Zucchini is a garden staple highly appreciated for its ease of cultivation, fast growth, and diverse culinary uses.
It’s a plant that brings gratification and produces a generous yield, even for novice gardeners.
However, the question isn’t just about how to grow zucchini — you also need to know which variety to pick.
Climbing Zucchini Varieties
- Black Forest Zucchini
- Climbing Italian Zucchini
- Lungo Bianco Zucchini
- Shooting Star Zucchini
- Tromboncino Zucchini
- Vegetable Spaghetti Zucchini
While most zucchini varieties are bushy and low-growing, some types have more of a vining, climbing habit.
These are great for gardeners with limited space, as they can be trained to grow upwards on a trellis or other support structure.
When growing climbing zucchinis, provide them with a sturdy trellis or similar structure to climb on.
This method saves space and can help improve air circulation around the plants, reducing the risk of diseases.
Black Forest Zucchini
This climbing zucchini variety can be trained to grow up a trellis or along a fence. It produces dark green fruits and is known for being a high-yielding variety.
Climbing Italian Zucchini
As the name suggests, this variety is a climber. It produces long, slightly ribbed fruits and can be trained to grow up a trellis, arbour, or fence.
Lungo Bianco Zucchini
This vining variety produces long, cylindrical fruits. The zucchinis are light green and have a mild flavour.
Shooting Star Zucchini
An unusual climbing zucchini variety known for its vibrant yellow, star-shaped fruits. This variety requires a solid trellis to support its weight.
Tromboncino Zucchini
Also known as Zucchetta, Tromboncino zucchinis are a vining Italian variety. They produce long, slender fruits that are slightly curved at the end, resembling a trombone. This variety is known for its sweet, nutty flavour and firm texture.
Vegetable Spaghetti Zucchini
Commonly known as Spaghetti Squash, this variety grows on a vine and can be trained to climb. When cooked, the flesh of the fruit separates into spaghetti-like strands.
Bush Zucchini Varieties
- All Green Bush Zucchini
- Astia Zucchini
- Burpee Fordhook Zucchini
- Eight Ball Zucchini
- Patio Star Zucchini
- Raven Zucchini
Bush zucchinis, or compact zucchinis, are excellent for gardeners with limited space or those who prefer container gardening.
These varieties tend to grow more upright and contained rather than sprawling out like traditional vining zucchinis.
All Green Bush Zucchini
The ‘All Green Bush’ zucchini grows in a compact bush form rather than vining out. Its fruits are cylindrical and straight, with a rich dark green colour.
Astia Zucchini
A bushy French variety bred specifically for container and small space gardening. Despite its compact size, it’s known for producing a generous harvest of glossy, flavourful zucchinis.
Burpee Fordhook Zucchini
This bush variety offers easy picking with its open habit and produces heavy yields of glossy, dark green zucchinis.
Eight Ball Zucchini
A fun variety that grows in a compact, bush-like manner and produces round, dark green fruits that are great for stuffing.
Patio Star Zucchini
This compact, bushy variety is great for patio gardens or small spaces. It matures early (about 50 days) and continues to produce throughout the season.
Raven Zucchini
This variety is known for its compact size, early maturity, and deep black-green fruits. It’s a good option for container gardening.
Heirloom Zucchini Varieties
- Black Beauty Zucchini
- Cocozelle Zucchini
- Costata Romanesco Zucchini
- Lebanese Zucchini (Cousa)
- Long Green Trailing Zucchini
- Ronde De Nice Zucchini
Heirloom zucchinis have been preserved and passed down through generations, often prized for their unique flavours, colours, shapes or other characteristics.
When growing heirloom zucchinis, remember that they might not be as disease resistant as some modern hybrids.
Black Beauty Zucchini
This American heirloom is most commonly known as the traditional green zucchini. It has a classic zucchini flavour and is excellent for various culinary uses.
Cocozelle Zucchini
Originating from Italy, Cocozelle is an heirloom zucchini variety with dark green fruits and light green stripes. It has a delicious, slightly nutty flavour.
