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 should I plant zucchini?

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

• Subtropical (Brisbane & SEQ): August to March
• Temperate (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth): September to January
• Cool & mountain (Tasmania, Canberra, highlands): October to December
• Tropical (Cairns, Darwin): March to August
• Arid inland: February to March and September to December

How do I grow zucchini 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.

How often should I water and feed zucchini?

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.

What pests attack zucchini?

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

What diseases affect zucchini?

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

What grows well with zucchini?

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

When do I harvest zucchini?

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 garden 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: Maja Dumat (Deutschland/Germany), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.