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Zucchinis are a very popular vegetable in this country. Growing it in the garden is quite easy. With the right neighbors next to the zucchini, a good harvest and stable growth are guaranteed.
In a nutshell
- Zucchini are heavy feeders
- good neighbors have a positive influence on growth
- choice to fall on weak consumers
- Neighboring plants have similar soil and location requirements
- bad neighbors stunt growth and attract pests and diseases
Choosing the right plant partner
Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo var. giromontiina), also known as "little pumpkin", is a heavy feeder, in other words it needs a lot of nutrients during the growth phase and also an adequate water supply. Under good growing conditions and with good neighbors, up to five fruits per week can be harvested from a zucchini from June until autumn. For this purpose, further demands of the plants must be considered such as
- Location: sunny to semi-shady, warm and sheltered
- Floor: loose, rich in humus and nutrients
When choosing the planting partner, the main focus should be on the nutrient requirements of the respective plants. Plants with similar requirements are not always good neighbors here, but they can rather inhibit the growth of the zucchini. These are then more likely to be bad neighbors, more on that later.
Notice: There should always be a break of four years between the cultivation of zucchini plants and other pumpkin varieties.
Good neighbors
It may sound a bit crazy, but even with plants there are different neighbors who like each other and others who don't. Different metabolites of the zucchini can influence the growth of their neighbors. The root excretions, i.e. saponins (soap substances) and essential oils are particularly important, and this also applies to the cultivation of zucchini. Below are some good neighbors, listed alphabetically.
Good neighbors from A to F
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
- annual lamiaceae
- popular kitchen herb
- Growth height up to 50 cm
- white flowers from June to September
- attract insects for pollination
- sunny, sheltered location
- loose soils
- no waterlogging
Beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)
- annual butterfly family
- Creeper, 3 to 4 m high
- green or blue fruit pods
- Preculture possible from the end of April
- Direct sowing from March to mid-May
- three inches deep
- sunny, warm location
- humic, deep, loose soil
- Regular soil loosening and composting
Notice: Broad beans (Vicia faba), also known as "broad beans", are particularly suitable as a good pre-culture for zucchini. They can be sown at the end of February and optimally prepare the soil for zucchini plants. They enrich it with nitrogen.
Borage (Borago officinalis)
- annual "cucumber herb"
- Growth height up to 80 cm
- blue flowers attract insects
- sunny to partially shaded location
- no special demands on soil
Dill (Anethum graveolens)
- annual
- popular herb
- Growth height up to 125 cm
- from July yellowish umbelliferous flowers
- sunny to partially shaded location
- well-drained soil
Endive (Cichorium endivia)
- related to chicory
- Sowing/planting in summer
- Harvest in winter
- sunny, sheltered places
- plentiful watering and thorough loosening of the soil
- water only in the root area
Peas (Pisum sativum)
- annual lepidopteran family, climbing
- Growth height up to 1m
- Direct sowing from March to mid-May
- three inches deep
- Preculture possible from March
- Plant out in May
- sunny and warm
- humic, deep, loose soil
from G to O
Spice marigolds (Tagetes tenuifolia)
- Growth height 20 to 40 cm
- Leaves smell of lemon and orange
- edible, golden to lemon yellow flowers
- attract insects for pollination
- sunny to partially shaded location
- thrive on all soils
- Root exudates drive away nematodes (roundworms)
Notice: Three zucchini plants are enough for a family of four.
Nasturtium (Tropaeolum hybrids)
- creeper
- Growth height up to 2 m
- yellow, orange, red flowers
- protects against whiteflies (Aleyrodidae), as well as blood and aphids
- sunny, wind-protected locations
- water copiously
Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes)
- short culture time
- from planting to harvest 4 to 6 weeks
- therefore cultivation possible from spring to summer
- Observe crop rotation
- sufficient water necessary
Leek (Allium porrum)
- biennial leek
- Growth height 50 to 60 cm
- sunny to semi-shady
- humic, nutritious, moist soil
- no waterlogging
- Direct sowing from March/April
- keep soil moist
- loosen regularly
Maize (Zea mays)
- belonging to the grass family (Poaceae).
