When to Plant Zucchini in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide
Also called courgette.
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Alice Springs), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Arid / Semi-Arid
In October the Arid / Semi-Arid zone normally runs 32°C by day and 16°C overnight, with about 19 mm of rain over 2 or 3 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was 1.9°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 10 postcodes, SILO.
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This Zucchini guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Aug to Feb
- Days to harvest
- 45 days
- Sun
- Full sun
- Water
- Regular
- Spacing
- 90 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.0–7.5
- Shop price
- $9.44/kg
Zucchini (courgette) is the quintessential productive home garden vegetable. A single plant can produce more fruit than a family can eat. A warm-season C.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Arid / Semi-Arid
- Jan S/T/D
- Feb S/T/D
- Mar -
- Apr -
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug S
- Sep S/T/D
- Oct S/T/D
- Nov S/T/D
- Dec S/T/D
S = Seed Tray T = Transplant D = Direct Sow
Want a nudge when it is sowing time?
One email a week with what is worth planting in the Arid / Semi-Arid zone right now, Zucchini included, plus which veg has jumped in price at the supermarket. Free, and you can stop it in one click.
How to Grow Zucchini in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
- Soil
- Rich, well-drained soil with plenty of compost. Raised beds excellent.
- Salt
- Moderately tolerant. Handles slightly salty water better than most veggies.
- pH Range
- 6.0-7.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun (minimum 6 hours daily)
- Spacing
- 90cm apart, 120cm between rows
- Watering
- Deep water 2-3 times weekly at base. Avoid wetting leaves, powdery mildew magnet. Consistent moisture during fruiting.
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Dwarf Beans, Tomato, Sweet Corn, Marigold
- Keep away from
- Potato
- Grow before it
- Leafy greens and brassicas (Lettuce, Silverbeet, Broccoli)
- Grow after it
- Roots and alliums (Carrot, Beetroot, Onion)
Give the bed 3 turns before cucurbits go back in. Pumpkin, cucumber and zucchini want a bed with fresh compost dug through.
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Zucchini
Recommended Varieties
- Black Beauty
- Blackjack
- Greyzini
- Gold Rush
Key Challenges
- Water requirements
- Spider mites
- Extreme heat flower drop
Pro Tips
- Drip irrigation
- Heavy mulch
- Shade cloth in extreme heat events
Pests and problems for Zucchini in Arid / Semi-Arid
- Squash Vine Borer Moderate
- Queensland Fruit Fly Watch
- Green Vegetable Bug Watch
- Mosaic Viruses Watch
- Root-knot Nematode Watch
- Two-spotted spider mite Spider mites Watch
- Thrips Watch
- Powdery Mildew Good spacing for airflow. Avoid overhead watering. Remove lower leaves touching ground. Accept that some powdery mildew is virtually... Watch
- Blossom End Rot Consistent deep watering. Mulch. Don't over-fertilise with nitrogen. Watch
Harvesting Zucchini
When ready: 15-20cm long for standard varieties, 8-10cm for round types. Skin glossy and tender (can pierce with thumbnail). Firm but not hard.
How to harvest: Cut with sharp knife leaving 2-3cm stem. Pick YOUNG. Check plants DAILY in warm weather. A 15cm zucchini today is a 30cm marrow tomorrow.
Storing and preserving zucchini
How to keep it
- Freezing (grated). Grate zucchini, squeeze out excess moisture in clean tea towel. Freeze in measured portions (1 cup per bag). Use from frozen in zucchini bread, fritters, pasta sauces. Keeps: 12 months.
- Freezing (sliced). Slice into rounds. Blanch 3 minutes, ice bath. Freeze on tray then bag. Use in cooked dishes. Keeps: 12 months.
- Dehydrating (chips). Slice very thin (2-3mm). Season with salt, garlic powder, smoked paprika. Dehydrate at 55C for 6-8 hours until crisp. Keeps: 3-6 months in airtight container.
- Pickling. Slice into rounds. Pack with dill, garlic, mustard seeds. Cover with boiling vinegar brine. Water bath 10 minutes. Keeps: 12 months.
- Zucchini Relish. Grate zucchini, combine with onion, capsicum, vinegar, sugar, mustard, turmeric. Simmer 30 min. Jar hot. Keeps: 12 months.
Grow vs buy
A 2.4 m × 1.2 m bed fits 3 plants, about $142 worth at today’s Aldi and Coles prices, checked today.
That is roughly 15 kg at $9.44 a kilo.
Draw your zucchini bed → No account needed.
What zucchini costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Zucchini
When do you plant zucchini in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Mar to Oct
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Mar, Aug to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan, Oct to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan, Oct to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan to Feb, Aug to Dec
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to Feb, Sep to Dec
Can you grow zucchini all year round in Alice Springs?
No. In the Arid / Semi-Arid zone the planting months are Jan to Feb, Aug to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.
What else is zucchini called?
Zucchini is the usual Australian name. Overseas seed packets and recipes call it courgette. Same plant, same growing advice.
When should I plant Zucchini in Alice Springs?
Sow from late August once frost has passed, with the last sowing in February. Plant three or more for good pollination and pick daily in summer.
What soil temperature do Zucchini need?
Zucchini germinate best when soil temperature is between 18°C and 35°C.
How do I know when Zucchini are ready to harvest?
15-20cm long for standard varieties, 8-10cm for round types. Skin glossy and tender (can pierce with thumbnail). Firm but not hard.
What are the best Zucchini varieties for Alice Springs?
Recommended varieties for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone include: Black Beauty, Blackjack, Greyzini, Gold Rush.
What grows well with Zucchini?
Good companion plants for Zucchini include: Nasturtium, Dwarf Beans, Tomato, Sweet Corn, Marigold.
Are zucchini salt tolerant?
Fairly. Zucchini are moderately tolerant of salt and handle slightly salty water better than most veggies.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.