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When to plant zucchini
Plant zucchini 1–3 weeks after the last spring frost. Wait until the soil is at least 65°F. That works out to zone 5b (mid May to late May), zone 7a (late April to early May) and zone 9a (early March to late March).
Zucchini planting dates by zone
| Zone | Plant outdoors | zucchini ready from |
|---|---|---|
| 4a | May 22 – Jun 5 | Jul 13 |
| 4b | May 20 – Jun 3 | Jul 11 |
| 5a | May 18 – Jun 1 | Jul 9 |
| 5b | May 12 – May 26 | Jul 3 |
| 6a | May 7 – May 21 | Jun 28 |
| 6b | May 1 – May 15 | Jun 22 |
| 7a | Apr 22 – May 6 | Jun 13 |
| 7b | Apr 13 – Apr 27 | Jun 4 |
| 8a | Apr 3 – Apr 17 | May 25 |
| 8b | Mar 23 – Apr 6 | May 14 |
| 9a | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Apr 30 |
| 9b | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | Apr 4 |
How to plant zucchini
| Plant as | seeds outdoors |
|---|---|
| Soil temperature | 65°F or warmer |
| Depth | 1 in |
| Spacing | 24–36 in |
| Light | Full sun |
| Time to harvest | 45–60 days |
Two or three plants feed a family.
A second sowing in early summer replaces plants lost to squash vine borers.
Poor fruit set early in the season is normal: the first flowers are mostly male.
When to harvest zucchini
Pick at 6–8 inches long; daily picking keeps plants producing.
Exact dates for your town: planting calendar · frost dates by state.
More vegetables to plant
Tomatoes · Bell peppers · Potatoes · Pumpkins · Cucumbers · Okra · Watermelon · Green beans