A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2006 Zucchini?

Is anyone planting zucchini? Does it really go nuts as I've read? Like you're begging people to pick some?

this my first year gardening. . i started everything indoors. lesson learned! Next year i'll be doing toms, peppers & melons indoors zuchinni & squash (i'm doing yellow) are growing like i fed them crack/cocain. I see no need to start them indoors cept maybe germination/1week old lol. they grow nuts really fast!

Mine are growing wild too.

I started them too early inside, next year will start them later. And yes you'll be begging others to come and share with you.

just a heads up question. . if your successful zuchini grower. . post some reply's here. i've read all kinds of horror stories on blossom endrot for zuchini. I've NOT tested the PH of my soil . . . this was a grassed area i tilled under & used manure/compost with. but i had put down 1 application of weed & feed this year already over that area. . and 4 years of lawn fert. but i water the everloving pi$$ outa my lawn to keep it golf course looking green

so shoot away the FYI's!!!

first year i planted a few plants- had WAY too many zukes and yellow squash- gave lots away. last year had 2 of each and still too many. this year i planted 1 of each and we'll see. i have flowers already! sometimes when i wasn't ready to eat another zuke i'd leave it on the plant to get enormous (up to 12 inches!) and then we've stuff it and eat it for a change of pace.

Oh, yeah, stuffed sounds good... with bread crumbs, onion, cheese? Or what?
I might plant ONE seed in a paper cup and take it from there !
rose, it looks good !

I planted zukes and it looks as if only 1 plant is actually going to grow.. I guess I lucked out..lol

All curcurbits grow really fast out of the gate. Most really don't benefit from starting indoors unless you have a very short growing season. You can certainly do it though, but I wouldn't start them earlier than say two weeks before planting out. I usually grow 2 zucchini and 1 yellow and we have more than we can eat.

I plant Zucchini as well. Last year I had 6 plants. I made alot of things with it... relish, pickles, fried, bread... gave alot away too.

John is right. My experience now tells me I'm way too early. Next year I'll know better.

Our seasons start late and end early here . I expect a frost any day again even tho' we had 27 degree weather yesterday. That can easily change in Alberta.

Because of the late start in the seasons I must start mine inside and then transplant.

hjolicoeur is right on with what you can do with zucchini, we also shred and freeze in buckets then use in cookie, bread and other pastry recipes.

Ever heard of zucchini fritters. Had them last week with left over shredded zucchini from last year, they were delicious. PM me and I'll send the recipe to anyone.

I agree rose... there is alot you can do with zucchini! I still have a dozen jars of relish and some all shredded in the freezer! And I'm planting more this year... LOL!

yea- you can pm me the recipe for the fritters! sounds yummy. when we stuffed them i sliced lengthwise and scooped out the seeds. i coked plain rice and some hamburger meat. mixed those together with some tomatoes, parsley, oregano, all fresh from the garden. also mixed in some cheese (i used an italian mix but you can use whatever your family likes). stuffed those zukes and put more cheese on top. put them in a 9x13 baking dish, covered with foil and baked until it was soft enough. and we ate the whole thing. can't wait to have it again this year too!

The flowers are great fried too! Dig in a beaten egg, then bread crumbs and fry. Just fry the male flowers not the fruit bearing ones. Also keep the fruits picked so the plant will keep producing! Dont let the fruits get too big.

Hi

I posted the recipe for zucchini fritters in the recipe section of the forum for all who would like to try it.

Good Luck.

In my experience zucchini does go nuts but one good thing about it, especially if you like to bake with it as I do, is that it freezes VERY WELL when shredded. So I shred it and bag it 2 cups to a freezer bag and I can have fresh zucchini bread anytime I want.

Try some of the Italian varieties of zucchini they are usually heirlooms with great flavor.They do produce very well but not like hybrids.
ranger

How do you tell which flowers are male for frying?
I wanted to eat nasturtums too, but wasn't sure if it's the flowers or leaves that we can eat.

What about the soup man????? Thats one of the BEST things to eat. I`d have my wife make GALLONS of it. Also when you grow it most don`t pick it too soon like you see in the stores.

Nasturium flowers are great to eat, the leaves are edible as well.
ranger

The female flower is usually only in a group of one while male flowers are usually in clusters. Also, the female flower should have a very short stem with an ovary or "bulby looking thingy" at the base, while the male is very long and slender. Hope this helps!

Can anyone tell me if yellow squash plants have yellowish leaves?

Thanks
Sarah

What Triss said.

You guys are gettin me a little worried, I planted 20 yellow, 20 orange, 20 green.

This year I'm going to try selling at the farmers market, $5/day or $35/season pass, so some will go there, about 1/4 of harvest will go to food for families or second harvest type program in our area, always a good home for the extra.

You will have more than plenty.your families will be eating good. its great not to let things go to waste.

I am obviously a first year gardener because I have 10 (yes TEN) squash plants and 10 (again yes TEN) zucchini plants! I might eat my words (or a lot of zuc's and squash), but I can't wait to have to many of ANYTHING to pick! Love all of the ideas for freezing, etc. I got a good piece of advice of placing ceramic tiles under and around the plants so the zuc's and squash don't touch the soil and get moldy, etc. I have a couple of extra boxes of tiles laying around so its a no cost option for me. I'll let ya'll know how it goes...

Mitzi, your comment about wanting too much of ANYTHING to pick made me laugh.
I know what you mean ! Me too !

Thanks, Oz, for the info, that answers something I have wondered about for a long time !
Woodchuck, applause to you for donating such a large amount of crops to Second Harvest !