How to Grow Zucchini & Summer Squash

Marrows are bred for their tender flesh when fully grown and can be served as a side vegetable, often coated in a white sauce, or are stuffed with mince and vegetables as a main course. They can absorb other flavours well, which makes them good for using in spicy chutneys and pickles, or jams such as the traditional marrow and ginger. Patty pan squash, also known as scallop squash, are shaped like miniature pies and have scalloped edges. They can be used like zucchini when young and like marrows when older.

Planning the crop
Zucchini and other summer squash require a sunny position and a deep, rich soil. They can be sown or planted directly in the soil or on an old heap of thoroughly rotted manure or compost that won’t be needed for a time. Both bush and trailing types are available. When sowing in soil, in mid- to late spring, remove a good spadeful of soil where each plant is to be grown and work in a bucketful of manure or compost at the bottom of the hole.

How many to grow- Four to six plants should provide plenty of zucchini for a family. Two or three other squash will add variety.

Varieties

Zucchini

Cocozelle- An Italian bush variety with long, slender, ribbed, cylindrical green fruits, striped deeper green; delicious flavour.