- 1). Ensure your zucchini is growing in warm, frost-free weather and after soil temperatures reach 65 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Zucchini prefers warm weather and will not grow well or produce fruit in temperatures that are too cool. Check that your zucchini plants are growing in full sun, with at least six to eight hours of daily sunshine.
- 2). Water zucchini plants regularly, keeping the planting site moist for healthy plants. Water in the morning and apply the water around the plant's base, not over its foliage, to cut down on plant diseases. Apply mulch around the plant's base to help the soil retain moisture.
- 3). Check unhealthy looking plants for insects such as squash beetles, cucumber beetles, aphids, spidermites or cutworms that stunt or can kill zucchini plants. Look at the undersides of leaves for pests or holes in the stems as well as yellowing or curling foliage. Treat the plant with an insecticidal soap or insecticide appropriate for use on zucchini, following instructions on the packaging.
- 4). Treat plants with a fungicide containing copper or sulfur, if reddish-brown or black spots form on the foliage and fruits. The spots indicate your zucchini has developed the fungus Anthracnose, which is prevalent when humidity levels are high and the weather is rainy. Zucchini plants will suffer loss of vigor and fruits, and leaf drop may occur.
- 5). Determine your soil's pH with a soil testing kit, available from most home improvement stores. Zucchini prefers fertile, lightweight, well-draining soil with a pH between 5.5 and 6.8.
- 6). If you haven't planted your zucchini yet, soak the seeds in room-temperature water for a day before planting. Dry them on a paper towel if you are having problems getting seeds to germinate. This will soften the hard exterior of the seed and increase the rate of germination.
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