Growing zucchini in containers

Hey everyone, I have a question about growing zucchini in containers. I do plan on growing some in my sfg and trying to stake it to keep it to 2 square, however I have read some have had problems trying to do that. So I am thinking I shall have a container of zucchini and a container of pattypan squash as back ups. If I end up with extra summer squash... thatso I problem I'm willing to deal with!

Online I saw recommendations to grow zucchini in a 25 gallon container. I was wondering if I fill the container with MM if such a large container would be necessary? Just thinking how we grow everything in 6 inches of MM, is 25 gallons of MM overkill? With the cost of MM, I would prefer to save some if possible?

Or... literally as I was writing this is just had the idea... would something like a 1x1 sfg style square be enough to grow zucchini in? Would it be better to make a custom small box meant just for a single zucchini/summer squash plant? Only obstacle I would have with that approach is the wife kinda put her foot down and said no more boxes for this year (I gotta prove to her I can take care of what I have before she'll let me build more) but she DID give the ok for 2 containers... ummm thoughts?

I put a zuke in my sfg and it took up 4 squares. 

I grew crookneck squash (same growing habit as zucchini) in 2' x 2' x 10" high boxes.  Also grew it in a 1/2 whiskey barrel.  Did just fine in both of those.  Last year I grew Tromboncino Squash and also Butternut squash in containers that were about 15 gallons and they did pretty good.

2' x 2' box should work great. I'm eyeballing my only 2' x 2' x 6" to try a summer squash again. I've been using the box for extra winter squash and last summer for tomatoes. A 15 gallon container is about 2 cu. ft., the same as a 2' x 2' x 6" box.

Last year I grew two summer squash (one zucchini, one yellow) in an EarthBox - it's a sub-irrigated planter that has a water reservoir underneath. They did well until the squash borers came. Based on the size of that, I agree with sanderson and yolos that a 15 gallon container should work. So either don't fill the 25 gallon all the way to the top, or, depending on the diameter (can you get the squash at least a foot apart?), do fill it and stick both squash in.

It's my first attempt at yellow squash and zucchihi  also. I planted in 16" self watering pots using potting soil. They seems to be doing fine so far. Going to try using tomato cages to keep them under control. Just didn't want to sacrifice that much room in my one raised bed on a few plants.

My experience is that the space that zucchini takes in a SFG is only limited by its above ground growth rather than its UNDER GROUND growth.  (IE the MELS MIX PART) So if you are putting it into a bucket,  do see why it would take more than a 5 gallon bucket. I often grow Tomatoes and peppers  in 5 gallon buckets and they have lots of above ground room to spread out.  I have a chart in one of my books that shows the vegetable root depths and tomatoes are the longest ones   Summer Squash, like zucchini, are MUCH shorter roots.

I too have been thinking about making some 2x2 boxes just for squash/zucchini since their leaves get so big and can take over half the bed.

I ended up building 2 18inx18in boxes for my zucchini! I think that they will be plenty big for a plant each.

I'm seriously considering the same!

My first year I built five 2' x 2 ' boxes using the leftover wood (from making other boxes that were 3' wide I had a 2' section left over).  I planned to put artichokes in the boxes but they died before producing anything so the next year I used them for summer crookneck squash.  They were perfect but did not really need to be 2' wide.

I know what hubby will be doing today! I bought new seeds for yellow and zucchini, just in case.

Roughly a month old zucchini in my 16 inch pot. Starting to get some of what look to be flower buds. The one on the far right came up about 2 weeks ago. Others about 3 weeks.

So, what I'm hearing you all say is that a squash plant should do well in a 5-gal bucket with lots of water and MM???

I do have one in a 5 gallon bucket because I ran out of larger pots. My 16 inch pots are the same depth but about 4 inches larger in diameter than a 5 gallon bucket. I don't think they will reach their full potential looking back but live and learn. Someone else recommended a 15 gallon container. We are putting them into their own areas be it containers or small beds of their own because of their size.

The equivalent of a cube of 1 ft should work.

They spread like crazy and can have truly gigantic leaves which can shade out other squares.  I'm not certain you can cram a plant with such spreading growth habits and huge leaves into a small space successfully, especially if you don't want it shading stuff out.  And it can be quite thirsty, so a small space may again not be ideal.

Marc Iverson wrote:They spread like crazy and can have truly gigantic leaves which can shade out other squares.  I'm not certain you can cram a plant with such spreading growth habits and huge leaves into a small space successfully, especially if you don't want it shading stuff out.  And it can be quite thirsty, so a small space may again not be ideal.

Hey Marc!  Glad to "see" ya!  Yes, they do shade out adjacent plants, I lost a whole square of carrots the first year doing SFG by poor placement of my patty pan squash, live and learn.  Maybe in a stand alone container they would be OK, but with a water reservoir!

Hi, Marc. I will be trying 2 summer squash in 18"x 18" boxes in open areas. I shall see . . .

sanderson wrote:Hi, Marc.  I will be trying 2 summer squash in 18"x 18" boxes in open areas.  I shall see . . .

Are you doing 6  inch deep boxes?  I've found my smaller boxes are hard to keep watered.  I have one of those 3 foot by 1 foot redwood boxes.   Useless, slightest heat wave or winds and it was like clothes on a clothes line.

I have six (6) 1' x 3' cedar boxes 6" deep of MM and, yes they are hard to keep moist.  Daily watering and lots of straw mulch.  All of the other boxes are 2" thick pine or fir and they are  much easier to keep moist and the thickness is good insulation.  The new squash boxes will be 2" thick

Three years ago, we had a neighbor that had 4 trees delivered for his yard.  The trees came in humongous plastic containers, and the nursery left them at the bottom of our neighbor's driveway, intending it to be recycled.

They stayed there for a week, and I asked my neighbor if I could have them, which he was more than glad to get rid of.

After disinfection and filling with Mel's Mix, I was able to plant two zucchini plants in one container and three yellow squash plants.  They did well until the vine borer got them in August.

TNGeezer wrote:Three years ago, we had a neighbor that had 4 trees delivered for his yard.  The trees came in humongous plastic containers...

I was able to plant two zucchini plants in one container and three yellow squash plants.  They did well until the vine borer got them in August.

Ditto - but with 1 plant in each pot of straight compost. Dang that SVB! I really thought it wouldn't find them on the other side of the house.
I guess the only way is to cover.
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