Zucchini hydroponics: zucchini growing in a bucket with lid in the grow tent

Growing vegetables without soil

Growing zucchini hydroponically: in a bucket, even in winter

Zucchini get huge and hungry. Mine grow in big black buckets with lids in the grow tent, even in winter. Here I show you how it works and why you have to pollinate yourself indoors.

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pH 5.5 to 6.5

target range for the nutrient solution

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EC 0.6 to 2.4

rises with the plant

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20 to 25 °C

for germination, zucchini are dark germinators

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350 to 500 PPFD

zucchini need lots of light

Zucchini in a bucket: how I do it

A zucchini isn’t a plant for the tower. It forms huge leaves, lots of roots and heavy fruit. That’s why I put each zucchini into its own big black bucket with a lid. The net pot sits in the lid, the roots hang in the nutrient solution, an air pump supplies them with oxygen.

Black is important: no light reaches the nutrient solution through a dark bucket, and no algae form. In the grow tent under the lamp I harvest fresh zucchini even in the middle of winter.

Zucchini in a black bucket with lid, hydroponic — One bucket, one zucchini.

Indoors you have to pollinate yourself

No bees fly in the grow tent. Without your help, the small zucchini on the female flowers simply drop off. I show you how further down.

Anzuchtkarte · frankiesgarten.deZucchiniVom Würfel bis zur Ernte im Eimer

Meine Notizen

Sorte:	Hersteller:

KeimtypDunkelkeimer

Keimen bei20 bis 25 °C

Keimdaueretwa 4 bis 8 Tage

Samen je Würfel1

pH-Ziel5,5 bis 6,5

Wasser18 bis 24 °C

Licht350 bis 500 PPFD

Luftsprudlerimmer an

Dünger, EC und pH

Phase	EC (mS/cm)	Frankies Dünger	pH
Anzucht (erste Blätter)	0,6	1 ml pro Liter	5,5 bis 6,5
Jungpflanze	1,2	2 ml pro Liter	5,5 bis 6,5
Wachstum bis zur Blüte	1,8	etwa 3,5 ml pro Liter	5,5 bis 6,5
Blüte und Frucht	bis 2,4	Blütedünger nach EC	5,5 bis 6,5

Zeitplan und Beobachtungen

Ausgesät am:

Gekeimt nach:Tagen

In den Eimer nach:Tagen

Erste Blüte nach:Tagen

Bestäubt am:

Erste Zucchini nach:Tagen

Zucchini geerntet:Stück

Pflege

Eine Zucchini pro Eimer, sie wird riesig.
Dunkler Eimer mit Deckel gegen Algen.
Luftsprudler läuft immer.
Wasserstand regelmäßig prüfen, sie trinkt viel.
Drinnen weibliche Blüten mit dem Pinsel bestäuben.
Ab der Blüte auf Blütedünger wechseln.

⚠️ Darauf achten: mögliche Schädlinge

Mehltau: weißer Belag auf den großen Blättern. Befallene Blätter weg, viel Luftbewegung.

Spinnmilben: helle Pünktchen bei trockener, warmer Luft. Luftfeuchte erhöhen.

Blattläuse: an Blattunterseiten und Blüten. Mit Wasser abbrausen.

Wurzelfäule: braune, schleimige Wurzeln. Luftsprudler an, Wasser nicht über 24 °C.

Mein Tipp für draußen: Zucchini klein ernten: bei 15 bis 20 cm sind sie am zartesten, und die Pflanze setzt schneller neue an.

Wasserwechsel und Messwerte

Datum	Wasser neu	EC	pH
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Datum	Wasser neu	EC	pH
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frankiesgarten.de/anleitungen/gemueseanbau/zucchini-hydroponik/Fragen? WhatsApp 0176 436 444 63

Stage	EC (mS/cm)	Frankie’s nutrient	pH
Seedling (first leaves)	0.6	1 ml per litre	5.5 to 6.5
Young plant	1.2	2 ml per litre	5.5 to 6.5
Growth until flowering	1.8	about 3.5 ml per litre	5.5 to 6.5
Flowering and fruit	up to 2.4	Bloom nutrient by EC	5.5 to 6.5

Zucchini profile

What	Value
Plant group	cucurbit, fruiting plant
Germination type	Dark germinator
Germination temperature	20 to 25 °C
Germination time	about 4 to 8 days
Seeds per cube	1
pH value	5.5 to 6.5
EC value	0.6 (seedlings) to 2.4 (fruit)
Light indoors	350 to 500 PPFD
Water temperature	18 to 24 °C
Container	big dark bucket with lid, one plant per bucket
Special point	pollinate by hand indoors

The seed packet counts

For indoors and small spaces, compact bush zucchini are better than trailing varieties. Check your packet.