Costata Romanesco Zucchini
Known for its distinctive ribbing and nutty flavour, Costata Romanesco is another Italian heirloom. This variety is considered by many to be one of the most flavourful zucchinis available.
Lebanese Zucchini (Cousa)
Also known as White Bush or Middle Eastern Zucchini, this heirloom variety yields pale green to white, slightly bulbous zucchinis. The flesh is sweet and firm.
Long Green Trailing Zucchini
This Australian heirloom is a vining variety that produces long, green zucchinis. It’s known for its prolific production and sweet flavour.
Ronde De Nice Zucchini
A French heirloom variety, Ronde De Nice produces round, green zucchinis perfect for stuffing.
Dwarf Zucchini Varieties
Dwarf or compact zucchini varieties are perfect for small gardens, raised beds, or container gardening.
Bush Baby Zucchini
A mini variety that’s ideal for container gardening. Despite its size, it’s a heavy producer, providing plenty of small, tasty zucchinis throughout the growing season.
Cue Ball Zucchini
Another round variety, Cue Ball zucchinis grow on a compact plant. The fruit is light green and perfect for grilling or stuffing.
Eight Ball Zucchini
This variety grows on a compact bush and produces fun, round zucchinis that are ideal for stuffing.
Patio Star Zucchini
This variety has been bred for small spaces and containers. Patio Star plants are quite compact, typically growing only about 60 cm wide, yet they are prolific producers.
Ronde de Nice Zucchini
A compact French heirloom variety that yields round zucchinis. It’s ideal for containers and small gardens.
Yellow Zucchini Varieties
- Gold Rush Zucchini
- Golden Zucchini
- Goldmine Zucchini
- Golden Egg Zucchini
- Gourmet Gold Zucchini
- Sunburst Squash
While most people associate zucchini with the colour green, there are indeed varieties of zucchini that are yellow.
These yellow varieties tend to have a slightly sweeter flavour than the more common green ones.
Gold Rush Zucchini
A hybrid variety known for its heavy yields, Gold Rush zucchinis are bright golden yellow with a mild flavour.
Golden Zucchini
This variety produces bright yellow zucchinis that have a smooth texture and a slightly sweeter flavour than green cultivars.
Goldmine Zucchini
Goldmine is a yellow, bush-type zucchini that produces high yields of golden zucchinis. It’s also known for its resistance to powdery mildew.
Golden Egg Zucchini
This unique variety produces round, egg-shaped zucchinis that are a bright, sunny yellow.
Gourmet Gold Zucchini
Gourmet Gold is a popular variety of zucchini, especially known for its bright yellow squash colour. This zucchini plant is a bush-type, meaning it doesn’t vine out like some other types of zucchini.
Sunburst Squash
While technically a type of pattypan squash, Sunburst has a similar taste and texture to zucchini. It produces bright yellow, scallop-shaped fruits.
Best Zucchini Varieties for Containers
- Astia Zucchini
- Cocozelle Zucchini
- Eight Ball Zucchini
- Gold Rush Zucchini
- Patio Star Zucchini
- Ronde de Nice Zucchini
Growing zucchini in containers is a fantastic way to save space in your garden and still enjoy a bountiful harvest.
It’s also perfect for urban gardeners who have a limited amount of space.
When growing zucchini in containers, choose a large enough pot (at least 20 litres) and use well-draining, fertile soil.
Astia Zucchini
Astia is a French bush variety bred for containers and small spaces. The plants are compact and very productive, producing glossy, flavourful zucchinis.
Cocozelle Zucchini
Cocozelle is a compact Italian variety that yields long, slender zucchinis with unique striping. Its compact growth habit makes it well-suited to containers.
Eight Ball Zucchini
This variety is a compact, bushy plant that yields round, ball-shaped zucchini. Their shape makes them fun for kids and perfect for stuffing.
Gold Rush Zucchini
Gold Rush produces vibrant golden zucchinis on a bush-type plant. The plants are compact and perfect for containers but yield a good amount of fruit.
