How far apart to plant zucchini
Virginia Cooperative Extension and Colorado State University Extension space zucchini 18 to 36 inches apart in the row, with rows 3 to 5 feet apart. In a raised bed plan on 3 to 4 feet each way, and the UC Master Gardeners' square foot guide gives one zucchini two squares. Sow the seed 1 to 1 1/2 inches deep.
Zucchini is a bush summer squash, so it stays in one clump instead of running like a winter squash vine, but that clump is wide. Virginia Tech plans only 1 to 2 plants per person for each planting.
How many zucchini plants fit a raised bed
| Bed | 42 in each way (square) | Square foot method (1 per 2 sq ft) |
|---|---|---|
| 4 × 4 ft | 1 | 8 |
| 4 × 8 ft | 2 | 16 |
| 3 × 6 ft | 0 | 9 |
| 4 × 12 ft | 3 | 24 |
The calculator starts at 42 inches, the middle of the 3 to 4 ft bed spacing, and keeps half a spacing clear at the edges. A 3 ft wide bed is narrower than one plant's spacing, so the count there is 0. At 36 inches, the tight end of the range, a 3 × 6 ft bed fits 2. The square foot method packs far more plants in; treat it as an upper bound that assumes you pick often and keep the plants in check.
In a garden row at the in-row midpoint of 27 inches, 10 feet holds 4 plants and 25 feet holds 11.
Mounds, seeds and thinning
The crop record describes the usual way to start zucchini: sow 4 to 6 seeds per mound once the soil is 65°F, after the last frost, then thin to two plants. If you buy transplants, set them 2 feet apart. Oregon State University's germination table puts the best soil range at 70 to 95°F, and seed sprouts in 3 to 12 days.
Zucchini in a container
Grow one plant per 5 gallon bucket, at least 8 inches deep, as Virginia Tech's and Colorado State's container guides list it. Texas A&M AgriLife's container guide (E-545) also gives squash one plant in 5 gallons.
How much to expect
Colorado State counts about 50 days from seeding to the first fruit. Virginia Tech's table gives 20 to 80 lb per 10 feet of row, and one plant can produce six or more fruit a week. Pick the fruit young, about 7 to 8 inches long. Johnny's Selected Seeds suggests sowing again every 2 to 3 weeks for a steady supply rather than planting many at once.
To decide how many plants you need, use zucchini plants per person. For sowing dates by ZIP code, see when to plant zucchini, and fill a pot with the potting soil calculator.