why do we always plant too much zucchini?
Every summer, I tell myself: this year, I’ll plant just a couple of zucchini. But as soon as the soil warms, I remember my grandmother’s overflowing garden, the way she’d hand out baskets of squash to neighbors, and I can’t help myself—I plant too many seeds.
Now, my backyard is bursting with more zucchini than my family can eat, just like every year. My kids roll their eyes, my husband begs for a break from zucchini bread, and I wonder: is this just a tradition, or a stubborn refusal to change?
I see younger gardeners on social media showing off their tidy raised beds, counting every seed, never wasting a thing. It’s so different from the wild, generous gardens of my childhood. Is it better to be efficient, or to share the abundance—even if it means a little chaos?
Here in the Midwest, where summer storms can wipe out a crop overnight, maybe overplanting is just insurance. Or maybe it’s a rebellion against HOA rules that say our gardens should be neat and small.
Do you stick to the new ways, or do you let your garden run wild like the old days? I’d love to hear your stories—especially if you’ve ever tried (and failed) to plant just the right amount of zucchini.
#zucchiniproblems #gardeningmemories #oldvsnew #Gardening
