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Black Zucchini Squash is an open-pollinated summer squash with strikingly dark green skin that earned its common name despite its true coloring. This frost-tender annual thrives in warm conditions across hardiness zones 3-11, producing white-fleshed fruit with small seeds that's ready to harvest in just 40-49 days. Easy to grow and equally easy to pick, it delivers genuine flavor in a compact bush form that fits nicely into home gardens.
Full Sun
Moderate
3-11
24in H x ?in W
—
Low
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Despite its name, the dark green exterior is what catches your eye first, giving these summer squash an almost mysterious appearance at harvest time. What really matters is what's inside: tender white flesh with minimal seeds and a genuinely delicious taste that outperforms many modern hybrids. The variety earns its reputation for ease, both in the garden and at picking time, making it a reliable choice for gardeners who want flavor without fuss.
Black Zucchini Squash is used as a summer squash in the kitchen, sliced and sautéed, grilled, roasted, or incorporated into baked goods like zucchini bread. Its tender white flesh and small seed content make it excellent for dishes where you want the squash to shine without fibrous seeds interfering with texture.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Start seeds indoors 3-4 weeks before your last frost date in soil temperatures of 70-85°F. Keep soil consistently warm and moist until germination. Transplant seedlings outdoors only after all danger of frost has passed and soil has warmed.
Harden off seedlings gradually over 7-10 days by exposing them to outdoor conditions for increasing periods. Transplant when soil temperature is consistently above 60°F and all frost danger has passed. Space plants 72 inches apart.
Direct sow seeds into warm soil (70-85°F) after the last frost date has passed. Plant seeds and thin seedlings to 72-inch spacing once established.
Harvest Black Zucchini Squash when the skin is dark green and firm, typically 40-49 days after planting. Pick fruit when it reaches tender maturity, as younger squash have better flavor and texture. The fruit should feel heavy for its size and the skin should offer slight resistance to pressure. Regular harvesting encourages continued production throughout the season.
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