Spring planting doesn’t start when the air feels warm, It...Read More
Black Beauty Zucchini is an heirloom variety of squash that was bred in the 1920’s. This variety grows very quickly and produces an overabundance of excellent quality zucchini throughout the season starting in the spring and lasting until early fall. These plants have a bushy growth habit, making it very easy to pick. They are also very easy to grow and fairly maintenance free.
Black Beauty Zucchini can be grown in very large containers with adequate drainage. The plant showcases a glossy, dark green skin with a creamy, off-white flesh. For best flavor, these slender & firm fruits are picked when they are between 6 and 8 inches long, and 3 inches in diameter. Grilled, baked or fried, black beauty zucchini is a versatile kitchen ingredient. If you let them grow longer, they can grow to be 2 feet long, making them great for zucchini bread and muffins. Try making your own breakfast power muffin using Black Beauty Zucchini.
The yellow blossom flowers are edible at a young stage as well as the fruit. Try cooking them up like a fritter, stuffing them with cheese, or beer battered and deep-fried. The flavor profile of the blossoms is similar, yet mild, to that of the squash itself, with more floral and sweet notes.
NAME: Zucchini (Cucurbita Pepo)
VARIETY: Black Beauty
DAYS TO MATURITY: 50 – 60 days
POLLINATION: Open Pollinated
TYPE: Annual
HARDINESS ZONE: Zones 3 – 12
SUNLIGHT: Full Sun
SOIL: Fertile, loose soil with a pH 5.7 – 6.8
PLANT HEIGHT: 12 – 24 inches
SPACING: 36 – 48 inches apart
TEMP: 55 – 95°F
These seeds do not required stratification.
To learn more about Stratification, click here!
Start seeds 1 week before your last local spring frost.
Sow 2 seeds 1/2 inch deep in a cell tray or in 4 inch pots that have proper, moistened seed starting mix.
Provide a heated area or heat mats to keep the soil temps at 60 to 70°F.
Supply fluorescent/LED grow lights 3 inches above the cell trays or pots, 12 hours on, 12 hours off.
Keep the soil moist until seedlings sprout, germination will occur in 5 to 10 days.
Remove all but 1 seedling per each cell or pot as soon as they are 2 inches tall.
Once the soil reaches 60°F, direct sow into your pre-prepared beds, one seed 1/2 inch deep every 12 inches in rows that are spaced 3 feet apart.
Water generously and germination will occur in 5 to 10 days.
Once seedlings emerge, thin seedlings so they will are spaced 3 feet apart, which will allow them to have the space to fully mature and produce large crops; overcrowded plants will produce less.
In cool climates, Black Beauty Zucchini seeds should be started indoors.
Prep your planting beds by picking a spot that gets full sun and has loose, fertile soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5, removing any surrounding weeds and adding ample compost.
Avoid getting the leaves wet as this can cause diseases such as rot or mildew.
Zucchini plants have shallow root structures, so when the leaves begin to develop, add a layer of mulch to help conserve moisture, control weeds and keep the squashes clean from too much soil contact.
Harvest zucchini when they are young and tender, typically when they reach 6-8 inches in length and 1-2 inches in diameter.
Use a sharp knife or scissors to cut the zucchini from the vine, leaving a short stem attached.
Harvest regularly to encourage the plant to continue producing new fruits.
Check the plants daily during the peak growing season, as zucchini can grow rapidly and become overripe if left on the vine too long.
Store harvested zucchini in the refrigerator for up to a week, or preserve by freezing, canning, or pickling for longer storage.
Zucchini flower blossoms are edible and can be harvested in the morning when fully open, using scissors to snip with a short stem attached; rinse gently and use immediately for culinary dishes or store briefly in the refrigerator.
