Zucchini Plant Growth Stages


Understanding the life cycle of the zucchini plant will help you be a better gardener. What are its growth stages?
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Zucchini, a summer garden favorite, grows quickly and easily and produces a massive harvest.

After planting the seeds in your yard, you’ll be able to watch the plant grow from a small seedling to a spreading vine that produces flowers and, eventually, multiple fruit.

Germination

Zucchini seeds germinate quickly and do not require much heat. They generally germinate in 7 to 10 days in warm conditions, though it may take longer if the weather is still cool.

The seeds develop two delicate leaves. These are seed leaves, and they allow the young seedling to access nutrients stored in the seed, nourishing it before the actual leaves sprout and begin photosynthesis.

When the seedling emerges from the soil, the seed coat will remain attached to the tip of the seed leaves, or cotyledons. The first leaves appear approximately two weeks after the seed leaves have opened.

A trellis or another type of support protects young plants. It keeps the fruit off the ground, decreasing the risk of disease and pests such as the squash bug, one of the most damaging pests.

germinating young zucchini saplings

Vegetative Growth and Flowering

The meristem, root tips, and nodes develop from the stem and grow into leaves and flowers.

The ability of the plant to create so many different structures at an early stage allows it to efficiently grow delectable fruits. They grow quickly and spread out from the plant’s base. 

The plant can grow to be 2 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide, depending on the variety. Some vining cultivars can grow to be 6 to 10 feet long.

At this time of the growing cycle, keep the soil moist but the leaves dry when watering to reduce fungal infections like powdery mildew. If the weather is extremely hot, you may need to water your plants more frequently.

Blossoming zucchini plant with a flower

Pollination

Toward the end of the growing cycle, the plant focuses its resources on seed development to ensure the survival of the following generation. As the days pass, the meristems along the vine mature into flower buds.

Bees are drawn to the flowers because of their nectar and pollen. When bees visit male flowers, they gather pollen and transfer those to female flowers.

Pollen enters the female flower’s ovary after pollination and deposits sperm cells, which fertilize the egg inside.

When pollination is complete, the plant will begin to produce fruit. Each ovule inside the ovary develops into a single seed, and the ovarian wall hardens into the zucchini’s fleshy fruit coat.

yellow zucchini flower undergoing pollination

Fruiting

Flowers will appear about six weeks after planting. The massive golden flowers look like pumpkin blooms.

Male flowers bloom first, followed by female blossoms a few days later. You may pick a few male flowers for eating, but make sure the plant has enough male flowers for bees to pollinate.

Zucchinis grow quickly, so you won’t have to wait long to enjoy the fruits of your labor. The fruits only take about a week to reach full development after pollination.

They will be ready to harvest 45 to 50 days after sowing. Harvest fruits when they are 6 to 8 inches long for the best flavor and texture.

zucchini fruits ready for harvest

Spreading Seeds

The drying stage can take several days or weeks, ripening the fruit. As the zucchini dries, the seeds inside will harden.  

Zucchini requires wet seed processing. This refers to the seed needing thorough washing and cleaning before drying. To remove the slippery, slimy coating on the outside of the seeds, they must be fermented for a brief period of time.

After drying for 1 to 2 weeks, the seeds can be stored and planted the following growing season.

Leila Haynes
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