How to grow zucchini in a raised bed

One or two zucchini plants will feed a household — they're that productive. Give them room, sun and steady water and they'll crop for months.

Quick facts

• Position: full sun, 6+ hours
• Spacing: 60–80 cm apart — they get big
• Tub depth: our 35 cm or 41 cm depth
• Time to harvest: 6–8 weeks

When to plant: Zucchini are frost-tender — plant from spring through summer once the soil is warm. Our free planting calendar shows the right months for your postcode.

Growing them in a raised bed: Give each plant plenty of room in rich, well-drained mix. Good spacing and airflow is your best defence against powdery mildew, which zucchini are prone to.

Watering and feeding: Water deeply at the base and keep it even — irregular watering causes small fruit to rot at the tip. Water the soil, never the leaves, in the morning.

Common pests: keep an eye out for aphids, the 28-spotted ladybird and fruit fly. Most are easily managed — see our safe pest guide.

Common diseases: the main ones are powdery mildew, blossom-end rot and mosaic virus. Good airflow, morning watering and steady moisture prevent most.

Companion plants: Beans and nasturtiums make good companions; nasturtiums also lure aphids away. See our companion planting guide.

Harvest and storage: Pick young and often, at 15–20 cm — check every day or two in peak season, as they balloon quickly. Frequent picking keeps them coming.

Plan your patch: our free planting calendar shows what to plant now where you live. Ready to grow? Browse our raised garden beds or build your own with the garden bed builder.

Image: Yercaud-elango, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.