Cucurbita pepo 'Zucchini'

RHS Plant Profile
courgette 'Zucchini'

Save a plant

Where do you want to save Cucurbita pepo 'Zucchini'?

Plants I own
Wishlist
Go to My Plants
Plants for pollinators
Annual Biennial
Thank you - your purchase supports our charity work Buy this from RHS Plants Shop
Buy online from £2.12Buy this from Plant Nurseries
2 Suppliers

A compact, high yeilding courgette cultivar, with green palmate foliage on stems to 90cm (3ft) high and 1.5 (5ft) across. Its dark green fruits are ready to harvest when approximately 15-20cm (6-8in) in length. These are produced over a long period from July to October, as long as the quickly developing fruits are regularly picked. Its compact habit makes it suitable for growing in containers on the patio, where border space is limited. The bright yellow flowers are attractive to pollinating insects and can also be picked and used in cooking.

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

1-1.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1 year
Max Spread
1-1.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Moist but well–drained or Well–drained
pH
Acid or Neutral

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness

Hardiness Ratings

All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets

  • H1A: under glass all year (>15C)
  • H1B: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
  • H1C: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
  • H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
  • H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
  • H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
  • H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
  • H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
  • H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)
H2

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Cucurbitaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy
Potentially harmful
Humans/Pets: If crop is bitter, don't eat or feed to pets. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Genus
A small genus of climbing or trailing, annual herbaceous fruits. Several edible species are cultivated for food and other uses. Native to Central and South America. Solitary, star-shaped flowers are usually golden-yellow. Leaves are palmately lobed, covered with tiny, prickly hairs
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moisture retentive but well drained, acidic to neutral soil in full sun. Sow indoors March to May in good quality seed compost. Sow the seeds on their side 1cm deep and maintain a constant temperature of 18-21C. Feed regularly with a high potassium fertiliser when the first fruits start to swell. See cucurbit cultivation for further advice

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds or sowing seeds indoors for further advice

Suggested planting locations and garden types

  • Patio and container plants
  • Wildlife gardens

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey moulds and powdery mildews