About
'Cucurbita pepo 'Midnight' is a compact zucchini variety that delivers a high yield. Its foliage features deep green, palmate leaves beautifully interlaced with silver-grey marbling. The plant's spineless leaf stems facilitate the easy harvesting of its glossy, dark green fruits, which reach their optimal size of 15-20 cm (6-8 in) when ready to be picked. This cultivar produces fruit continuously from July through October, provided that the developing zucchinis are harvested regularly. Its compact growth habit makes it ideal for container gardening on patios with limited space. The vibrant yellow flowers attract pollinators and can also be harvested for culinary use.
About the genus
This genus consists of small, annual herbaceous plants that either climb or trail. Several species within this group are cultivated for their edible fruits and other applications. They originate from Central and South America. The flowers are typically solitary and star-shaped, exhibiting a golden-yellow hue. The leaves are characterized by their palmately lobed structure and are adorned with fine, prickly hairs.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun
- Soil type
- Loam, Sand
- Soil pH
- Acid, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained, Well-drained
- Aspect
- South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H2
Plant details
- Plant type
- Annual Biennial
- Habit
- Bushy
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.5-1 metres
- Time to full height
- 1 year
- Suggested uses
- Patio and container plants, Wildlife gardens
- Toxicity
- Humans/Pets: If crop is bitter, don't eat or feed to pets. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in fertile, moisture retentive but well drained, acidic to neutral soil in full sun. Sow indoors March to May in good quality seed compost. Sow the seeds on their side 1cm deep and maintain a constant temperature of 18-21C. Feed regularly with a high potassium fertiliser when the first fruits start to swell. See courgette cultivation
- Pruning
- No pruning required
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds or sowing seeds indoors for further advice
- Pest resistance
- Generally pest-free
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to grey moulds and powdery mildews