The Only Time You Should Ever Prune Zucchini Plants (& The Best Way To Do It)

Zucchini is a very popular vegetable among gardeners because the plants grow quickly, they produce a lot of squash throughout the summer, and they are one of the easiest plants to grow for beginner gardeners. Pruning is not something you normally need to worry about for zucchini plants, but more and more gardeners are starting to make it a regular habit. If you have an abundance of zucchini plants close together and the rows are becoming overcrowded or they are infringing on other vegetables, pruning can be helpful. If you have a lot of leaves with diseases, this is another time your zucchini plants can benefit from pruning. Pruning improves airflow and keeps the vines from affecting other vegetables. Other benefits include keeping the ripe fruit more visible, making pollination easier, and providing better disease resistance. 

It's easy to put zucchini plants too close together without even realizing it. In fact, this is one of several common mistakes made when growing zucchini plants. Fortunately, it is a problem that can be prevented if you space the plants properly when you first put them in the ground. Keep your zucchini plants 2 feet apart for vining varieties and 1.5 feet apart for bush varieties. They should also be kept at a distance of 2 to 3 feet from the other plants in your garden. If you're ready to get started, grab your pruning shears and garden gloves and keep reading below to learn the best way to prune your zucchini plants.

It is important to wait until your plants are established and have started producing flowers before you do any pruning. You also want to wait until there has been no rain for several days, and that there is no upcoming rain in the forecast. The reason for this is that pruning creates openings or cuts in the plant through which moisture can penetrate. This increases the risk of fungal infections, such as choanephora rot and powdery mildew. Waiting until the weather is dry allows the plant time to heal the cuts after pruning.

There are limits to how much you should prune your zucchini plants. It is better for the plants if you do a tiny bit of trimming, just a few leaves, every couple of weeks, rather than one huge trimming all at once right in the middle of growing season. As a general rule, many gardeners state that you shouldn't prune above the lowest fruit that is forming on the vine. You should also leave at least 12 leaves on each plant. The leaves closest to the soil or that have yellowed are the oldest and should be removed by snipping close to the stem, taking care not to damage the central stalk of the plant. Proper and careful pruning, the right growing conditions, and taking care to protect your zucchini plants from common pests will help produce a beautiful supply of squash you can enjoy all season long.