You’ll find all values to print on the growing card above. The values for all other plants are in the pH and EC table (German).

My tip for your seedlings

Strong young plants: the seedling station

Until the zucchini moves into the bucket, it grows in the seedling station. Room for up to 35 plants in 5 cm net pots.

Black Friday already on, only until 30 Nov: From an order value of €200 you get free: a seedling station for 13 plants, 150 ml Frankie’s liquid nutrient, 25 seedling cubes and 13 lettuce seeds.

To the seedling station Which tower suits me?

Your growing plan

Here you can see all phases at a glance. Tap a phase, below I explain each step in detail.

1Germination 2Seedlings 3Bucket 4Flowering 5Harvest

Step 1 · in the cube

Let them germinate warm and dark

Germination temperature20 to 25 °C

Germination typeDark germinator

Germination timeabout 4 to 8 days

Nutrientnone yet

One seed per cube.
Seed in the slit, lid on.
Place warm.
As soon as it germinates: lid off, lamp on.

Big seed: Push the flat zucchini seed into the slit on its edge.

What you need now: seedling box with lid.

Read in detail ›

1Germinating in the cube

about 4 to 8 days · warm and dark

I start zucchini in a foam cube, one seed per cube. I push the flat seed into the slit on its edge. Zucchini are dark germinators: lid on the seedling box and place warm at 20 to 25 °C.

Temperature

20 to 25 °C

Germination type

Dark germinator

Duration

about 4 to 8 days

Nutrient

none yet

What I use for this: the seedling box with lid from my shop.

2Seedlings in the station

until 2 to 3 true leaves

With the seed leaves, the cube goes into the net pot of the seedling station. I start with 1 ml of Frankie’s nutrient per litre, which gives an EC of about 0.6 with soft water. As a young plant I increase to 2 ml, then the EC is around 1.2.

0.6 to 1.2

5.5 to 6.5

Water

18 to 24 °C

Light

350 to 500 PPFD

My recommendation

Measure pH and EC reliably

Without a meter you’re just guessing. A combination meter shows you pH, EC and temperature at a glance.

View on Amazon* ›

* Affiliate link: I earn a commission if you buy. Your price stays the same.

3Into the bucket

one plant, one bucket, one air pump

With 2 to 3 true leaves I move the zucchini into the big black bucket. The net pot sits in the hole in the lid, the roots grow into the nutrient solution. An air pump runs around the clock and brings oxygen to the roots. Until flowering I give about 3.5 ml nutrient per litre, which gives an EC around 1.8.

Young zucchini in the net pot in the bucket lid — The net pot sits in the lid.

Zucchini drink a lot

A big zucchini draws a lot of water every day. Check the water level regularly and top up with ready-mixed nutrient solution. The roots must never hang dry.

My recommendation

DWC bucket for zucchini

A ready-made DWC bucket system for big plants like zucchini. That way you start straight away, without drilling and tinkering yourself.

View on Amazon* ›

* Affiliate link: I earn a commission if you buy. Your price stays the same.

The principle is the same as with the Kratky method and DWC: roots in the water, oxygen from below.

From my shop

Everything for your soil-free start

HydroFlex Tower for indoors and outdoors, seedling box, seedling station, support rings and my own nutrient. After you buy, I’ll help you on WhatsApp.

