The Fall Veggie You Should Pick More Often For A Bigger & More Delicious Harvest

Sometimes your zucchini plants just don't produce the way you hoped, despite all the effort you put into taking care of them. This can leave you wondering if the time and energy you put into growing zucchini plants was a waste. But what if the solution to a bigger, more delicious zucchini harvest is much simpler than you think? It's not about a new fertilizer or a different type of soil. The answer is something you need to do more often: pick them. Contrary to what many people think, frequently harvesting zucchini encourages the plant to grow more, which ensures that you get more than enough zucchini all season long.

By picking zucchini more often, you're signalling to the plant that its mission to reproduce hasn't been reached, which prompts it to grow more blossoms and seed-containing fruits (which a zucchini technically is). This natural cycle is the secret to a rich zucchini season, which lets you enjoy a steady supply of the veggie. If you grow more than you need, you can even share with friends and neighbors.

The simple act of picking zucchini at the right time is the key to a larger yield because of the plant's life cycle. A plant's ultimate goal is to reproduce, and it will use all of its energy to produce and ripen seeds for the next generation. When zucchinis are allowed to grow too large on the vine, the plant dedicates most of its energy to maturing the seeds inside those fruits. This is a survival mechanism — once the seeds are ready, the plant's job is done, and it will slow down or stop producing more.

By harvesting the zucchini while it's still young, you are essentially telling the plant that its effort was unsuccessful, or at least that its main goal of growing mature seeds has been interrupted. This causes it to continue its cycle of flowering and fruiting to try again, leading to more and more zucchini. This approach also works with many other types of summer squash varieties, not just zucchini. By understanding these specifics of zucchini harvesting, you can enjoy a large crop all summer long. Just make sure to also protect your zucchini plants from common pests, like aphids.

Frequent picking not only increases your overall harvest but also improves the taste and texture of your zucchini. The best time to harvest the zucchini in your garden is when the fruit is between 6 and 8 inches long and the skin is still glossy and firm. At this size, the seeds are still soft. Zucchini can grow surprisingly fast, even in a single day, so it's important to check your plants every day once they start fruiting.

Use a sharp knife or a pair of gardening clippers to cut the stem about 1 to 2 inches from the fruit. Do not twist or pull the fruit, since this can damage the plant and make it vulnerable to disease. If you accidentally miss a day or two and find a giant, club-like zucchini hiding under the leaves, you should still remove it. While these larger fruits are often seedy and less tender, they can still be shredded and used in baked goods like zucchini bread. The most important thing is to remove the fruit to prevent it from stopping additional fruit growth. By staying on top of your harvest, your plants will happily grow more delicious zucchini.