Zucchini 'Black Beauty'

They LOVE compost!

Try to plant in a location that enjoys full sun and remember to water moderately. Keep in mind when planting that Black Beauty is thought of as tender, so remember to wait until your soil is warm and the night time temperature is well above freezing before moving outside. A soil ph of between 5.6 and 7.5 is ideal for Black Beauty as it does best in weakly acidic soil - weakly alkaline soil.

Keep moist but not wet. Best sown where it will grow- much earlier yield.

Try to aim for a seed spacing of at least 2.92 feet (90.0 cm) and sow at a depth of around 0.99 inches (2.54 cm). Soil temperature should be kept higher than 16°C / 61°F to ensure good germination.

By our calculations, you should look at sowing Black Beauty about 21 days before your last frost date.

Make a small mound for each plant.

As Black Beauty is tender, ensure temperatures are mild enough to plant out (around 16°C / 61°F as a guideline) - wait until after your last frost date to be on the safe side.

By our calculations, you should look at planting out Black Beauty about 14 days after your last frost date.

I prefer to pick these while still small as they are such a prolific producer. I also find that the smaller ones are sweeter and more tender and the seed area inside has not yet gone “spongy”. The flowers are also lovely stuffed. I often pick them while only 5-10cm and bake them with the stuffed flower still attached.

This variety tends to be ready for harvesting by mid summer.

Blackjack

Milano Black, Black Jack, Verde de Milano, Milano, Verte de Milan, Nero di Milano

http://www.bbc.co.uk/gardening/digin/vegetables/courgette.shtml