Photo: "Zucchini-BlackBeauty-LargeFruit-8185" by graibeard · CC BY-SA 2.0

Vegetable · Summer-squash

Black Beauty Zucchini

Cucurbitaceae

THE standard zucchini. 1957 AAS winner, heirloom dating to 1920s. Most prolific summer squash — one plant can feed a family. Glossy dark green to black-green skin, firm creamy-white flesh. Bush habit (no trellis needed). MOST susceptible to SVB of all cucurbits. CRITICAL: harvest at 6-8 inches — fruit can grow from 6 to 12+ inches in 48 hours during peak season. Check daily in July-August.

At a Glance

Days to Maturity

45–55 days

Sun

6+ hours

8+ hours full sun

Spacing

24–36 "

Seed Start

3–4 weeks

before transplant

Container

Yes

5+ gallon pot

Height

1.5–3 ft

Zone Planting Guide

Your USDA Zone:

Growing Guide

Germination

Germination Time 3–10 days

Optimal Temp 85°F

Seed Depth 1"

Transplanting

Min Soil Temp 65°F

Harden Off 6 days

Watering

Weekly Water 1–2 "

Needs High

Method Base watering only. NEVER overhead — promotes PM and other diseases.

Soil

pH Range 6–6.8

Soil Type Well-drained, fertile, rich in organic matter

Resilience

Heat: High Cold: Low Drought: Medium

Nutrition

Feeding Intensity Heavy feeder

Recommended Recipes Worm castings topdress, Compost tea, Kelp foliar

Harvest

HARVEST SMALL. Flavor, texture, and continued production all decrease if fruit grows larger. Can grow 6 inches in 48 hours during peak.

Storage 5 days — Very limited shelf life. Best used fresh. Can blanch and freeze.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Sources

seed-catalog West Coast Seeds — Black Beauty seed-catalog Victory Seed Company — Black Beauty (history) university UMN Extension — SVB university UMD Extension — SVB university Colorado State University Extension — PlantTalk: Warm season vegetables (frost tender, best growth temps) university University of New Hampshire Extension — Growing vegetables: when to plant (zucchini/winter squash timing) university University of Illinois Extension — Harvesting vegetables (zucchini harvest frequency) university University of Arizona Cooperative Extension — The Art of Companion Planting (marigold/nasturtium effect on zucchini pests)

More Vegetables

Black Beauty Zucchini Planting Dates by Zone

Planting dates for Black Beauty Zucchini vary by USDA hardiness zone. Select your zone below for frost dates, start-indoors timing, and a full monthly planting calendar.

Zone 5A Zone 5B Zone 6A Zone 6B Zone 7A Zone 7B Zone 8A Zone 8B Zone 9A Zone 9B

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