Black Beauty Zucchini Summer Squash Seeds

Wait until the final spring frost has passed and the soil has warmed up, as cold ground slows sprouting and invites rot before the seedlings even get moving. Sow Zucchini Black Beauty seeds 1 inch deep, planting 2-3 seeds per spot, then thin to the strongest plant once they establish. Germination usually takes 4-14 days in soil temperatures around 60-85°F.

Give Black Beauty Zucchini plant full sun from the start, because shade cuts flowering and weakens the crop. Use moist, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter and a pH around 6.5-7.0; soggy ground grows problems faster than zucchini. Water at the base, keep moisture steady, and mulch once the soil warms to help hold water, cool roots, and keep fruit cleaner. Set plants on 6-8 inch mounds if your soil runs heavy or slow after rain, then space them 24-36 inches apart with 36-48 inches between rows for good airflow. 

Feed after the first blooms, then again during fruiting, because a fast-producing Black Beauty Zucchini squash uses a lot of nutrients. Harvest starts in about 60-70 days, so make sure to harvest regularly, because if you skip picking for a few days, fruit jumps from tender to oversized. Cut zucchini at the stem with a knife or shears when it reaches 6-8 inches for the best eating quality, though fruit can stretch to 18-24 inches if left too long.