Grow zucchini like a pro: Grandma's secret to bumper crops

Do you want to enjoy an abundant zucchini harvest that will delight your family and neighbours? Discover my grandmother's secret and learn how to grow bountiful zucchini in your garden!

Growing zucchini can be incredibly satisfying, yielding abundant produce if a few fundamental principles are followed. Zucchini is an excellent vegetable for starting your garden, even if you are a beginner. My grandma always used one foolproof trick: she would place something in the hole before planting the zucchini. Because of this, she harvested so much zucchini that she could share it with the whole family.

Zucchini loves warmth and sun! Choose a sunny, sheltered spot. The soil should be fertile, well-drained, and rich in humus. Before planting, enrich the soil with compost or manure to provide the zucchini with the necessary nutrients.

The secret to an abundant zucchini harvest lies in a simple addition to the hole where we plant the seedlings. Just sprinkle two handfuls of granular manure and cover it with a thin layer of soil. Then, place the seedling in the hole and cover it with the remaining soil. You can also add some soil designed for vegetable cultivation at the bottom of the hole.

Additional tips for growing zucchini:

• Plant zucchini seedlings at 60-80 cm intervals, and space the rows 80-100 cm apart.
• Water the zucchini regularly, especially during dry periods.
• Remove weeds and regularly loosen the soil around the plants.
• Fertilise the zucchini with manure or compost every 2-3 weeks.
• Pinching off zucchini side shoots can stimulate fruit development.

The best time to plant zucchini in the garden is the second half of May. At this time, the risk of frost is minimal, and the soil temperature is sufficiently high, providing optimal conditions for the seeds to germinate and the plants to develop.

By applying these simple growing principles and remembering the secret ingredient in the hole, you will surely grow impressive amounts of zucchini. You can use the mature vegetables to prepare delicious dishes such as ratatouille, cream soup, or casseroles. Enjoy home-grown flavours and share the excess harvest with family and neighbours!