Growing Zucchini in Zone 7b

Your planting timeline

1. Start seeds indoors~3 weeks before last frost (around March 13)
2. Transplant outdoorsafter your last frost, around April 3
3. Direct sowonce soil warms, around April 3
4. Harvestabout 45–60 days from transplant

Best varieties for zone 7b

Most varieties thrive; mix heavy croppers like Dunja and Black Beauty with the nutty, ridged Costata Romanesco for a long harvest.

Growing notes

Zucchini drinks heavily — give it roughly 1–2 inches of water per week, and more during heat or fruiting. Water deeply at the base 2–3 times a week rather than a daily sprinkle; this encourages deep roots and steadies the plant against drought. Keep the big leaves dry by watering in the morning at soil level, since wet foliage invites powdery mildew. Inconsistent watering causes fruit to abort at the tip, end up misshapen, or develop blossom-end rot. A 2–3 inch mulch of straw or shredded leaves conserves moisture and keeps the developing squash off bare soil. Container-grown plants dry quickly and may need daily watering at peak summer.