• 50

Space plants: 50 - 90 cm apart Compatible with (can grow beside): Corn, beans, nasturtiums, parsley, Silverbeet, Tomatoes Avoid growing close to: Potatoes Plant into a slightly raised, well composted bed and mulch. Needs regular plentiful water. Produces large leaves with a spread of about 1.5m x 1.5m. Some varieties trail a bit but don't climb. The yellow (or gold) variety is more resistant to mould damage in humid areas and remains productive even when the leaves have mildew on them. The yellow varieties sometimes have yellow patches on their leaves but it is just colour not disease. Blackjack is the most popular green variety. At the start, the plants produce mainly male flowers. The female ones start as the weather warms up and the plants grow. A spray with a 5gm/teasp Bicarbonate of Soda in 600ml/pint of water will help slow powdery mildew when it appears. Culinary hints - cooking and eating Zucchini Zucchini are best picked or cut off the stem at about 15cm / 6 inches. Pick frequently to keep the plant producing new flowers.