Growing Zucchini or Courgettes in a Greenhouse

Choose the Right Variety

There are dozens of varieties of zucchini and courgettes to choose from. You can find plants that grow short, long or round squash, or even ones that produce a yellow or white summer squash. Be sure to choose plants that are appropriate for growing inside a greenhouse. Plants that are bred for a greenhouse grow faster and produce more fruit. You may want to choose varieties that have resistance to disease, such as fusarium wilt, which can be a problem with growing zucchini or courgettes in a greenhouse. Also, choose varieties that mature quickly, so you can get a head-start on the growing season. If you have a limited growing season, such as if you live in a cooler climate, choose varieties that mature quickly. Early maturing varieties will produce more squash during the time that your greenhouse is warm.

Prepare the Soil and Planting Location

Before you start to prepare the soil for zucchini or courgettes, test it for pH and add any amendments, such as lime or compost, that are needed. Then, prepare the soil in the planting container or bed by adding enough compost to create light, fluffy soil that will drain well. Zucchini or courgette plants are warm-weather plants that will require a warm, moist environment in the greenhouse to grow well. Start the plants in a warm, moist environment and then transplant them to a slightly cooler, drier place, such as an unheated greenhouse, when they have grown their first set of leaves.

Install Venting and Humidity Control

No matter what type of greenhouse you decide to use, it’s important to install venting and humidity control. You want some airflow to keep your greenhouse from becoming too humid and stifling. And, you’ll want to install a misting system to provide a light amount of water to the plants. If you don’t have a greenhouse or other structure that you can use to grow zucchini or courgettes, you can still create a humidity-controlled environment inside a sunroom, or conservatory or by covering the ground with a tarp. You can also create a greenhouse effect by growing your plants indoors with a greenhouse kit.

Monitor Temperatures Inside the Greenhouse

While zucchini or courgette plants are growing, you’ll want to keep the temperature inside your greenhouse between 16–26 °C (61–78 °F). Once the plants have started to flower and produce fruit, you can increase the temperature a bit, to between 15–28 °C (59–82 °F). Keep an eye on the temperature inside the greenhouse and remove any plants that are wilting or showing signs of disease. It’s also a good idea to check the soil moisture, especially during the heat of the summer, to make sure that the plants don’t dry out.

Grow Zucchini or Courgettes to Harvest Time

Once your zucchini or courgette plants are producing flowers, you’ll want to keep an eye on the temperature and humidity inside the greenhouse. You don’t want the greenhouse to become too hot and dry while the plants are producing their fruit because they will taste and feel tough. Grow your plants to at least the first set of flowers. This first set of flowers usually grows quickly, so it’s best to harvest the fruit before the flowers open. Harvest the fruit by cutting it off the plant with a sharp knife. If you’re growing zucchini or courgette plants from seed, you can still plant them in a greenhouse. Set up a temporary greenhouse to extend the growing season and get a head start on the coming year.

Conclusion

Growing zucchini or courgettes in a greenhouse makes sense if you want to extend your growing season and get a head start in the coming year. Follow these tips to get started. You’ll want to choose varieties that are bred for greenhouse growth and mature quickly. You also want to grow your plants in a warm and humid environment, so it’s important to monitor the greenhouse’s temperature and humidity levels. Try these tips and enjoy harvesting fresh, homegrown summer squash.