I interplant zucchini with daikon radishes to avoid squash vine borers.

Several years ago, I was told to prune the zucchini for a couple of reasons, 1) to provide air flow and 2) to make the fruit easier to find. The fruits started yellowing before they were ready to pick. My local extension service told me that the yellowing was most likely caused by sun burn, they thought I was cutting away too many leaves. So I started only cutting out the bad leaves. I have not had that problem now for a couple of years.

Read through bunch of comments, and gotta say it's one big community of like-minded people. Wish you a great season 😉

This is probably one of the best videos on courgettes I have ever seen. Chock full of good information without lots of blabber, I so appreciate that. Thank you so very much.

Great video! I am in Australia, so my zucchini season has just come to an end. But I deliberately let some of mine go to marrow size, as then I can harden them off, and store for several months for winter eating. I also harvest the seeds from these to save for next year. I too think you can never grow enough zucchini! When they’re coming in every day, I grate them and put in zip lock bags, flatten them and stack in my freezer. Then I use them throughout the year in stews, pasta sauces, curries, quiche .. etc. I never buy zucchini, ever. I grow and preserve it for all year round use. So make sure you don’t give too many away! Haha Cheers

Thanks for the video, enjoyable and informative as always. I believe I read the plants put out the male flowers first to attract pollinators to the area as they remember where they got pollen and return there. Once the pattern is established then it's more likely the female flowers will be pollinated and aren't 'wasted' as it takes more plant resources to produce the females. This increases the number of pollinated fruits, which supports the plant's drive to propagate the species by maximizing the number of seeds for the next generation. Even with modern breeding the evolutionary drives are still present, just as overly mature fruit signals the plant to stop producing. I will share a common saying here in the US Midwest: zucchini is so prolific that's the reason why people lock their cars when they go to church in August-to prevent their friends from sneaking extra zucchini into their cars while they're attending services. A more modern version is why doorbell cameras are so handy-you get to see who crept up and left that bag of baseball-bat sized zukes on your porch. If I can ward off the vine borers I'll be the worst offender. My favorite is golden zucchini. It makes a lovely contrast with the dark green in a dish and it's straight and even, unlike crookneck squash. Caramelize onions, put a layer in a shallow casserole and top with alternating slices of green and yellow summer squash and Roma tomatoes on an angle like this \\\\. Drizzle a little olive oil, salt and pepper and your favorite herbs and bake until tender. Beautiful and delicious.

I live in North America, specifically in the south where the bugs are abundant. I have not grown one zuke for a few years. I do have a plan this year When I lived in the cooler area I grew tons of zukes. I will now plant three times what I need and use Tromboncino, luffa and others that do not attract bugs as much. I should come out ahead. I have a dying little dog and a senior dog that I feed soup so my garden is devoted to my two dogs. They are living past all expectations. I never feed them dog food,,,, Another super video, thank you

I grew four plants last year - waaay too many for one person lol. One tip is to look really carefully into the plant when you're harvesting to get them all. It's really easy to miss them and then, before you know it, there's a two foot marrow sitting in there!

Last year my zucchini didn't produce many zucchini but they were huge. Really huge. This year they're producing many more but smaller. I am learning a lot about soil health and nutrients.

I love growing mine vertically, helps with air flow and allows planting underneath.

In my first year as a gardener powdery mildew decimated my crops, I didn't know what it was and thought I had a brown thumb haha. I was determined to make it a green thumb, I've really enjoyed learning more about growing over the years.

I grow heirloom Black Beauties so I can harvest the seeds for next year. Thanks for all the tips!

I create easier location by pollinators by removing leaves that are obscuring flowers, it definitely works as long as you don't remove too many leaves.

I really love the idea of the water bottles to water underground. I will definitely give that one a go.

When I lived in Guatemala, they sold squash flowers at the markets. My MIL prepared them by dipping them in beaten egg and flour (I think). Delicious!

