Zucchini

 Zucchini plants are easy to grow and they are prolific producers. This is the perfect plant to grow if you are just starting out your gardening experience. I had about 4 plants last summer (2011) and I got plenty, but could have more since our family loves to eat them. I love how the plant surprises me with its fruit. What I mean by that is, when I walk by to check on them I don't see any fruit, but when I go back in two days time, Voila! A big one is waiting to be picked. One of my favorite thing to do in the summer was grilling vegetable kabob with lots of zucchinis that were freshly picked from the garden, yummy delicious!

When to plant. After all danger of frost,  plant direct in a sunny location.

How to plant. Sow 5 seeds spaced evenly over a hill 9 - 12 inches tall and 2 feet across. When plants are 3 inches tall, thin by cutting to the 3 strongest seedlings per hill. To avoid weeding, mulch heavily around plants and in the rows.

Light	Full sun
Seed Depth	1 in
Spacing Row/plant	3 ft / 4 ft
Days to germinate	7-10
Days to harvest	63
Preserve by	Freezing & canning

Harvest. Pick summer squash early and often to encourage production.  Ready to harvest just after blossom falls from fruit and fruit can be easily dented with thumbnail.

Health Benefits. (http://lifestyle.iloveindia.com/lounge/benefits-of-zucchini-1313.html)

• Zucchini helps cure asthma, as it contains Vitamin C, which is a powerful antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties.
• The vegetable is known to help prevent diseases like scurvy and bruising, caused by the deficiency of vitamin C.
• Regular intake of zucchini effectively lowers high homocysteine levels in the human body.
• The vegetable can help prevents risk of having multiple sclerosis (MS).
• Zucchinis have high water content (over 95%), high nutritious value and contain a very low amount of calories, so they make the perfect snack item for people on diet.
• The vegetable contains useful amounts of folate, potassium, and vitamin A, necessary for proper functioning of the human body.
• Zucchini contains Vitamin C and lutein, both of which are known to be good for the eyes.
• The vegetable is a good source of vitamin B6, riboflavin, manganese and a lot of other nutrients.
• Eating zucchini is known to help the body in supporting the arrangement of capillaries.
• Regular consumption of the vegetable can help protect the body against colon cancer.
• Zucchini is believed to be beneficial in preventing heart disease and related symptoms, such as high cholesterol.
• The rind of zucchini contains the nutrient beta-carotene, which is known to be full of antioxidant properties and thus, helps protect cells against oxidation damage.
• The vegetable proves to be a good source of magnesium and phosphorus, the nutrients essential for building and maintaining healthy bones.
• Zucchini is rich in vitamin C, another powerful antioxidant that can provide protection against cardiovascular disease.