Focus on Varieties: Zucchini Baby Round

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Zucchini is a relatively easy vegetable that produces early and abundant yields, which make it a good choice for beginning gardeners. Those gardeners who have previous success with zucchini may want to experiment by trying an unusual variety this season. GardenZeus recommends the French heirloom Baby Round, or “Ronde de Nice” meaning “round from Nice,” a tasty small, 2 inch round, light green zucchini. It is ideally suited for stuffing or roasting, and its blossoms are also excellent when fried. Even better, it is ready for harvest in 45 days—faster than other zucchini varieties. Baby Round is available from our friends at Botanical Interests.

Purchase seeds, not seedlings. Zucchini should generally be seeded directly outdoors. GardenZeus recommends against purchasing zucchini starts for transplant, especially if rootbound or it has been more than about 2 weeks since germination, as starts may be prone to slow establishment, poor yield, diseases, pests, and other problems. In reasonably fertile soil and with appropriate care including frequent harvesting, a single zucchini plant can produce dozens of fruits over a period of months.

Zucchini needs full sun and sufficient space in fertile soil that is consistently moist but not wet. It does well in raised beds with southern and western exposures. Ideal temperature range for germination is 70° to 95°F with fastest germination at the warmer end of this range. Ideal temperature range for growth and fruiting is about 65° to 75°F. Zucchini withstands temperatures up to 100°F, but growth and fruiting may be diminished at temperatures above 85°F, and flowers may drop at high temperatures. Most varieties grow slowly or not at all at temperatures below 60°F. In warm inland valleys, zucchini will benefit from shade during hot summer afternoons. See GardenZeus Tips for Shading Vegetables During Hot Weather for creative ideas from expert Darren Butler about providing shade.

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Other articles related to growing zucchini include:

Germinating Zucchini Indoors Using a  Glass Dish

GardenZeus Quick Tips: Pollination Issues for Zucchini and Other Summer Squash