Zucchini Growing Tips For 2023

Zucchinis Are Monster Plants! Both in literal size and in the epic harvests they provide. 90% of the time, they don't need anything from us to grow and produce. But, for those times when issues do arise, this makes it even more frustrating.
In today's video, we'll go over all my growing tips for our favorite summer squash, ensuring that we have a large, more reliable, and more consistent harvest this year!
Hey, for those that don't know, the website is now live! Check it out here, there's going to be some exciting new things happening!: theripetomatofarms.ca/
2023 is the Year of the Garden! We deserve it after the last little while, and growing our own food and self sufficiency is just the reward we need to get back on track!
For more information on all your gardening questions, check out my other videos!:
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DIY Seed Starting Soil: • DIY Seed Starting Soil...
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Guide To Winterizing Your Strawberries: • Winterizing Your Straw...
Growing Container Garlic: • Growing Garlic In Cont...
Planting Strawberries: • Planting Strawberries ...
How To Grow Potatoes - The Definitive Guide: • How To Grow Potatoes -...
Winter Composting Tips: • Tips For Winter Compos...
Harvesting Garlic: • Harvesting Your Garlic...
Fertilizing Peppers: • Fertilizing Your Peppe...
DIY Safe and Natural Aphid Spray: • DIY Natural Aphid And ...
Garlic Spacing Experiment: • Garlic Spacing Experiment
How To Grow Strawberries!: • How To Grow Strawberri...
Fertilizing Strawberries: • Fertilizing Strawberry...
How To Grow Garlic: • How To Grow Garlic - T...
Baking Soda Aphid and Insect Spray: • Baking Soda Pesticide ...
6 Benefits Of Hydrogen Peroxide!: • 6 Benefits Of Hydrogen...
Pruning Pepper Plants Experiment!: • Don't Prune Your Peppers!
Direct Seeding vs Starter Plant: • Direct Seeding Vs Star...
100% Germination?: • Seed Germination - 5 R...
Seed Starting Soil: • How To Make Your Own S...
Seed Starting 101, The Basics!: • How To Start Vegetable...
Starting Tomato Seeds: • How To Grow Tomatoes P...
Starting Pepper Seeds: • Growing Peppers Part 1...
Starting Cucumber Seeds: • Video
Starting Zucchini Seeds: • Growing Zucchini Part ...
Starting Corn Seeds: • Growing Corn - Part 1 ...
Starting Pumpkin Seeds: • How To Grow Pumpkins -...
DIY Ultimate Potting Mix: • Make Your Own Potting ...
If you're just starting out gardening in 2023, please check out my Amazon Affiliate links below to get the right tools for the job! It doesn't cost you a cent, but this channel receives a small incentive for any items purchase through Amazon. Happy Gardening!
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#zucchini #squash #gardening

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

If you're just starting out gardening in 2023, please check out my Amazon Affiliate links below to get the right tools for the job! It doesn't cost you a cent, but this channel receives a small incentive for any items purchase through Amazon. Happy Gardening! Seedling Trays! Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3xiKAgi Amazon USA: amzn.to/3DWD2DR Amazon UK: amzn.to/3RRlrCQ pH/Water/Light Meter Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3yafmrV Amazon USA: amzn.to/3OKRW30 Amazon UK: amzn.to/3nvEIM4 Composting Tumbler! Amazon Canada: amzn.to/39CgtYw Amazon USA: amzn.to/39Dha49 Amazon UK: amzn.to/3yLsKVf Handy 12-piece Garden Tool Set!: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3jsNIyk Amazon USA: amzn.to/2YZhFwx Amazon UK: amzn.to/3qapNql Hand Pruners: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/2YSIFxP Amazon USA: amzn.to/3q3Oftq Amazon UK: amzn.to/2YR3Xf8 Watering Can: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/39U4nIc Amazon USA: amzn.to/2YR3p94 Amazon UK: amzn.to/3oX7hAa Spray Gun: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/3aBxijm Amazon USA: amzn.to/3aL7UHS Amazon UK: amzn.to/3ruol1Z Gardening Gloves: Amazon Canada: amzn.to/2Lt6ZDx Amazon USA: amzn.to/3tzJ32t Amazon UK: amzn.to/3jpf1cU

[@jimmcdowell9017]

Spot on, as usual. Jeff, Im 74 and too old to learn, but I still watch your videos. Funny, I know more now than yesterday. Never too old to learn. Make another video, I’ll be even wiser. Push on young man, push on.

