The ones I grow do. They don't get much bigger than 2.5 feet across. I like Jemmer. It is a yellow zucchini which means you don't miss any of them when harvesting and don't end up with giants. Come to think of it, I don't recall ever finding a vining zucchini on sale here.

If you don't have room for a bush zucchini--yes, 5 ft is normal--then you certainly don't have room for corn.

I'd call it a large bush. They just grow large and because of the weight they always seam to tip/lean a bit. Just think of the space it would take up if it wasn't a bush and was a vine with those big leafs. One plant is plenty for most home gardeners.

Maybe the weather here is less zucchini friendly or maybe we have smaller varieties available. But I've never had one get to 5 feet across. My favourite is linked. Note the planting distance recommendation of 2 feet. I usually put in 6 plants for two people.

Here is a link that might be useful: Jemmer

"bush" refers to the form it takes (vs. long running vines), not the size - which is relative anyway as "bushes" come in all sorts of sizes.

Growing conditions provided will certainly affect the size of the bush.

If you tell us the name of the variety - there are many - you grew we might be able to tell you if there are varieties that will usually grow into smaller bushes.

Dave

My experience has been this with 'bush' zucchini: They start as a bush. If for some reason they don't suscumb to disease or insect, and they are good and healthy, they can continue growing as a vine.

This post was edited by wayne_5 on Fri, Mar 22, 13 at 13:37

Actually I don't recall at all stating that I did not have room for zucchini. In fact, I think I implied that I actually have room for 3 large zucchini plants if I really wanted.

But, anyways, the variety I tried was apparently burpee's fordhook zucchini. The top of the seed pack is cut off so I'm not completely sure if that's the relevant information.

And thanks for all the responses maybe I'll try a different variety. :)

First, bush isn't the best name for them - compact would be better. 'Bush' zucchinis have short distances between nodes (leaves). They're still vines, just shorter vines.

I typically grow Black Beauty, and the vines generally don't go much longer than 24 inches. Last year I planted three in two hills within a four foot wide bed, and they barely peeked over the edges by the end of the season. That's pretty darn compact, considering all the fruit I got off them.

I've mostly grown black beauty (I think) and mine don't start vining until Sept/Oct. Maybe it vines earlier for you because of the heat? You could grow one and still have some corn? I don't grow corn cause it all seems to get ripe at the same time and I really don't like it frozen. Also, it's so cheap during the summer! Nancy PS sometimes I just steal from the neighbor ;). He doesn't mind.

I once grew Eight Ball round zucchini, and to my surprise it stayed a bush.