Zucchini is one of the plants that I enjoy growing and tending to. They have become a permanent part of my kitchen table, and I intend to keep them that way. Just like growing cucumbers, zucchinis do not require a lot of work, but knowing the right spacing is information that a serious gardener should have.
Zucchini, also known as a courgette, can be grown in a container and is a heavy feeder. However, Zucchini plants typically need a lot of space because they are large and sprawling, and any mistake in spacing can result in a disease outbreak.
How Far Apart to Space Your Zucchini Plants
The first thing you should know about the zucchini is that it is a large plant that needs a lot of space. When planting your zucchini, it is a good idea to leave about 20 to 24 inches per plant. If you are sowing seeds into the ground, you can plant them closer at first; then, as they begin to get tall( about 2.5 cm), you can thin them out.
Now, if you are going to plant a zucchini seed directly into the garden ground, the appropriate spacing is 3-4 inches apart from each other. Remember that I said that once the seeds reach about 2.5 cm in height, you can begin to thin them. Thinning means removing parts of the plants, including flowers, fruits, shoots, and seedlings or young plants, to allow adequate space for the remaining plants to grow more efficiently.
This can be done using a knife or a shear. Resist the urge to pull the zucchini out of the ground because you may just be disturbing the root system of other growing zucchini.
If you are planting your zucchini indoors, you should get ready to take them out to the garden once a few sets of leaves start because the zucchini plant needs space. For zucchini seedlings, space them about 20 to 24 inches from each other in a row. If there is more than one row, then each row should be about 36 inches from the next row. Just like the cucumber plant, giving enough space between the rows will allow you to walk between them if needed.
If you don’t have so much room in your garden, the good news is that you can successfully grow your zucchini plant in individual pots. The container you choose to plant the zucchini is very important, and I suggest you choose a large container of at least 18 inches. Start by planting a few seeds in the pot and thin them out as they grow—Thin the zucchini plants until you are left with only the strongest one.
Where you place the pot is also of utmost importance. Like, tomatoes and cucumbers need sun, your zucchini plant needs sun too. Place the pot where the zucchini has been planted so it can receive at least six hours of sunlight daily. Remember that you have to water the zucchini plant in a pot more regularly than you would if it was planted in a garden bed. This is because pots tend to dry out easily.
The final tip you need to know on how to space a zucchini plant is to plant them in raised garden beds. If you use a raised garden bed, you don’t need to leave space for rows. The right spacing for zucchinis planted in raised beds is about 60 cm between each plant. When they become about 4 to 5 inches tall( essentially becoming seedlings), they should be spaced 6 to 8 inches apart.
How To Grow Your Zucchini Plant Vertically Using a Trellis
One of the advantages of growing a zucchini plant vertically is that it saves you space if you do not have space to spare in your garden. When you train your zucchini plants to learn how to grow up a trellis, you are maximizing your yield in a small area, and this would also mean that the vines will only be sprawled some over your garden.
If you choose to grow your zucchini plant vertically, the appropriate spacing is 18 inches between each plant. Once your zucchinis get to 8 inches, you can begin to train them to grow up a trellis. Here is how you can do it; gently guide the primary stem of the zucchini up the trellis, and secure it in place using a clip or fabric. As your baby grows ( try not to find it weird that I call the plants in my garden “baby” ), keep training it to grow upward. The lower leaves should be pruned because it will help your zucchini plant save energy and reduce the risk of fungal diseases.
Spacing Zucchini Plant: Why Should Anyone Even Bother?
Why should anyone even bother about all these measurements when they can dump their zucchini seed in the ground and hope for the best? Well, you can dump your seeds in the ground and “wing it,” but rest assured that you won’t get anywhere near the best result. Here are some reasons why you should take spacing your zucchini seeds very seriously.
1. Easy Harvesting
One of the advantages of properly spacing your zucchini plant is that when harvest comes, you can easily walk through the rows and harvest without damaging other plants in your garden. You should also note that zucchinis are fast growers and will become very big without getting noticed if they are hidden under leaves.
2. High Yield
Every good gardener takes spacing very seriously because it is critical to how much yield one will see at the end of the season. Refrain from cramming all your seeds together, thinking it will give you a higher yield. Giving your zucchini plant enough space will allow them to grow up without having to compete too much for resources such as sunlight, water, and fertilizer. Imagine, if you will, that you were asked to share a small room with 15 people. If you do not appreciate sharing resources with 15 people in a small room, then think of how your poor zucchinis will feel when you cram them in close quarters.
3. Risk Disease Reduction
When you overcrowd your zucchini plants, you increase their risk of developing a fungal disease. Fungal diseases are known for being able to thrive in humid conditions. However, when there is enough space between your plants, the air circulation will ensure that diseases, such as mildew, don’t thrive.