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Cucurbitaceae
Cucurbita pepo 'Black Beauty'
Black Beauty Zucchini, Summer Squash
Throughout summer, this 1957 All-America Selections winner produces lots of long, smooth, dark green zucchini with tender, white, delicious flesh. They are borne on open, bush-type plants, making this a great choice for smaller gardens. Fruits are ready for harvest approximately 50 days from sowing, and should be picked often and early for best yields.
It is thought that zucchini appeared as spontaneous mutations of summer squash in 19th century Italy. They are derived from the New World species Cucurbita pepo, which was introduced to Europe by explorers of the Americas. These warm season, annual vines are monoecious, meaning single plants bear separate male and female flowers. These are large, yellow and funnel shaped. Male blossoms are generally produced first, followed by the fruit-producing female flowers, which are distinguished by bulbous ovaries at the bases. Following pollination by bees, these develop into fruits, which are often obscured by the plant’s large, coarse, heart-shaped or deeply lobed foliage.
Plant summer squash in full sun and deep, rich, well-drained loam when the soil has warmed and all danger of frost has passed. Regular water is essential, but the plants will not tolerate soggy conditions or wet feet. Where drainage is not optimal, it is advisable to plant them in raised mounds of fertile, porous soil. Watch closely for squash bugs, cucumber beetles and vine borers at the base of the stems. Yearly crop rotation and removal of dead plant debris at the end of the growing season can help to minimize insect and disease problems.
12 - 1
A1, A2, A3, H1, H2, 1a, 1b, 2a, 2b, 3a, 3b, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Vegetable
Full Sun
4'-5' / 1.2m - 1.5m
2'-3' / 0.6m - 0.9m
Indeterminate
North America, Mexico, Central America, South America
Neutral
Well Drained
Loam, Sand
Very Fast
Average Water
Vining/Climbing
Spring, Summer, Fall
Showy
Yellow, Dark Green
Dark Green
Green, Dark Green
Yes
No
Single
Coarse
Matte
Edible, Herb / Vegetable, Vine
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