Annual vegetable
Zucchini plant profile
Cucurbita pepo
An annual vegetable for full sun.
Last updated .
When to plant
When to plant Zucchini
Direct sow
at your last spring frost to 2 weeks after your last spring frost
Growing conditions
- Sun
- Full sun
- Planting depth
- 0.5 in
- Soil pH
- 6 to 6.5
- Lifecycle
- Annual
- Spacing
- 12 to 15 in apart, rows 36 in
- Days to maturity
- 55 to 55 days (from sowing)
Common problems
Watch for these
- Can I save a squash vine after it suddenly wilts?
- squash bug
- cucumber beetles
- aphids
- Why is there white powder on my squash leaves?
- blossom end rot
- Why does my squash flower but make no fruit?
Also watch for: pickleworm.
By hardiness zone
Zucchini by zone
Planting dates for a typical location in each zone:
Evidence trail
Evidence behind this profile
Original extension and institutional publications behind the planting, care, and safety facts on this page.
- Summer Squash (HGIC 1321)
Clemson Cooperative Extension, Home & Garden Information Center. Supports direct-sowing timing (normalized), days to maturity (direct), plant and row spacing (direct), planting depth (direct), sun requirement (direct), soil pH (direct), and common problems (direct). Checked 2026-06-11.
- Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants: Zucchini Squash (Cucurbita pepo) entry
ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. Supports pet-safety verdicts for dogs and cats. Checked 2026-07-18.