[@kimmileusnic3249]

Thank you for the tips. I love to learn something new everyday.

[@johnanderson3405]

Thanks so very much Jeff! Your timing couldn’t be better. You’ve helped me with your knowledge more than any other gardening channel. ❤

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

That's great to hear john! Best of luck this year! 🙂

[@K-Zone]

Woah, 65 degrees? If I waited that long it'd be the middle of June! I always put mine out at 45 degrees and they take off like rockets.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Yup, keep doing what works for you and your area.

[@rossvogt4884]

My shure fire method for fertilizing my zucchini is digging a hole to do a trench conpost, then building a pile of dirt about a foot hight, plant my seeds, then when the zucchini gets bigger the roots hit the compost and the plant explodes in growth, to the point where my neighbors, coworkers and family hate me with the mountain of fuit that i pawn off on them 😆 😅

[@tracysullivan174]

Thank You So Very Much ! I Am Heading To My Garden Right Now To Put Your Tips To Great Use. I Was Searching If I Should Prune Or Not And There You Were With The Info I So Needed!

[@theukyankee]

We're fortunate in the UK to have special varieties that don't need 18C at night (or we might never plant courgette) - it's currently going down to 10c at night right now and my zucs are still growing strong.

[@TDAEON]

Perfect timing! Have 3 black beauties and a cozelle. Trying to trellis them but they are too small yet. This video is a great help. First time growing these so im hoping it goes well n there is a good harvest... Love mexican rice zuchinni boats (topped with pepper jack cheese, pico de gallo n fresh guacamole). Nom nom Thank you!!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

That's awesome, I hope you get a bountiful harvest this summer!

[@donnakacz6460]

Hi Jeff. I really needed this info. My zucchini, well ,it's growing pretty good. In fabric containers. And only one plant. I did have two. While I was in hospital with the stroke. Most of my plants were drowned. I saved a few. So, is it to late to start another zucchini now? I think I'll just go ahead and start another today. But for now. I am on break. At least for 20 more minures. Thanks for this info. I really appreciate all of your help. Take care❤

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey donna, happy to hear you're out and on the mend! Yes, definitely still time to start another one! Best of luck! 🙂

[@ugottabkidding...9942]

Hi Donna! I'm sorry to hear about your misfortune, but it sounds like you have determination, and a great attitude! 🥰 I don't know where you live, but I'm in northern BC. We have been having a spectacular growing year, and I'm going out this evening to plant some zucchini seeds too! Gardening of any kind is the best therapy that anyone can do for themselves, so fill your boots Girl! ...Or whatever containers you have!! 😉😂 My best wishes for your recovery, ❤

[@chanbru]

Thanks for the helpful tips. Happy growing season!

[@willc4922]

Keep the hits coming Jeff great stuff

[@michaelmarchione3408]

A great how-to Jeff! There was a couple of tips, like trimming I've never done. Thanks for the video. Take care!

[@gosia3032]

Awesome information ! Thank you

[@rejoiceazu-benson9069]

Thanks for the information

[@urbanbackyardcontainergardenin]

Awesome knowledge. Thanks for sharing💚👨🏿‍🌾💚👨🏿‍🌾

[@coreycurnew3035]

Great video. Great presentation and tips! Thank you for sharing.

[@FrozEnbyWolf150]

I have learned something interesting about zucchini with regards to saving the seeds, which is that if you let a gourd grow to maturity, you can store it on the shelf for several months just like a winter squash. It will even turn orange in the process. You can cut it open and scrape the seeds out of the hollow, and the rest of the gourd is still edible if cooked. Regardless, I've decided not to grow them this year due to squash vine borers. All of my C. pepo cultivars, like zucchini, pumpkins, and delicata, get destroyed every year. It just takes too many resources to keep the borer moths off them, and we've had Indian summers for the past two years, extending the time the borers are active.

[@NannaCarlstedt2]

Thank´s for sharing your experiences!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers, thanks for watching!

[@JanMGB]

THANK YOU so much for all the very detailed information. I have been searching all the how's and why's. This is the best !!! 😃

[@hermann.lohann]

It is winter here in South Africa but I am planning to plant some Zucchinis this spring.

[@sgdavis8888]

Great tips!

[@joycesmith1270]

Thanks for the information.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers, thanks for watching!