Patio Star Zucchini
This is called Patio Star for a reason! It’s a compact variety that only grows about 60 cm wide but produces a decent yield.
Ronde de Nice Zucchini
This French heirloom variety produces round zucchinis that are perfect for stuffing. The plants have a compact growth habit, making them ideal for containers.
Best Zucchini Varieties for Short Seasons
- Black Beauty Zucchini
- Cocozelle Zucchini
- Golden Zucchini
- Greyzini Zucchini
- Patio Star Zucchini
- Raven Zucchini
While Australia is known for its warm climate, some regions have shorter growing seasons.
If you live in such a region, you may need to choose zucchini varieties that mature quickly.
Starting seeds indoors can give you a head start on the growing season when growing zucchinis in short-season areas.
Then, after the risk of frost has passed, you can transplant them outdoors. This approach can help you make the most of your shorter growing season.
Black Beauty Zucchini
This popular variety can produce harvest-ready zucchinis within 50-55 days after planting, making it a good option for shorter seasons.
Cocozelle Zucchini
This Italian variety matures quickly, often producing fruit within 40-50 days after planting. Its slender fruits are best when harvested young.
Golden Zucchini
Golden Zucchini is not only appealing for its bright yellow colour but also for its quick maturity, usually ready for harvest within 45-50 days.
Greyzini Zucchini
As a fast-growing variety, Greyzini can yield harvestable fruits in 42-45 days. It produces smooth, straight fruits with a light green colour.
Patio Star Zucchini
A compact variety bred for container gardening, Patio Star matures early (about 50 days) and continues to produce throughout the season.
Raven Zucchini
This variety is known for its rapid growth, often ready for harvest within 45-50 days. It yields dark green, glossy zucchinis with excellent flavour.
Self Pollinating Types of Zucchini
Zucchini plants are monoecious, meaning each plant has both male and female flowers.
They usually require the assistance of insects to transfer the pollen from the male flowers to the female flowers, a process called cross-pollination.
Certain zucchini varieties, however, have been bred to be parthenocarpic. Parthenocarpic plants can set fruit without pollination, making them a type of “self-pollinating” plant.
This can benefit gardeners with a low bee population or who are growing zucchini indoors.
While the following varieties have been bred to be self-pollinating, they can still benefit from cross-pollination for higher yields.
Cavili Zucchini
This light green, parthenocarpic variety is known for its high yields. It’s a great option for early harvesting.
Dunja Zucchini
This is a high-yielding, organic variety known for its resistance to diseases and ability to set fruit without pollination.
Golda Zucchini
Golda is a parthenocarpic variety that produces beautiful golden zucchinis.
Partenon Zucchini
As the name suggests, this variety is parthenocarpic and can set fruit without pollination. It’s a high-yielding variety that produces dark green, glossy zucchinis.
Sure Thing Zucchini
This variety is known for its ability to produce fruit reliably, even in adverse conditions. It can set fruit without pollination.
How Do I Pick the Best Zucchini Plant for My Region?
Choosing the right zucchini cultivar for your region requires considering several factors.
Here’s a handy guide to help you make the right selection:
Climate
Some zucchini varieties are more tolerant to heat or cold than others. Most zucchini cultivars prefer warm weather, but heat-tolerant and cold-tolerant types are available.
For instance, if your region experiences hot, dry weather, consider a variety that is heat-tolerant and resistant to drought, such as ‘Black Beauty’.
If you live in a cooler region, you may want to look for a variety that matures quickly.
Disease Resistance
If you know that certain plant diseases are common in your area, it can be beneficial to choose a cultivar with resistance to those diseases.
For example, ‘Golden Zucchini’ is known for its resistance to powdery mildew.
Soil Type
While zucchinis generally prefer well-draining soil, some cultivars can tolerate a wider range of soil conditions than others.
Garden Space
Some zucchini cultivars are compact and suitable for small gardens or containers, while others require more growing space.
Varieties like Cocozelle are perfect for container gardening due to their compact growth habit.
Culinary Preferences
Think about how you plan to use your zucchinis.
