If you don't pick it, it will continue to mature, and get hard like a winter squash. It will easily last a couple of months on the plant, unless something like a vole chews into it for the seeds. The down side - the plant will say "job done" and stop producing any more squash.

You have grown a 'vegetable marrow'. It was all we knew and grew in the UK until we started going on foreign holidays and discovered the courgette (zucchini). But if you don't pick it it will inhibit new babies from growing. And although the skin will harden somewhat it will not keep like a winter squash. Google 'marrow' for a multitude of recipes.

Thanks guys! I'm excited to know that my 'marrow' will last until the fair comes to town. I have no idea if it's even close to being big enough to win any sort of prize, but it's fun to think that a girl with a small patio raised bed could grow such a large vegetable organically!

I did realize that the plant stopped producing, but that's fine. I have 3 other plants that are pumping out zucchini's and there's only 2 of us to eat them all, so we are good!

Thanks again for the answers.

I am growing zucchini in 2 squares (2 plants each square)

You'll be much happier with them grown properly. Way too crowded. Depending upon what you are growing them in, 1 plant for 4 sq ft is just fine.

Dan

Hello again!

Well, there are 9 days left until the fair opens and I can take my zucchini down and see if it's a contender!

The zucchini has been growing for quite some time now. I recently noticed that the plant it is growing from is pretty much completely dead. The zucchini seems fine, but has started turning very orange. It is not soft at all. It has been very hot here lately (90-95 degrees).

So I'm wondering if I should leave it as is, or cut it and keep it in the fridge until fair day?

Thanks!!

Rachael

Depending on the variety it is probably just ripening. Like how pumpkins will not turn orange till they are ripe. You are probably ok leaving it on the plant unless the plant looks completely dead, but most hard squash are ok curing in the sun for a time.

As for the 2 per grouping, I don't think it's that bad as long as you're ok with the production. Mel's actually recommends 1 per square for bush type summer squash, so you're a little heavy there, but if you're ok with the production levels then I wouldn't worry.

Though, I've seen several people even in the SFG forum reccomend at least 2x2 square per plant. Again, ymmv, particularly when it comes to square foot gardening.....

flora_uk sorry but you wrong vegetable marrow and zucchini are not the same thing no matter what size is but given your are British that is common mistake. Due the fact most British gardeners are not to bright.
If really want a clear description in on the subject I suggest
you read page 139 of the book" The Compleat squash by Amy Goldman.

proper square foot spacing for a zucchini (for those people in the UK that would be a courgette) is 3ftx3ft or 1 plant per foot using the special training method.
ttfn

but given your are British that is common mistake. Due the fact most British gardeners are not to bright.

OOOOh Ruuuuude! My DH grew up in Scotland. The lady who ran the boarding house he stayed during holidays had a "household garden" of about an acre that fed the whole house pretty much year round! That didn't include the 5,000 acres that they farmed!
I hope I haven't over stepped my bounds by posting this!
Nancy
P.S. The mis spellings in the top quote are not mine. They are copied and pasted from the OR NT

Rachael, I am anxious to see how it does at the fair...be sure to post an update!!
Michelle

The pot calling the kettle black or what ?????

There are enough grammatical and punctuation errors in that short post to drive an English teacher over the edge.

Talk about "not TOO bright".......

Sorry Flora, I didn't mean to lump you in with Knuckleberry.

Yeah, let's try to keep it 'nice' here, shall we? It's a gardening forum, after all.

Nothing makes you look worse than trying to insult someone's intelligence when you can't even insult them using correct grammar and spelling.

Anyhoo, thanks a bunch for the advice... I am getting a little worried as the plant it is attached to does seem completely dead... It's exactly a week until the fair. Should I cut it off and put it in the fridge to avoid the 90 degree temps we've been having here? I'm afraid it will start to get soft!

Also, do you think the fact that it is orange will disqualify it, or is that normal for a zucchini that has 'ripened'?

Thanks again!

nancyjane_gardener reason I know many British gardeners don't know what they are talking about in relation to vegetable gardening are 250 oz of silver coin i have won through wagers related to questions about vegetable gardening and related subject matter.

homend, your posts will be given more respect if you get elementary grammar correct, at least most of the time. Study the following and learn their correct usages:

to
too
two

your
you're

their
there

Also, you need work on capitalization and punctuation.

Jim

jimister arguing over good or bad grammar does not matter.
Bad or wrong information is still bad or wrong information.
No matter how or who post it. So in other words bugger off.

What's happening to this forum? In the last several weeks (certain) folk have gotten downright cruel and nasty towards one another...

What...lack of tomato set is sending gardeners over the edge...or is it just 'cause the weather here (Pacific NW)is so perfect (now) that their jealously is muddling their small brains. Please note that last week I noted that "homeend" might be code for an area of the human anatomy "where the sun don't shine" Is it possible that he/she might be 86'ed from here???

lonmower you imagination is as dumb as your comments
ps close you dirty mind.
my name is simple homeend stand for 71 the 7 on number key pad is the home key and 1 is the end key .
ttfns

Grammar only matters when you are writing and want to be understood. Except for that, it's unimportant.

Jim

Well, I picked the darned thing and it's in the fridge. If that was the wrong decision and I don't win the ribbon, I'm blaming you homeend! ;)