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growing zucchini #764664

Asked July 29, 2021, 3:43 PM EDT

I have been gardening organically in Anchorage (hillside) in raised beds for 20+ years. My garden is usually pretty productive, but in the last couple of years my zuchinnis have not been producing well. I thought I would give that bed a rest year. So I moved everything to another bed. Well the zukes are doing worse. The plants are tiny and there are a few fruits, but they are not growing well. A few have blossom end issues, but not all. They are just not growing! I am trying to keep the soils moisture more even and they are definitely greener than they were. They are in a more shaded spot, and stuck between the broccolli and the scarlet runner beans, which are quite happily growing. Do you think they might need more sun? Should I try moving them to the sunnier "rehab bed" at this late date? Is there a nutrient or additive I should try? I am concerned that I am somehow unable to grow a darned summer squash in Alaska anymore! But the whole garden seems slow this year. Is it the weather? Everything seems a bit slow this year.

Anchorage County Alaska

Expert Response

Hi Maggie,

It is almost certainly a nutrient issue.  Next year fertilize them with 5 pounds/100 square feet of 8-32-16 fertilizer.

++++++++++
Stephen C. Brown, Ph.D.
District Agriculture Agent
Space Grant Agent
Cooperative Extension Service
University of Alaska Fairbanks
1509 S. Georgeson Rd.
Palmer, Alaska  9964<personal data hidden> voice
sites.google.com/a/alaska.edu/brown/
<personal data hidden>
++++++++++

The University of Alaska is an affirmative 
action/equal opportunity employer and educational 
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On 7/29/21 12:05 PM, Ask Extension wrote:

Hi Stephen,

Question #0034595 has been assigned to you by Katrina P.

growing zucchini

I have been gardening organically in Anchorage (hillside) in raised beds for 20+ years. My garden is usually pretty productive, but in the last couple of years my zuchinnis have not been producing well. I thought I would give that bed a rest year. So I moved everything to another bed. Well the zukes are doing worse. The plants are tiny and there are a few fruits, but they are not growing well. A few have blossom end issues, but not all. They are just not growing! I am trying to keep the soils moisture more even and they are definitely greener than they were. They are in a more shaded spot, and stuck between the broccolli and the scarlet runner beans, which are quite happily growing. Do you think they might need more sun? Should I try moving them to the sunnier "rehab bed" at this late date? Is there a nutrient or additive I should try? I am concerned that I am somehow unable to grow a darned summer squash in Alaska anymore! But the whole garden seems slow this year. Is it the weather? Everything seems a bit slow this year.

From: Maggi Arend
Submitted: 07/29/2021 3:43 PM


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Stephen Brown, Ph.D. Replied July 29, 2021, 6:40 PM EDT

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