- Direct sowing from the end of April to mid-May
- Harvest July to mid-August
- sunny, warm, sheltered place
- Soil: deep, loose, moist, rich in nutrients
- protects against soil erosion
Chard (Beta vulgaris)
- Goosefoot Plant
- Planting/sowing end of May to beginning of June
- sown chard roots deeper
- therefore less watering necessary
- sunny to semi-shady
- humus-rich, nutrient-rich, well-drained soil
Carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus)
- annual umbellifer
- orange to reddish-yellow tubers
- thereby loosening the soil
- sunny to semi-shady
- humic, loose, deep soil
- Direct sowing from March to the end of June
- Keep the soil evenly moist and loosen
from P to R
Parsley (Petroselinum crispum)
- Growth height up to 60 cm
- two-year-old umbellifer
- Flowering from June to July
- sunny to partially shaded place
- no special demands on soil
- regular watering and fertilizing
Petunia (Petunia)
- these summer flowers are also good neighbors
- annual, herbaceous, funnel-shaped flowers
- Growth height 15 to 30 cm
- lots of light, no blazing sun
- sheltered place
- Planting after ice saints from mid-May
- clean regularly
- pour copiously
Radicchio (Cichorium intybus var. foliosum)
- form of chicory
- Cultivation from May to June
- nutrient-rich soils
- adequate watering
- very frost hardy
- harvest in autumn
- Cover remaining stalks with straw or fleece
- new sprouting in late winter
Radish (Raphanus sativus var. sativus)
- annual cruciferous plant
- ideal as an early vegetable
- Culture possible from mid-March to September
- Sow every two to three weeks
- sunny to semi-shady
- loose, humus-rich soil
Radish (Raphanus sativus)
Black radish (Raphanus sativus var. niger)
- biennial
- elongated turnip, mostly in the ground
- good soil loosening
- sunny to semi-shady
- loose, fresh, humus-rich soil
- no waterlogging
- Direct sowing from mid-March to July
- chop occasionally
- keep moist
Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
- Growth height up to 70 cm
- yellow to orange flowers from June to October
- attracts insects for pollination
- Root exudates fight nematodes (roundworms)
- sunny locations
- sufficiently moist soil
Beetroot (Beta vulgaris)
- Annual tuberous vegetable with a round, dark red, fleshy root
- Growth height 20 to 30 cm
- sunny to semi-shady
- nutrient-rich, loose soil
- Direct sowing from mid-April to July
- keep evenly moist
- chop carefully
from S to Z
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
Lettuce (Lactuca sativavar. crispa)
- Beginning of culture from April
- Lettuce is a good filler
- short cultivation period of four to six weeks
- sunny location
Celery (Apium graveolens)
- biennial
- Growth height 50 to 100 cm
- small white to yellowish-white umbelliferous flowers in July and September
- different sorts
- sunny location
- nutrient-rich soil with a high humus content
- Preculture from March
- Plant outdoors from mid-May
- adequate water supply
- regular loosening of the soil
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)
Strawberry spinach (Blitum virgatum)
- annual goosefoot plant
- Growth height 10 to 30 cm
- sunny to semi-shady
- humus-rich, fresh soil
- depending on the type of culture from March to November
- Direct sowing in the bed
- keep evenly moist
- regular loosening of the soil
Onions (Allium cepa)
- also good neighbors for zucchini
- leek plant
- Preculture from February
- from March outdoors
- sunny to partially shaded location
- loose, humus-rich, well-drained soil
- regular loosening of the soil
- protects against soil erosion
Notice: When all zucchini plants have been harvested, the beds are cleared and, as green manure, a "bee friend" (Phacelia) is sown.
Bad neighbors
There are not only good neighbors for the zucchini, but also bad neighbors. Such plant neighbors can do more harm than good when cultivated in mixed cultures with zucchini plants. As already mentioned, the zucchini is a heavy feeder. It removes large amounts of nutrients from the soil. In addition, high watering is necessary. In short, zucchini does not really get along well with plants that require similar amounts of nutrients and water. Such plants include:
Various nightshades (Solanaceae), such as
- Tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum)
- Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum)
- Eggplant (Solanum melongena)
- Paprika (Capsicum annuum)
Heavily consuming types of cabbage (Brassica) such as
- Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera)
- Savoy cabbage (Brassica oleracea convar. capitata var. sabauda)
- Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica)
Some cucurbits (Cucurbitaceae) like
- Pumpkin (Cucurbita)
- Cucumbers (Cumis sativus)
- Sugar melons (Cucumis melo)
- Watermelons (Citrullus lanatus)
Pumpkin (Cucurbita), muskmelons (Cucumis melo), cucumbers (Cumis sativus) (from left to right)
Notice: Especially in mixed cultures with cucumbers, melons and pumpkins, the zucchini can also be infected with pumpkin diseases. In addition, pumpkins require a lot of space.
frequently asked Questions
What are the advantages of growing vegetables in mixed crops?Various vegetables, herbs and flowers can be planted in mixed cultivation. Such a combination leads to better growth, competition for nutrients is reduced and thus soil depletion is prevented. In addition, pest and disease infestation of the plants is reduced. Due to the different growth forms of the individual types of vegetables, better use of the available space is also possible.
When should zucchini be planted outdoors?Planting outdoors should only take place after the ice saints from mid-May, as these plants are sensitive to frost. Due to the size, a planting distance of 80x80x100 cm is advisable. For good fertilization, there should always be at least two plants next to each other. A preculture can be done indoors from April. Direct sowing outdoors is also possible from the end of May / beginning of June.
What care do zucchini plants need during the growth phase?The first priority is, of course, an adequate supply of nutrients. Therefore, before planting, three to five liters of compost per square meter should be lightly raked into the top layer of soil. During the growth phase, a weekly dose of nettle manure mixed with water at a ratio of 1:10 can supply important nutrients. Furthermore, it must be watered extensively in the morning. It also makes sense to regularly loosen the soil and apply a layer of mulch made from lawn clippings.