DarkGrowSeed Bank
← All Squash
Squash · Cucurbita pepo 'Eight Ball'

Zucchini Eight Ball

Zucchini Eight Ball is a perfectly round globe squash with fruit around 3-4 inches diameter, tennis ball-sized. Ready from roughly day 50-55. Germination takes 7-10 days. Space 36-48 inches apart at pH 6.0-7.0. Full sun (6+ hours). It will crop in a container. This one is a hybrid: buy seed each season instead of saving it.

Squash
50-55days to harvest
7-10days to germinate
Z3–11USDA zones
Easydifficulty
F1 hybridContainer friendly

Sowing

Direct sow after soil reaches 65°F, or start indoors 2-4 weeks before last frost. Plant seeds 1 inch deep.

Cultivation

Sun
Full sun (6+ hours)
Water
1-2 inches per week, deep watering
Soil
Rich, well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter
Soil pH
6.0-7.0
Spacing
36-48 inches
Height
1-3 feet
Season
Warm season

Appearance & flavour

Colour
Dark green
Size
3-4 inches diameter, tennis ball-sized
Shape
Perfectly round globe
Flavour
Mild, sweet, tender with classic zucchini flavor

In the kitchen

Stuffed squash, grilling, roasting, slicing for ratatouille, pickling when small

Pests, disease & resistance

Pests
Squash bugs, cucumber beetles, vine borers, aphids
Diseases
Powdery mildew, bacterial wilt, downy mildew
Resistance
Good resistance to powdery mildew

Planting calendar by USDA zone

ZoneStart indoorsTransplantDirect sowHarvest
1——July – AugustSeptember – August
2——June – AugustSeptember
3——June – JulyAugust – October
4——June – JulyAugust – October
5——May – JuneAugust – September
6——May – JuneJuly – September
7——April – JuneJuly – August
8——April – MayJune – August
9——March – AprilMay – July
10——February – AprilMay – June
11——January – MarchApril – May
12——January – MarchApril – May
13——January – MarchApril – May

Companion planting

8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.

BasilRepels aphids and whiteflies, may improve flavor
MarigoldsRepel cucumber beetles and squash bugs, natural pest deterrent
NasturtiumsAct as trap crop for squash bugs and cucumber beetles
RadishesDeter squash vine borers and cucumber beetles
BeansFix nitrogen in soil, benefiting heavy-feeding zucchini
CornProvides vertical structure and shade, part of three sisters planting
CatnipRepels ants, aphids, and cucumber beetles
DillAttracts beneficial insects like parasitic wasps that control pests

Avoid

PotatoesCompete for space and nutrients, both are heavy feeders
FennelInhibits growth of most garden plants through allelopathy
PumpkinsCross-pollination can affect fruit quality and compete for space

Nutrition (per 100 g)

Calories (per 100 g)
21
Protein (g)
2.71
Fat (g)
0.4
Carbohydrate (g)
3.11
Fibre (g)
1.1
Vitamin A (µg)
25
Vitamin C (mg)
34.1
Vitamin B6 (mg)
0.142
Folate (µg)
20
Calcium (mg)
21
Iron (mg)
0.79
Magnesium (mg)
33
Phosphorus (mg)
93
Potassium (mg)
459
Zinc (mg)
0.83
Selenium (µg)
0.3
← PreviousCostata Romanesco Zucchini Next →Turban Squash

Where to buy seed and equipment

Some links are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Growing it? There is a full cultivation guide at the squash growing guide.

Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.

DarkGrow forum

Grown Zucchini Eight Ball?

Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.

Open the forum → Start a discussion

Similar varieties

Other squash with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Zucchini Eight Ball suits these too.

Browse all 60 squash