I grew zucchini for the first time last year and was pleasantly surprised by the abundance. I found that when I trimmed off leaves, slugs and other bugs would make a home in the exposed stalks which tended to hold a decent amount of water (I was still getting a good harvest so it didn't bother me). We ended up using the zucchini in cakes which the children loved and experimented with fried zucchini chips, along with more standard butter and garlic sliced zucchini. I'll probably plant them in their own spot next time so they can grow without overtaking other plants.

One can never have enough zucchini!

I love the Allotment Planner in the 'see below'

Zucchini is quite a good choice for container gardens because it has relatively shallow roots. A container that is around 12 inches deep should be sufficient. However, as a hungry plant, zucchini needs plenty of nutrients to grow and produce well. This means that the larger the container you can provide, the better.

Thank you for spreading such a positive energy! ☀️ I allways get in a good mood when watching your videos! 🤩🌱

Love you and the doggie who is always by your side.

I'm Gorging on facts... Wednesday night is the last

Ben: "Four plants are about right for my family of three" Me: Has sown 24 modules-worth for my family of one... Hmm, might have overdone it a bit!

Could you make a video all about picking good seeds? What seeds should we avoid? What should we look for in a good seed? What's the difference between all the varieties? Where do you get your seeds from? Thanks in advance!

This is the 1st time I have ever had an issue with no zucchini I got about 1 or 2 all last year! Why you ask WELL! My 8 year old cut off the growing tip lol oh well! Not to worry I had a TON of pati pan! And I still love her helping in the garden it’s so important to include them when they are young it’s work everything!

Thank you so much! That was helpful. Bring on the warm weather. (Wisconsin, USA)

Thank you, Ben. Wonderful information as usual. I learned so much from this video.

Hi Ben this is what I needed to know more about thanks so much from new Zealand

Thanks, Ben, very instructive. Absolutely going to try the aluminum wrap tip this season. Got hit hard with borers and bugs last season.

Thanks for your videos! You are so good at explaining exactly what we need to pay attention to and you are so very jollly, it makes my day!

Can you do a video on sunflowers? I’m a new subscriber I’m unsure if you have one already

Ben, you're too much fun! Keep on edutaining us

I will be sowing some courgette seeds in the next few days. The pack says sow in April if indoors but May for outdoors. I also have to sow cucumber seeds because the cucumber plant I had was eaten by a pest and died on me. Another fantastic video Ben and great tips how to grow Courgettes. Keep safe, well and happy gardening.

We love them, I have 8 balls, shooting stars and some Black Forest ones growing this year to add to the all bush greens!

This was so helpful! Thanks so much! 🖤

Thank you for the fantastic advice

Thank you Ben- just planted my first courgettes out today following your advice and protected them with a cloche ! All your wisdom is helping build my confidence growing veggies - to thank you 😊

Great video Ben. Courgettes are one of my favourite things to grow. Doing both the green and gold ones this year 👍

Loving your veg videos, thank you 😀

I have it growing right now! Thank you!

You really are a joy to watch/listen to and an inspiration! 👍

More great tips,thank you.🤗

Hi Ben, thank you very much for sharing, I planted 6 varieties last year but only 4 varieties this year 👍

Awesome video as always, thanks for sharing and all you do! To help save money my family and I have started a small backyard garden. We're learning how to homecan, seed save, make compost, and preserve what we grow. Less than 2 years in our new home and we've completely transformed the backyard. We are beginner gardeners, growing and learning along the way. Recently I started a gardening channel to help encourage others to begin growing as well. No time better than now to learn self sufficiency. Thanks again for all you do, your channel definitely helps me stay motivated for my family. God bless!

Stumbled across your channel a few months ago. Just planted my squash this morning. I love your channel my friend!

I have not had squash due to those pesky borers! I am doing this this year!!! Thank you for the hope!

Great & thorough video! Cutting up to 1/3 of the leaves really helped me! Cheers!