To the shop ›

4Flowering and pollinating

from the first flowers

With the first flowers I switch to bloom nutrient and change the nutrient solution completely at the same time. How I mix the bloom nutrient I show you on the Tomatoes.

up to 2.4

5.5 to 6.5

Nutrient

Bloom nutrient

Water

18 to 24 °C

How to pollinate zucchini by hand

Zucchini have male and female flowers. You recognise the female one by the small zucchini directly behind the flower, the male one sits on a thin stalk. In the morning, when the flowers are open, take the yellow pollen from the male flower with a soft brush and dab it into the centre of the female flower. You can also pick the male flower and dab it in directly.

Zucchini flower close-up — In the morning the flowers are open.

Your water	EC without nutrient	What you do
soft	below 0.3	feed normally, measure the pH more often at first
medium	0.3 to 0.5	feed by EC, a little less room is left for nutrient
hard	above 0.5	mix half and half with rain or RO water

5Harvest

at 15 to 20 cm

Harvest your zucchini while they’re small and tender, at about 15 to 20 cm. Big zucchini taste watery and slow the plant down. I cut them off at the stalk with a knife.

Zucchini harvest from hydroponics in winter — Harvest in winter, from the grow tent.

Light and location

Zucchini need lots of light, indoors 350 to 500 PPFD at leaf height. In winter mine stand in the grow tent under a strong lamp, in summer they also do fine outdoors.

Zucchini with flower in the grow tent — In the grow tent under the lamp.

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60 cm LED grow light, good for seedlings.

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Pests and diseases in zucchini

The big leaves are a magnet for mildew. Lots of air movement is the most important thing.

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Mildew

White, floury coating on the leaves. Cut off affected leaves immediately, ensure air movement.

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Spider mites

Light dots and fine webs, especially in dry, warm air.

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Aphids

On leaf undersides and flowers. Rinse off with water.

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Root rot

Brown, slimy roots. Air pump always on, water not above 24 °C.

My tip

A small fan in the grow tent moves the air and the leaves. That prevents mildew and strengthens the stems.

View insect net*

* I earn a commission if you buy, your price stays the same.

Common problems and what helps

Small zucchini drop off

The flower wasn’t pollinated. Indoors pollinate by hand with a brush.

Only male flowers

Completely normal at the beginning. The female flowers come a little later.

White coating on the leaves

Mildew. Remove affected leaves, ensure air movement.

Brown, slimy roots

Root rot. Check the air pump, keep the water cooler, keep the bucket dark.

Green nutrient solution

Light is reaching the water. A dark bucket and lid prevent algae.

Strong young plants for your bucket: you’ll find the seedling station in my shop ›

FAQ about zucchini in hydroponics

Can you grow zucchini hydroponically?

Yes. Mine grow in big black buckets with lids, in winter in the grow tent.

Does zucchini grow in the hydro tower?

It gets too big for the tower. I give each zucchini its own bucket.

Do zucchini need light or darkness to germinate?

Zucchini are dark germinators.

At what temperature do zucchini germinate?

At 20 to 25 °C.

What pH value do zucchini need?

Between 5.5 and 6.5.

What EC value do zucchini need?

For seedlings 0.6, as a young plant 1.2, in growth 1.8 and in flowering and fruit up to 2.4.

Why a black bucket?

No light reaches the nutrient solution through a dark bucket, so no algae form.

Do I need an air pump?

Yes. It always runs and supplies the roots with oxygen.

Why are my small zucchini dropping off?

The flower wasn’t pollinated. Indoors you have to pollinate yourself with a brush.

How do I recognise a female flower?

A small zucchini already sits behind the female flower.

When do I switch to bloom nutrient?

With the first flowers.

How much light do zucchini need?

Lots: indoors 350 to 500 PPFD at leaf height.

When do I harvest zucchini?

At 15 to 20 cm, then they’re most tender.

Can I harvest zucchini in winter?

Yes, indoors in the grow tent under a strong lamp.

You’ll find more vegetables without soil under vegetable growing in the hydro tower. Everything for your seedlings is in my Shop.

Continue with your own growing

My book

Step by step into hydroponics

168 pages, simply explained for beginners and with videos on the topics (in German). Exactly how I grow myself: from sowing to harvest.

More about the book ›

Free

Which tower suits you?

A few questions about space, location and what you want to harvest, and you get a recommendation.

To the tower advisor ›

Questions about your setup? Message me on WhatsApp.

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