Zucchini

When to plant/sow in zone:

Requirements: Full sun; room to grow; protection from heavy rain and wind

Soil: Well-drained soil enriched with compost and/or well-rotted manure or organic pellets.

How to start: SEED: Sow direct in the ground (best) or in punnets into seed-raising mix. Sow two seeds per hole 25mm deep, 70cm apart, in rows 1m apart. Keep moist. Germinates in 10-15 days. SEEDLING: Plant in the ground when seedlings are 5-10cm+ tall. Remove the weaker seedling from each grouping. Space them 70cm apart, in rows 1m apart. Water in and mulch with straw.

How to grow: Keep moist and mulch with straw. Avoid watering the leaves. Apply seaweed solution or liquid fertiliser fortnightly. Apply organic fertiliser pellets monthly.

When to harvest: Start harvesting from 7 weeks when fruits are 15-20cm long. Use a knife to cut them off. Check plants daily as it's easy to miss the fruit and they become large and unusable quickly.

Troubleshooting: Possums; rats; blossom end rot; powdery mildew