Garden Q&A: Don't plant zucchini deeply; give it light (2024)
I grew zucchini plants from seed, and they are very healthy but kind of tall and lanky. Can I plant them deeply, like you can tomatoes?
Zucchini is a member of the squash family. If you plant them more deeply, they will not grow roots like tomato plants will. Instead, they will probably rot below the soil line.
Your seedlings were stretching for light. Growing seeds indoors requires an artificial light. To keep them growing compactly, plants need 14 hours of light. It would be hard to get that many hours of light at a window before June.
Most gardeners use regular fluorescent bulbs for seedlings. If you use a two-bulb fixture, using one warm light bulb and one cool light bulb, it will provide the full light spectrum for the plants and closely imitate nature.
The artificial light must be very close to the plants. 3 to 6 inches above the plants will keep the leaves flooded with light. Having your light on an adjustable chain makes it easy to move the light as the plants grow taller.
Growing them under light makes seedlings grow faster and stay healthier in an artificial home environment.
Your lanky zucchini will be fine. You may find the longer stem gets a little woody, but it won't cause any problems. Remember to watch the stem for signs of borers, one of the main pests of squash family plants.
I planted carrots and they haven't come up. They were new seeds. Do you think they might have been defective seeds?
It's more likely a problem with the weather. Carrots grow best at temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees, and we've seen precious little of that so far this year.
Resow them. Make sure you just barely cover the seed. Moisten the soil gently to ensure you don't wash the seeds away.
Then cover the seeds with a piece of cardboard or wood. This will help the soil surface to stay evenly moist.
Make sure you thin the seedlings while they are still small. This is always hard for gardeners to do, since the seedlings you pull are wasted. You can try transplanting them, but they are very delicate, and few will survive. Still, the thinning is necessary to ensure the carrots have enough room to grow and expand.
Becky Wern is a master gardener with the Duval County Extension Service and the University of Florida/IFAS.
The Cucurbitaceae (/kjuːˌkɜːrbɪˈteɪsiːˌiː/), also called cucurbits or the gourd family, are a plant family consisting of about 965 species in 101 genera. Those most important to humans are the following: Cucurbita – squash, pumpkin, zucchini or courgette, some gourds.
. If you plant them more deeply, they will not grow roots like tomato plants will. Instead, they will probably rot below the soil line. Your seedlings were stretching for light.
When the soil has warmed up in your planting beds, plant seeds one-half inch deep, 3 to 4 inches apart, in rows that are 2 to 3 feet apart. Thin plants so that they are spaced 6 to 8 inches apart once they are 4 to 5 inches tall.
Six to eight hours of full sun is the magic number, but keep an eye out for the midday sun's intensity. Young plants crave the morning sun, while mature squash can handle more direct exposure. Remember, it's all about balance.
Zucchini needs about six to eight hours of full sun and consistently moist, fertilized soil. Here are five tips to help you get a more reliable harvest throughout the growing season from your zucchini plants.
You may want to experiment with different companion crops until you find the perfect combination to fit your personal tastes and growing conditions. Avoid planting zucchini and summer squash with all other vining plants which include cucumbers and sweet potatoes as well as pumpkins, winter squashes, and melons.
Plant seeds an inch deep, 4 to 5 seeds per hill. If you're planting in rows, add 2 to 3 seeds per hole and 36 inches apart. If planting in hills, thin to 2 to 3 plants per hill once seedlings emerge.
Most leggy vegetable transplants can be planted much deeper than their original growing depth with no adverse effects. As a matter of fact, most will benefit from deeper planting even if they are not spindly or leggy.
Yes, and yes! Coffee beans are rich in minerals such as magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium. Phosphorus and potassium improve yields, and nitrogen is involved in photosynthesis, which helps plants grow faster. Ground coffee is excellent for both house and garden plants.
Summer squash prefers consistently moist soil but not soggy. One inch of water per week should suffice, but water more often if the weather is particularly hot and dry. Well-draining soil is a must—if it water pools and remains stagnant around the roots, they will start to rot.
They prefer a full sun position during Spring and Autumn for warmer climates. Cooler climates can grow zucchini in full sun during Summer, but for warmer climates grow zucchini in a protected area in semi-shade from the hottest temperatures. In the tropics grow zucchini from late Autumn to early Spring.
Zucchini and tomatoes can be grown as close neighbors and will make satisfactory companion plants. Both vegetables thrive in the same environmental conditions, so a garden plot that is ideal for one plant is therefore ideal for the other. They both need a location with full sun and benefit from nutrient-rich soil.
Zucchini can offer some shade and ground cover for peppers and the two crops grow well together. Peppers do not add any specific benefit for zucchini, but you can grow both together and have a good crop of both.
A zucchini plant takes approximately 45 and 55 days to start flowering, after which you'll notice the fruit start to grow. Zucchini plants thrive in loose, fertile, and well-drained soil; note that planting zucchini in small hills or mounds is also important for success.
Squash have long taproots, but the rest of their roots are shallow. A 3- to 4-inch layer of organic mulch, such as compost, helps retain soil moisture, protect shallow roots, and keep dirt and water from splashing up.
To thrive, zucchinis need rich, warm, well-draining soil in full sun. Ideally, the soil has a slightly acidic pH between 5.8 and 6.8. Raised beds are a common way to ensure adequate drainage, as zucchini plants hate wet feet.
Introduction: My name is Kelle Weber, I am a magnificent, enchanting, fair, joyous, light, determined, joyous person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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