Dark Star Organic Zucchini

Nature & Nurture Seeds

Cucurbita pepo

$4.99

Pkt(≈15 seeds)
VALUE SIZE: (≈95 seeds)
Certified Organic

For those who love green zucchini, Dark Star is a top pick. Bred through a collaboration of the Organic Seed Alliance and Eel River Farms, with a goal to create an open-pollinated zucchini that is reliably uniform and dark green. This one gives the corporate-owned hybrid zucchini seeds that dominate the seed market a run for their money. Compact form is good for small gardens and its open plant habit makes the squash easy to harvest. Compared to the hybrids, it keeps producing into late summer after the standards have pooped out. A good choice for market growers. 55 days. 

This zucchini is a “bush” (non-vining) type of squash needing 3 foot spacing between plants. Direct sow seeds outdoors (1/2-1” deep) around June 1st. Days to germination: 4-10. As with all cucurbits, squash plants do not like their roots disturbed during transplanting so if starting seeds indoors, use biodegradable pots. Start seeds indoors May 1st – ideal temperature for germination is 85°- 95° (use heating mat). Squash seedlings are sensitive to damping off fungus so keep seeds on the drier side and use a fan (set to low) to provide air circulation. Once 2 leaves appear, grow plants at 72°. Do not let plants become potbound. Transplant (biodegradable pot and all) outdoors around May 21st, spaced 3’ apart. For zucchini harvest all summer long, start a 2nd succession of seeds 3 weeks after the first. Squash like soil with a lot of organic matter so add compost and/or decomposed manure to soil prior to planting. It is always a good idea to protect seedlings from cucumber beetles and squash bugs by covering them with row cover fabric at planting and leaving it on until plants are flowering. Protect squash plants from deer and groundhogs.