Zone 8 · Squash Growing Guide

When to Plant Zucchini / Courgette
in Zone 8

The classic overproducer. Two plants feed a family — three and you'll be leaving bags on neighbours' doorsteps. Plant in hills with lots of compost.

Plant outdoors
Mar 15 – May 1
Start indoors
Mar 1 – Mar 10
Last Frost
~Feb 15
Days to harvest
45–60 days
Difficulty
Easy
Growing — Zone 8
Harvest window: May – Jul, Sep – Nov

Planting Calendar

In Zone 8, Zucchini / Courgette should be planted outdoors Mar 15 – May 1, after the average last frost date of approximately Feb 15. Start seeds indoors around Mar 1 – Mar 10 for a head start.

Spring and fall crops. Summer is challenging due to heat and squash vine borer. Fall planting often more productive.

Care Guide

Sunlight
Full sun · 6–8 hrs/day
Watering
High
Spacing
24–36 inches
Soil
Rich, well-draining, compost-amended
Days to maturity
45–60 days
Soil pH
6.0–7.5
plant tip · Zone 8

Spring and fall crops. Summer is challenging due to heat and squash vine borer. Fall planting often more productive.

Feeding Schedule

How often
every 3 weeks
Feed type
balanced (10-10-10)
Key timing
at planting and monthly

Heavy feeder — add generous compost at planting. Avoid excess nitrogen once flowering or you'll get lots of leaf and few fruit.

Succession Planting

Sow every 4 weeks

Sow a second batch 4 weeks after the first. Zucchini plants tire and become disease-prone by late summer — a second sowing gives you fresh, productive plants for the autumn harvest.

Companion Planting for Zucchini / Courgette

What you plant next to zucchini / courgette makes a real difference — some plants actively help, others compete or attract pests.

Grows well with
  • Beans
  • Corn
  • Nasturtiums
  • Marigolds
Keep away from
  • Potatoes
  • Brassicas
  • Fennel

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Common questions

In Zone 8, start zucchini / courgette seeds indoors around Mar 1 – Mar 10, then transplant outdoors Mar 15 – May 1 after your last frost around Feb 15. Spring and fall crops. Summer is challenging due to heat and squash vine borer. Fall planting often more productive.
Zone 8 has an average last spring frost of approximately Feb 15 and a first fall frost around Dec 1. These dates vary by specific location — use your ZIP code in the plant app for precision based on the nearest NOAA weather station.
Good companion crops for zucchini / courgette include Beans, Corn, Nasturtiums, Marigolds. Avoid planting near Potatoes, Brassicas, Fennel, which can compete for nutrients or attract pests.
Zucchini / Courgette typically takes 45–60 days from transplant or direct sow to harvest in Zone 8. Expected harvest window: May – Jul, Sep – Nov.

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Zucchini / Courgette in other zones
Crop Guides