cold frame is well ventilated, you should open the lid regularly.
Other care measures include:
- If the temperature is warm, leave the lid open for a longer period of time
- but definitely close in the evening
- cover with bubble wrap to protect against frost
- If there is too much sunlight, shade with dark foil
- water regularly
- Protect plants from snails
Does the zucchini stay in the cold frame or is it better to plant it out?
If you don't need the cold frame to grow other plants, you can leave your zucchini plant standing. It is important that the plants can spread well even in the cold frame. After all, they require a space of one to two square meters per plant.
If you can no longer use the cold frame, the young plants are planted in a sunny location in the vegetable or flower bed. The time to plant out is from mid-May. You can protect the plants from possible night frosts with garden fleece (€6.00 at Amazon) or a little hat.
Tips & Tricks
You can build a cold frame yourself from a wooden structure that is slanted towards the front and transparent film. It is important to have a transparent lid that allows sunlight in and, when opened, provides fresh air.
