Scientific Name: Cucurbita pepo

Common Names: Zucchini 'Golden', Yellow Zucchini

Family:  Cucurbitaceae

Origin

Golden is an easy to grow, highly productive, open-pollinated, heirloom zucchini variety.  You can collect the seeds from this variety and they'll grow true to type each year.  This variety is relatively recent heirloom, being first bred during the 1970's in the United States of America.

Culinary Uses

Golden Zucchini fruits have firm flesh that is nuttier than green-skinned varieties.  Golden Zucchinis can be cut into strips and added stir-fried along with regular green zucchini for added colour and variation.  This variety is also great in soups and stews.  Zucchini flowers can be stuffed with fillings and pan fried.

Growing Tips

Zucchinis grow and produce best when planted in a location that receives full sun, they'll also tolerate light shade but fruit production will be lessened.  Zucchinis require a free draining soil, grow zucchini plants in raised beds if your natural garden soil is too compacted or heavy with clay.  Zucchini is a heavy feeder so be sure to dig lots of organic material including well-rotted manure, worm castings or compost through your vegetable beds prior to sowing.  Organic material will help to improve your soil structure, encourage worms and beneficial soil micro-organisms, and provide your plants with vital nutrients as it breaks down.  Fertilise your Zucchini plants every few weeks during the growing season with a complete organic liquid fertiliser, worm juice or compost tea.   Zucchinis are big, leafy plants that require regular watering to produce well.  Avoid wetting the leaves when watering to reduce the chance of them contracting fungal diseases, installing a drip irrigation system through your vegetable beds is ideal but not essential.  Golden Zucchinis are more resistant to powdery mildew than other varieties and will often continue to produce even if infected.  If powdery mildew is present on your zucchini plants you may start to notice zig-zag patterned, yellow and black ladybugs on your plants, these are a beneficial insect that will feed on powdery mildew filaments during both their adult and juvenile stages.  Mulch around Zucchini plants to retain moisture, keep their roots cool and suppress weed growth.  Zucchinis grow best in soil with a pH range between 6.0 and 7.5.

Companion Planting

Root-knot nematodes can infest the roots of zucchini plants, their larvae live inside the roots causing nobly and deformed growth.  These deformed roots are less efficient at up-taking water and nutrients from the soil causing the zucchini foliage to wilt and die back, often just as they are starting to flower and produce a crop.  Marigold roots naturally release nematicidal compounds into the surrounding soil and planting them around your zucchini plants can help to reduce the population of root-knot nematodes if they are a problem.

When To Sow

In cooler and mountainous regions of Australia sow Golden Zucchini seeds when the weather is warm from October to December.  In temperate regions of Australia sow Golden Zucchini seeds from September to January.  In frost-free subtropical regions of Australia sow Golden Zucchini seeds from July to March, avoid growing through Winter in subtropical areas that receive frosts.  In tropical regions of Australia sow Golden Zucchini seeds from March to October.

How To Sow

Sow Golden Zucchini seeds 2cm deep and about 60cm apart to provide room for the zucchini bushes to spread outwards.  Spacing zucchini plants a good distance apart is important as it allows for airflow between the plants, helping to reduce fungal diseases including powdery and downy mildews.  Sow zucchini seeds in the ground directly where they are to grow.

Time To Germination

The majority of zucchini seedlings will emerge 7 to 13 days after sowing the seeds.

Time To Harvest

Golden Zucchini takes between 8 and 10 weeks to start producing fruits.  Pick zucchinis while still young, before the seeds have matured for best flavour, sweetness and tenderness.  This variety grows as an upright, open bush which makes seeing and picking the fruits at the right stage easy.  Harvest zucchinis regularly to encourage further flower and fruit production.