[@fishingwithfilitsa]

Thanks, very nice

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks! 🙂

[@itowmyhome797]

Thank you

[@mamabearthrives7815]

I think the other day you had a garden quickie on some tips for zucchini 👏 I finally planted mine yesterday and topped it off with some liquid seaweed 💪😎crossing fingers! thanks for the tips!! By the way my carrots are still thriving I’ve used them several times already in recipes!! 💪🍻🌱☀️💓

[@waynesell3681]

Really like your recap!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Wayne.. I find they really do help

[@lindarogers23]

Awesome information!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks linda! :-)

[@glomontero6011]

Im dealing with this problem, so thanks for ur help.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Hey, hope it helps!

[@elizabethcoates3024]

Great video Jeff.😊

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Thanks Elizabeth!!

[@cuznclive2236]

Still waiting for bees and other beneficials here in southern VT; we've had nothing but rain throughout most of spring to now, with another week of rain coming! While trimming them yesterday, per your guidance, I noticed pollination problems. Guessing I'm going to learn how to pollinate. Nothing like a farmer's/gardener's shadow to produce a desired result. Thank you!

[@kristin143]

I love em zucchini! thanks for d video Jeff, I grow em last year and they get ginormous on d leaves! I grow one big one and I made zucchini bread! hubby & my daughter enjoyed it ...

[@dereklonewolf9011]

Thank you sir for you very informative video, good news last year I had a bee colony move onto my property & my vegetables thrived immensely. The queen set up behind my BBQ tool box on my patio , I have had them walk across my hand from 1 flower to another no worries . My zucchini 's the family & neighbours shared so this year am going t double the crop. 75+ 🍁hunter Yorkshire expat .

[@stephaniem8620]

❤😢😢 thank You

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Cheers Stephanie, thanks for watching!

[@simplysimple7628]

Zucchini is by far our most favorite vegetable in our garden. We can eat it every single night if possible. Sautéed, baked, grilled, stir fried, whatever. So versatile and delicious. Along with cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, cabbages, green beans, etc. Those are the ones we eat the most so I grow them often and more plentiful. Also alot of lettuces, pak choi. So much better tasting when grown in your own garden and picked fresh. No comparison to store bought.

[@debiegordon3787]

I have a hard time w ZUCC in FL... but i keep trying!! I liv eatting Zucc noodles w Bertoli Vodka Sauce...easy & yummy😋

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I hear you Debi.... Do you try growing it in your "winter" season?

[@emylytle7149]

Yesterday I was pruning my zucchini and I freaking snipped the base 🤦🏻‍♀️😡I thought it was the stem, Will it still grow if I leave it Jeff, thanks again for this great video 👍😊👩‍🌾🥹 take care

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Oh shoot, no way! I've never actually done that, but I can't see the plant recovering..... let us know what happens emy!

[@yogajourney1345]

yayyy!!!!❤❤🙌🙌🙏🙏🙏

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

🙂

[@Joseph_Dredd]

We had such an awesome Courgette harvest 2 years ago that we are still working our way through the harvest in 2023!!! Stewtastic.

[@donnaz1961]

What was that balance fertilizer that you had in your hand that you used please and thank you 😊

[@m373x]

Dad, snails demolished my two and only young zucchini plants yesterday. Nothing is left.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Nooooo....the whole plants??

[@wendyburston3132]

I only have 3 strong pole beans growing out of 30 because of snails and pill bugs

[@m373x]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms the whole entire plants, I have a long growing season and will try again while protecting them better! Wish me luck!

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@m373x DANG, sorry to hear that! Ok, best of luck with the new ones!

[@m373x]

Thank you, I learned a lot from you. Keep it up !

[@wildpuffalumps]

I’m growing in a tower garden, EVERYTHING except my zucchini is doing fantastic. I’ve got over 24 patio eggplants on one plant. My problem is that I haven’t gotten a single female flower on either of my 2 zucchini plants. This system is indoors with 14 hours of lights and it is an Aeroponic system that runs water and nutrients over the roots every 45 minutes for 1 minute. Now my home is air conditioned could it be too cool for the zucchini to make female flowers? I keep the house 66-70*F. As I said everything else is producing like crazy, I’ve got tomatoes and peppers and eggplant galore as well as lettuces and strawberries it’s only the zucchini giving me trouble. TIA

[@michaelacorbett8610]

What do you mulch with? I’ve VERY new to gardening.