I start from seed in my greenhouse in AZ, zone 7B. Just got male flowers today! Fun!

This year we are growing Fordhook zucchini and rampicante zucchini (italian variety). Hugs to your fur baby and happy gardening.

Thanks for another great, informative video.

Thank you for sharing. I love zucchini and yellow squash. ❤️❤️❤️😊

Hi Ben, just discovered your gardening channel and subscribed immediately. I'm from Austria and I've been gardening for 30 years, but I can still learn a lot from you. There are many garden channels but yours is simply the best. Well-founded information, humorously presented, simply great. Thank you and please keep it up!

Your videos are brilliant, thank you Ben 🙏🏼😁 Nameste

This was a terrific video. Thank you so much for posting. DA

I hope more folks in the UK try to grow fresh produce as the food shortages have made mainstream news. Good luck to everyone!

Thank you for the information!

Thank you as always gr8 tips

I've tried the foil tip, and never had much luck, but some of the old timer veggie growers in the area swear by it, and they seem to do very well. I think NC is home for every pest that enjoys munching on curcubits, so it's always a loosing battle. My best solution was to cover my zucchini in a frame with a mosquito net, and hand pollinate.

Top show Ben, anyone can grow perfect courgettes after watching this. Perfect Ben. I think ur a brilliant teacher, u make it all so straight fowards and simple. Thanks Ben.

I'm enjoying your videos very much Ben, thank you

We are in North Carolina with a food bank garden. We have a terrible problem with the vine borer on our squashes, including zucchini. One suggestion is to grow varieties that are recommended as the least susceptible to the borer. In our case it is Romanesco (Italian and it looks like the one in your video) and butternut squash ''Waltham'; . We never have a prob lem with the borer with butternut squash because the stems are much thicker and the borer can't seem to get through.

I play so much DayZ that Zucchini videos are in my recommended. Thanks for the tips :D

Good timing. I'm planting my squash today

Another really informative and helpful video. We grow for just 2 people with very little space so 1 courgette plant is enough for us. I like the standard long green fruits, cut at 15cm ish. Found yellow and ball forming courgette plants to be significantly less generous with female flowers. Black flies seem to accumulate in newly opened flowers but once or twice a season I pick these flowers to poach, stuffed with a chicken mousseline or mushroom dacquoise. Mmmm. Salivating as I write ….. My plant will probably be hardened off this week so plan to prepare its space, complete with watering aid, today or tomorrow. I’ve used bottles to get water to the roots of cucumbers in the past but hadn’t thought of that for courgettes.

Excellent video. I like to grow Fordhook Zuke and Butterstick Squash along with everything else😀 Last year I found a zucchini at the back of a planter that was the size of a marrow! Tasted fine. Thanks for all the great vids, I am ready to put peppers out in my planters since it is 60F overnight now in 9b Sacramento, Ca. Thanks Ben.

So helpful, thank you!

I haven't even finished the video but I thumbs up because of your enthusiasm in all of your videos :D

Thanks for this very informative video. Our zucchini plants are almost ready to add to the garden. God bless!

thank you for your expertise

I definitely wasn't aware I could prune that aggressively. I ended up planting two varieties (Grey and Round) per the packaging directions which was three plants per mound, so now I've got quite a dense bit of zucchini to contend with.

Great video! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I’m a beginner gardener. I’m growing Zucchini and as of today I noticed that they now have budding yellow flowers that haven’t opened yet. Looking forward to hopefully harvesting Zucchini at some point. I am using cedarcraft elevated self watering planter boxes.

Thank you do much. Last year I struggled so much with growing squash. I live in Georgia, USA, and squash bugs and Squash Vine Borers were a BIG problem! This year year I am going to try every technique that I researched including wrapping the stems in aluminum foil. Wish me luck!😁

Wow awesome watering trick !