A round zucchini variety like ‘Ronde De Nice’ is a good choice for making stuffed zucchini.
If you prefer zucchini for baking or grilling, ‘Black Beauty’ or ‘Golden Zucchini’ may be more suitable.
Growing Zucchini in Australia
Growing zucchini in Australia is generally straightforward.
Zucchinis prefer a sunny position and well-drained soil enriched with compost or well-rotted manure.
Seedlings can be planted after the last frost, and within 6-9 weeks, you’ll be harvesting your homegrown zucchinis.
To keep your plants healthy and productive, water them consistently, especially during dry periods.
Regular picking encourages more growth, so harvest your zucchinis regularly.
Look for common pests like aphids, powdery mildew, and fruit fly.
FAQs About Types of Zucchini in Australia
Is zucchini a squash or a cucumber?
Zucchini is a kind of summer squash, not a cucumber.
It belongs to the species Cucurbita pepo, along with pumpkins and other cultivars of winter squash.
So, while zucchini and cucumbers are related and have some similarities, they are distinct in terms of their botanical classification and culinary use.
Is zucchini a fruit or a vegetable?
In botanical terms, zucchini is technically a fruit because it is part of the plant that develops from a flower and contains seeds.
However, in culinary terms, zucchini is usually treated as a vegetable. This is because of its savoury flavour and how it’s typically used in cooking.
Which zucchini varieties are resistant to powdery mildew?
While no zucchini variety is entirely immune to powdery mildew, some are more resistant than others.
Here are a few varieties known for their resistance:
- Dunja Zucchini: This is a high-yielding, organic variety known for its resistance to powdery mildew. It produces dark green fruits and can withstand cooler climates.
- Defender Zucchini: As the name suggests, this variety is a strong defender against diseases, including powdery mildew. It produces high yields of light green zucchinis.
- Golden Glory Zucchini: Besides being highly resistant to powdery mildew, Golden Glory is also known for its bright golden fruits.
- Green Machine Zucchini: This hybrid variety is resistant to powdery mildew and papaya ringspot virus. It produces high yields of dark green zucchinis.
- Partenon Zucchini: Partenon is a parthenocarpic zucchini variety, meaning it doesn’t require pollination to produce fruit. It is known for its resistance to powdery mildew and other diseases.
- Temptation Zucchini: This variety is known for its early yield and high resistance to powdery mildew. It produces glossy, dark green zucchinis.
Are zucchini seeds edible?
Zucchini seeds are indeed edible. When zucchinis are young and small, the seeds are hardly noticeable, and both the seeds and flesh are eaten.
As the zucchini matures, the seeds become larger and harder.
While these larger seeds are still safe to eat, some people prefer to scoop them out before cooking because they may have a tougher texture.
Is there a zucchini variety without seeds?
Like all squashes, zucchinis naturally develop seeds as part of their reproductive process.
However, if you harvest zucchinis when they’re young and small, the seeds won’t have fully developed and will be soft and barely noticeable.
Can I eat zucchini flowers?
Yes, zucchini flowers are indeed edible and are considered a delicacy in many cuisines, particularly in Italy and Mexico.
They have a subtle flavour, somewhat sweet and slightly reminiscent of young zucchinis.
Both male and female flowers can be eaten, but it’s more common to eat male flowers as this won’t prevent the plant from producing fruit.
Male flowers are typically on longer, thinner stems and they don’t have a tiny zucchini at the base.
How many varieties of zucchini are there?
There are dozens of named varieties of zucchini, each with its unique size, shape, colour, flavour, growth habit and disease-resistance characteristics.
Moreover, breeders are continuously developing new varieties with different growth characteristics or disease-resistance traits.
There’s a Zucchini for Everyone
With so many different types of zucchini, you’re sure to find one that suits your gardening style.
From the space-saving bush and dwarf types to the vining and climbing ones, you can choose based on size, growing conditions, and disease resistance.
You can also explore the wide array of heirloom and self-pollinating varieties.
Whether you’re a seasoned green thumb or a beginner, remember to have fun as you embark on your zucchini-growing journey.