[@emylytle5409]

I think I won’t have any zucchini this year or yellow one cuz my vegetables are in pots, not doing well. I think next year I will plant it in my raised bed not in pots. Thanks Jeff 😊👩‍🌾 I had a good harvest of peas and lettuce so I’m going to try again. Waiting for my lemon drop watermelon, so excited. Last year I harvested 6-7 in two plants 😊👩‍🌾🍉 see you next time

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Oh shoot Emy, no way to resurrect them? Did they get too wet?

[@emylytle5409]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms they are in pots I’ think maybe, I thought they need more water 🙄🤦🏻‍♀️ so I leave them to drain but still not growing 🤷🏼‍♀️😔👩‍🌾 what should I do? Thanks Jeff

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

@@emylytle5409 could very well not be enough soil to grow properly.... Or at least not enough good soil

[@richardarsulowicz2644]

How big of a pot? I'm doing one I'm a 20 gallon pot and it's doing quite well

[@lynnlovessoil]

Planted two lemon squash for the first time this year and I was surprised that it produced female flowers first. Of course those fruit died and they have some male flowers now. Fingers crossed I get fruit. I have to inject BT every 3 days to keep the squash vine borer at bay. I like to use a balanced granular at planting and a bloom liquid fertilizer when flowering starts.

[@cryssbou7864]

mu zucs have done horrible this year.. the cucumber bugs were bad earlier this summer.. so I've started some more to plant into grow bags and put in my greenhouse and high tunnel

[@janetting5940]

Thank you for the tips on zucchini. First time planting zucchini and so far so good. I only see female flowers, the male flowers are still not out. My second zucchini plant is still small so no flowers yet.

[@brandyjaques6865]

I have plenty of female zuchini yellow fordhook bush style growing, but need male flowers to pollinate? None of my other cucurbits have male flowers yet either. Any advice?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

That's strange brandy, I always find the male flowers to pop out first. You could try a dose of phosphorus to see if that stimulates extra flowering.... let us know how it goes!

[@batzzz2044]

If it isn't growing them vertically we are gonna tussel lol. Seriously though thanks for your work.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Ha ha ha...I hear ya!

[@jennis2pennies748]

Do these tips go for all squashes? Specifically the feeding guidelines? I’m a first year grower and my zucchini and yellow squash are on the struggle bus.

[@raystupka3823]

I have a Commander Zuccinni growing in a container.. At the beginning had some issues with plant and had to cut bunch of leaves back.. However, there was a few pieces of fruit on it.. That fruit is still there and has grown a little but not much.. Now there are lots of new fruits coming in. Should I cut off those original couple fruits that are growing so slowly? Thanks!

[@donnakacz6460]

Hey,Jeff. I had to come back to this one. Mine are sad. I was so excited and bam out of nowhere. 3 of my 5 well, I am not sure. I did remove the leaves, and I don't see bugs. I water every morning. But their droopy and turning yellow. I'm afraid to keep cutting the yellowing leaves. And the baby fruits just fall off. I used a paint brush, a small one to pollinate. Maybe I did it too early. Or didn't do it right. They don't have that look of rot on the ends at all. They just fall off overnight. Do ya think maybe some varmint is coming off the hill? But nothing is chewed. It's frustrating. I'm trying and trying. But I haven't accomplished any king of Ripe fruit. I suppose there's a time to throw in the towel. It's just i enjoy it so much. Never really thought I would, but I do. Although my tomato plants look ok I think maybe I'll actually harvest some of those. But I want to grow something for the 1st time binn my life.. I'm getting up there. No, I am up there. So something has to give. Oh well, I'll shake it off. And keep trying. Thanks, Jeff. I think you're a good friend, not just the KZbin guy.! Take care, and God bless ❤

[@Newyosemitehomestead]

It’s me against our neighborhood rat. He ate one that was going to be the first of the season. I’ve got the next one up and a day away. It looks so good. Covered it to keep him away. That’s my zucchini 😂

[@HomeStudioBasics]

I have a super healthy plant, a few males and females. Has been mulched. I prune the lower leaves and generally keep it in tip-top shape. No pests either. I have watered I think twice with the Alaska Fish Emulsion when they were young, and then just recently gave it a showering of Tiger Bloom 2-8-4 after seeing the first flowers. My question is when do the female flowers generally open up?

