With coffee in hand, you go to the garden eager to enjoy the morning light on your flourishing zucchini plants. Those large, exquisite leaves unfolding daily have been growing rather brilliantly. But as you approach closely, you see it. A small yellow and black beetle, crawling boldly over a leaf. Then another, then another. Your heart drops a tiny bit. …
Have you ever gazed sadly at your bright balcony, little patio, or small backyard, dreaming of a rich, fruitful vegetable garden? It’s a shared sentiment. You see images of expansive gardens bursting with fresh food and think, “If only I had the space.” You might be wondering if it’s really feasible to grow something as famously plentiful as zucchini without …
That’s the sight that causes a gardener’s heart to drop into their stomach. Your zucchini plant one day is a picture of health—vigorous, green, and covered in the promise of future blossoms. The next, it is totally wilted, its large leaves looking depressed and defeated beneath the afternoon sun as though it hasn’t been watered in weeks. You dash outside, …
All summer you have been dreaming of delicious zucchini bread. You had visualized mountains of “zoodles” on your plate and grilled zucchini spears sizzling on the BBQ. You have been carefully watering, prepared the ground, and put the seeds—you have done everything perfectly. With its large, vivid leaves and consistent supply of gorgeous, brilliant yellow blossoms, your plant looks amazing, …
You have done exactly what is needed. From small seeds, you tenderly cared for your zucchini, watered them assiduously, and proudly watched as those large, lovely leaves unfolded. Already your dreams are of grilled zucchini, zucchini bread, and zoodles galore. You then see it one sunny afternoon. On a leaf, a few barely perceptible, white, dusty patches. You gaze closer. …
Is there anything in the realm of gardening that more irritates me than this? You have done exactly what is needed. You gently changed your soil in the spring, planted your zucchini seeds with great care, and have proudly watched as the large, gorgeous, umbrella-like leaves have opened. On the barbecue, the fresh, grilled spears and the future loaves of …
We all know that to survive and generate those tasty summer squashes we look forward to, our cherished zucchini plants need lots of sunshine, good quality soil, and regular watering. Have you ever paused to think, though, how vital a mild, circulating wind might be for their well-being? Though it may seem very easy, maybe even a little obvious, the …
Are little, unwanted visitors converting your flourishing zucchini patch into their own buffet? Many people find it annoying! Annoying insects like aphids, spider mites, or whiteflies can fast turn into a major problem for any committed gardener, maybe stressing your plants and lowering that great crop you have been anticipating. But what if I told you that a simple, unexpectedly …
Dreaming of piles of tasty zucchini for your summer feasts, but find yourself concerned about viruses destroying your prized plants or the unrelenting summer heat bringing your production to a crashing stop? You are definitely not by yourself! Although zucchini are well known for their high output and often appear to grow with wild abandon, they can occasionally encounter some …
Zucchini, ah! The marvelously abundant summer squash that guarantees an almost limitless supply for grilling, baking, zoodling, and neighborly sharing (and their neighbors!). However, you must understand that your zucchini plants have a quite great thirst if you want those lovely, soft fruits and want your plants happy and productive all season long. Their success and the realization of that …
Every year I become so thrilled imagining those beautiful green (or yellow!) fruits stacking up, ready for grilling, baking, zoodling—you name it. But believe me, my first few tries fell short of the great success I had hoped for. Thinking my little seedlings would simply take off, I remember putting them out, so proud. How wrong I was! Within days, …
You’ve nurtured your zucchini plants, seen those large yellow flowers burst open early and bright, and couldn’t wait for the first delicious fruits! You’ve imagined grilled slices, perhaps some zoodles… At last, you reach down through those large leaves to select one; what you take seems more like a lumpy old cucumber than a nice smooth, green torpedo. Perhaps it’s …
Is there anything quite like the excitement of seeing your zucchini plants burst in the summer garden? Promising armloads of tasty squash, they seem to overnight transform from little seedlings to sprawling behemoths. Legendary for its output, zucchini is so much that gardeners sometimes joke about covertly placing bags of it on neighbours’ porches. But what if you wish to …
Dreaming of the wonderful harvest to come, you watch with bated breath as those large, happy yellow flowers burst open. But then… no action follows. Perhaps little zucchinis begin to grow, only to wither and drop off the vine. What causes this? One of the most frequent questions for zucchini farmers is why there are flowers but no fruit. Usually, …
You’ve been looking forward to that first harvest, admiring your zucchini plants and seeing those large, lovely leaves unfold. Then, one day, you see it: holes! Perhaps little “shotholes,” perhaps frayed chewed edges, perhaps bigger pieces completely missing. What in the world is consuming your zucchini leaves? It’s a disappointing finding that makes you question which offender is to blame …