I was forced to buy my zucchini trap-crop seedlings by the cell pack, so I have SIX seedlings. I have never grown zucchini (yet I still get them on my counter?) but I am terrified of having too much LOL.
How many seedlings should I plant? They will be grown on my fence.
My goal is to lure away the squash bugs from my other stuff, but if I get zucchini in the process, I don't want too much! Yeah, I know, it's all too much...
I might add that I'm having a garden party Saturday and I know I can give away extra seedlings to good homes, they won't end up in the trash :)
I'd say no more than two, because that will be more than enough...
ReplyDeleteI always plant two because what if something awful happens to one of them?? One will give you more than you can eat. So I'd agree with EngineeredGarden and say no more than two. But will that be enough for the pest control you're shooting for? If you end up with too many zucchini (you will!), you can always chunk them up and put them in the compost heap so they won't be wasted. They're full of water so will help the decomposition. I also have a recipe for a Zucchini Relish I really like that I'll be glad to give you. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteNo more than two or you're asking for trouble! I plant four each zucchini and summer squash, For a family of two adults and two toddlers. We like trouble :) But, I like to grate it and have it in the freezer all year. I make chocolate zucchini muffins that pretend to be good for you because of the zucchini.
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What do you mean by, they 'will be grown on the fence'? Aren't they a bush plant? The ones I've grown in the past were. I'd grow them all, freeze, compost or share the rest. Zucchini bread is great!
ReplyDeleteIF your plan works, the bugs will kill the plant before it will fruit. Since you already have signs of the bugs, your plants could be toast. I dont get the bugs until the plant is established and it takes several weeks for them to suck all the sap out. But a young plant doesnt stand a chance. I would plant them all (im a renegade). First, pick them when they should be picked, 6 inches max( I hate when people let them get huge). Or Deep fry all the blossoms, male and female and you wont get fruit. Or take the squash to your egg place, cause chickens love to tear into a squash.
ReplyDeleteMy zucchini doesn't produce tons because we don't have pollinators for some reason. I have to hand pollinate. If you don't have a lot of bees keep that in mine.
ReplyDeleteSome years I don't even get enough from two plants to serve our needs. Other years two would be too many. Case in point, last year I planted two and one died. I got 57 pounds 12 ounces of zukes off of the surviving plant. That being said, I'd follow Jane's advise but keep in mind you could get 57 pounds of zucchini from just one plant.
ReplyDeleteI planted two last year b/c I heard that they produce so many. But, I didn't get as many as I expected and it wasn't really enough for our family of 5 (2 adults + 7, 5, 2 yr old). So I planted three this year.
ReplyDeleteI've never been lucky enough to harvest zucchini - but that doesn't stop me trying. I agree with jane - got for it and plant them all - enjoy the flowers, deep fried, and let the bugs have a feast :-)
ReplyDeleteThose things are prolific for sure, but I also think Jane has a point. You could lure them that way. And if you did want some to fruit (or at least try) then you could leave those blossoms and keep your fingers crossed. Stuffed blossoms are supposed to be good, never tried them. But I do have a recipe in my handy dandy Greek cookbook. Imagine us Greeks stuffing something? ;) Good luck and let us know what you decide!
ReplyDeleteIf you have room, I'd plant them all, and then get rid of the weakest when you see how they progress. I usually lose about half to cutworms here, in spite of the collars I put around them. Zucchinis are one of the most versatile veggies around when they're picked young. They just get ugly when they turn into cowcumbers. When small, you can slice them and use them almost anywhere you'd use a cucumber, in salads, stir fry, in a veggie tray with dip, pickle them, shred and add to wonderfully moist cakes and muffins or zucchini bread. I love to slit them in half, sprinkle with olive oil and herbs and grill them, they're even great sliced on pizza with pesto, or sliced thin and made into a kind of veggie lasagna. Or dip into tempura and fry crisp. The secret is picking them when small, before they turn into monsters.
ReplyDeleteAnd the blossoms are great! Pick the newer blossoms, pry them open, pull out the center flower parts, put a dollop of herbed cream cheese in there, twist the blossom shut, lightly dust it with something to make a crust and saute it. Yummmmmmm. I planted 4 plants this year, in hopes to get enough small ones for our use.
I agree with the only plant two idea. They are prolific. Make sure to pick them when they are small and they are way better. You can always grate and freeze any extra zucchini to use in muffins and loafs.
ReplyDeleteAll RIGHT! I knew I could count on all of you! I'm going to go for 3, and then do the Jane thing and plant a couple more in big pots on the patio... "just to see" LOL... I have more traumatic garden news from today but it will have to wait for tonight. Hungry children will not wait for me to blog :)
ReplyDeleteKatrina - Some zucchini are vining. I have both in the garden this year.
ReplyDeleteI've never had too much zucchini, but I live in the South, where bugs and diseases like zucchini even more than I do. However, I have a friend who often has "too much." When he finds an enormous baseball-bat of a zucchini that he's somehow missed harvesting, he makes "mock apple pie" with it. I may "miss" one of mine on purpose, just to try the pie!
ReplyDeleteI over planted zukes and crook neck this year, because last year I lost all of them. I have (had) 14 crook neck and 12 zukes, I have lost 3 zukes and 3 crook neck to squash bugs, and being gone for 4 days. I have many friends who don't have time or space to garden, so giving it away is no problem. Someone just gave me a recipe for pickled squash-supposed to taste like candy, I'm going to try it this week. For the extra zucchini, I grate it, steam it for 3 min, sprinkle some lemon juice on it, measure it out into 1 1/2 cup sections and place each in a baggie and freeze. That way when I want to make zucchini bread I can grab what I need. I may be doubling that measurement and just make a double batch, then make 1 loaf bread and a batch of muffins to freeze and pull when needed. Just a note, next time I make zucchini bread I'll be using apple sauce instead of oil, and maybe a 1/4 cup of crushed pineapple. I did get to use some of hubby's fresh honey though, if you are fortunate enough to get some the substitution is 3/4 cup of honey for every 1 cup sugar.
ReplyDeleteAlso you can stake summer squash and have it climb a t-post or tall stake, just trim below fruit, and it will keep going as long as you keep tying it up. I've talked to several gardeners online who have tried this with success.
Valerie, thanks for all the ideas on what to do with it! Everyone has been so great with the tips and tricks, that's why I love all you blogger friends!
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