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

I find mine open 5-8 days after they appear

[@HomeStudioBasics]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms How much sun do you get on average? I'm in an apartment and lucky to get 5 hrs. It just is what it is. I'm sure this is part of it. Got some tomatoes growing though! As for the Squash, a few females started growing rather large and I thought "Surely these flowers will open up. Nope. They have all died off. Also having trouble with the baby female cucumbers as they're all just kind of staying the same size. I'm going to remain patient with it because the plants as a whole are really doing well. Lots of males on the Squash. I'm training it up a thick tree branch. Anyways, thanks for your videos! I just watched the "10 gardening mistakes" one that you put out and really identify with the peppers being a bit behind. I suppose here in Raleigh NC I have the luxury of having a somewhat longer growing season, so I'm really looking for my peppers to blow up in the coming months. Last year I got a good harvest but they were mostly small. I've learned a lot this year so I'm looking for bigger fruits. Hopefully, this delayed harvest will happen with the Squash/Zuc too.

[@nidhimaheshwari1128]

Hey ,I am from India . I liked your video so much. I have so many male and female flowers on my zucchini but they are not blooming completely. I don't know what's wrong with them

[@soniamarshall9293]

Is it late to seed in july zone 8b ?

[@austin2842]

I planted my zucchini with copious amounts of alfalfa pellets. Thanks to the growth hormone present in that stuff, I now have mutant limbs shooting off everywhere. I keep cutting them off but I'm losing the fight against this kraken.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Oh man...I can't only imagine! The plants must be going nuts with that stuff!!

[@1vtmom966]

You mention that it's important to grow more than one plant; is it necessary when planting different types like winter, yellow, butternut away from each other?

[@isabelleblain6263]

I had 3 fruits this summer…. Earlier in the season my zucchini plants only had male flowers. Lately it’s only been female flowers. Can we save pollen from early male flowers and use it to pollinate female flowers weeks later? If so, how - fridge, freezer???

[@ssergeant9682]

even to hand pollinate you need female flowers to be pollinated. I don't seem to get any. you said you get both on the same plant. how do I know which is which.?

[@adora9551]

I see my mistake was planting only one zuccs as I had hard time hand pollinating unsynchronised flowers.

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Been there! Such a common issue, especially early in the season.

[@TheLiamSoamesy]

Hi my flowers on my courgettes aren't flowering together, the female part are small and don't open at all

[@paulsoutbackgardenaustrali7674]

I'd say...TOMATOES AND PUMPKIN ALSO BRO😒🤔😎

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Fer sure

[@ahamedalharbi9520]

Can zucchini grow in 18 cْ°?

[@jessicanunez2532]

My golden retriever keeps eating my zukkine leaves and pumpkin leaves what do I do ?

[@PolishEddie1992]

PLEASE HELP! I am thinking of putting some Wormwood plants in my garden to repel pests and bad insects, but won't it also repel honey bees and pollinators? That's what I'm afraid of

[@skinnyWHITEgoyim]

I have 25 zucchini planted and they are getting female blooms first. First time I have ever seen one get female blooms first, much less almost every single one. It's crazy

[@haydehabdolahian7691]

Can you please tell me why my zucchinis and cucumbers are full I mean lots lots flower but just couple fruit in the end of one or two flower shows? What is wrong ? I plant flower in my vegetable garden so I get bees 😢

[@TheRipeTomatoFarms]

Its usually pollination....could be timing of the flower availability rather than lack of pollinators.....I've also seen it be a water or nutrient issue as well.

[@haydehabdolahian7691]

@@TheRipeTomatoFarms I water the regularly Saturday and Wednesday but if it is too hot water them if needed ! They look pretty healthy and full of flower , I see flower with a little fruit on the ground 😏I thought maybe too much wind we had ! I am really disgusted with the whole zucchini and cucumbers growing 😡😡

[@naomi2646]

Texas heat is up to 113. I believe I'm done for this season. I have directed my attention to protecting the migration of the Canadian geese. Cities build lakes and ponds in city parks and make the perfect environment that the geese love. Unfortunately they overwhelmed the park and parks and wildlife will remove them by killing them. I have contacted every state official, city mayor , PETA, and the department of fish and wildlife. We have to stop building environments in town that attract them, in order to protect them. Wealthy neighborhoods look at them as a inconvenience and complain. I will continue to raise my voice to protect them.

[@Inpreesme]

Thank you