Fantastic. Thank you 😊

Thanks for this information

I fry up tiny zucchini & female flowers that I did a quick dunk in pancake batter. So delicious! 😋

Hello from East Scotland! Thank you for your great video, I am Italian by birth but I never knew WHY some of my zucchini were not growing and rotting, the trick of pollinating them has solved a great mystery! Much obliged to you, GRAZIE!!

wow i love how you explained how to tell male and female flowers

Last year (first year of growing) Courgette was my most successful plant. Silly me planted 4 of them, and I reckon I was getting a good 5-10 courgettes a week! Was sick of them by the end of summer lol , and they need a massive amount of space!

Another great video!

Love the video, thank you! 💚Can't wait for those lovely fruits! >>Will be growing the varieties Primula and Patio Star in the main garden area, and Partenon in the other end of the yard

We generally plant 4 or 5 plants of different varities for grilling, frying, and baking in breads. At the end of the season, we let the final fruitings grow extremely large and use them as targets for sighting in our rifles for hunting season. USDA Zone 4, Wisconsin, USA.

I've had terrible problems with powdery mildew so am trying some resistant varieties (PMR) from Johnny's this year. Zone 7a Hudson Valley NY. Thanks for the many tips -- I knew that zuchs should be harvested young but not about harvesting when the flower is still on. We love zuchs grilled.

Great video - I have just come upstairs from my garden with 3 beautiful zucchinis/ some wonderful onions & 2 Red Papayas. I have planted more Kohl Rabi & cabbage so very Happy with my day in the garden so far- peas going in the garden tomorrow. Cheers Denise- Australia

I've never grown any zucchini, but I'm going to try this year to establish a garden on my property, and zucchini will one of the plants I try out

You are entertaining. And good gardener too.

My absolute favorite zucchini variety is Costata Romanesco, I just can’t get enough of them. I fail to understand why nurseries here in the American Northwest only seem to carry the Black Beauty variety. The same is mostly true of grocery stores as well. Fortunately summer squashes are so easy to grow from seed!

This is a lovely video. I really enjoyed it. You have a great easy to understand way of explaining things that are very 😊😊😊😊and I feel that the zucchini plants I’m about to put out of my garden will be a lot healthier and happier. Thanks to your advice.

Size is not always the indicator I’m going to harvest. If your zucchini starts getting lumpy, that’s a good indicator that it’s trying to set seeds, so you should harvest any strange shaped ones while they are smaller. On the other hand, I have found that I can let my zucchinis get at least twice as big as you show in this video and the flavor and texture are still on point. Then you get twice as much as well because you just let them stay on the plan for like one more day. Costada is a premium variety from italy that tastes great and keeps well

My favourite variety is Gold Rush, Yellow and with thin skin, Genovese light Green with white dots thicker skin and good for storing and black beauty dark green which are regular squash as in the supermarkets

I start all my seeds on my front porch in the shade. A few days before taking out to garden i will scoot the out to the edge in the sun. I haven't had any die after transplanting. I transplanted hundreds of plants this year of many kimds.

Very informative. I will try the aluminum foil idea. We have vine borer problems here in Ohio, USA

Good information to know. California in southern my zuchini.is growing in a pot . its 2022 september and my 2nd zuchini is growing well. The length was 6" long. For bugs i use watered tea, dish soap& water mix.

great video!!😁

This is my second year of growing 'black beauty' courgette. This year my plants started putting out female flowers straight away! I've cut them off whilst small as i knew they wouldn't be good ones. Thankfully there are also male flowers now. Next year i would like to grow yellow courgette to add a little variety. I find that for myself and my wife, 1 big plant is enough, however, i have 2 growing this year as i now have a dehydrator so can deal with any extra courgettes, plus my second plant is a bit of a runt so i don't expect much produce!

Giving yellow squash a try. Zucchini been growing multiple years

Fried male zucchini flowers. YUM !

Good guidance and details. Thanks for sharing. Clearly supervising you in the garden is exhausting for your pup.

Coooor! Trying out yellow ones this year.

Thank you so much