How to Grow Zucchini From Male & Female Flowers

Cultivation

• 1

  Sow seed about 1 inch into moist soil once the danger of frost has past and soil temperatures reach 60 F. Plant either in rows two to three feet apart or in small mounds, a few inches tall and roughly 18 inches in diameter, each containing two or three seeds. Water every few days to keep soil moist, but keep leaves as dry as possible to avoid problems with fungus.

• 2

  Thin your zucchini. Growing plants should have two or three feet of space between them. If planting in rows, thin so each plant has three feet of space on all sides. If planting in mounds, thin seedlings so that each mound supports only one growing zucchini plant.

• 3

  Introduce bees if you do not see an active bee population. Plant flowers that will bloom throughout the summer to attract local populations, or go all-in and keep a hive near your garden patch. Zucchini are insect-pollinated and pollination is required to set fruit, even if you do not plan on saving seed. If you do not wish to introduce insects, you can hand-pollinate your zucchini:

• 4

  Pollinate female flowers with male flowers. Early in the morning, when flowers are open, pick a male flower, remove the petals and brush the inside and surface of a female flower repeatedly with the stamen. Repeat to pollinate all female flowers, then use a piece of string to mark the flowers that have been pollinated. Repeat each morning until you've pollinated enough female flowers to ensure the size crop you desire.

• 5

  Harvest your zucchini 35 to 55 days after planting. Pick your zucchini when they are 6 to 8 inches long and 1 1/2 to 3 inches in diameter. You may harvest some cultivars when they are larger, but most are at their best in this size range. Cut the squash from the plant at the joint between the fruit and the stem to ensure that you don't damage the plant.

Saving Seeds

• 6

  Save your seeds if you plan to use them to grow next year's crop of zucchini. Allow the zucchini to "grow out" until the rind hardens but is still green -- the squash will be much larger than the preferred size for eating.

• 7

  Cut the zucchini open, scoop out the seed, and remove the seeds from the "meat" of the zucchini. Drop the seed into water -- bad seeds will float, while viable seed stock will sink.

• 8

  Dry your seed out of direct sunlight for several days until all moisture content is removed and then store in paper in a cool dark place until your next planting time.