Zucchini how to plant and when. Rules for planting zucchini and caring for them in the open field. organic folk fertilizers

30.04.2020

There is a legend very similar to the truth. Once upon a time, in ancient times, the coast of the Indian Ocean was inhabited by fishermen, and the only source of their food was the fish they caught. Many days they spent at sea, fighting against bad weather and storms. The women prayed tirelessly for the safe return of their husbands. One day, women's patience snapped and they turned to the gods with a request to give them a fruit as a gift, the flesh of which would be as tender and refined as fish meat. The gods heard them and gave people zucchini. Indeed, zucchini is not only a unique dietary product, but also has a very delicate taste. Today, you can find this vegetable in almost any garden. But is it so easy to grow this food of the gods?

How to plant zucchini

Despite the fact that you can meet zucchini in almost any garden, not every summer resident can grow them successfully. Planting this vegetable requires taking into account some features of site selection, soil and seed preparation, selection various ways landing.

Choosing a landing site

The place for growing zucchini is of particular importance. Given that this vegetable is warm and light-loving, the site for planting it should be protected from the winds from the north and be sufficiently illuminated.

You can not grow zucchini every year in the same place, as well as after cucumbers, pumpkins and squash (at least 3 years). The best predecessors in this case are cabbage, beets, carrots, peas, tomatoes, potatoes, green and spicy crops.

Zucchini are demanding on soil fertility. Therefore, since autumn, the site is subject to deep digging (by 25–35 cm) without breaking clods, as well as refueling with organic matter. If the soil is acidic, it is lime. In spring, the soil is loosened with a rake, and organic and mineral fertilizers are applied, taking into account its composition.

Zucchini can be grown both in open and closed ground. But it must be borne in mind that this vegetable requires a lot of space - the distance between rows and in a row is 70 cm (although 40–50 cm is allowed for some varieties).

In open ground, it is recommended to use the so-called warm bed. It is made high, and raspberry, Jerusalem artichoke leaves, tops of carrots, beets, last year's grass, compost or humus are laid down under the digging. At the same time, it is recommended to cover the bed with planted plants until mid-June (depending on climatic conditions) with a film or non-woven shelters. During the day in good weather, the garden bed must be ventilated.

Preparing plant seeds for sowing

You can plant zucchini with dry seeds or seedlings.. Deciding on the choice of landing method is easy. If your goal is to get a crop as quickly as possible, then the seedling method will be optimal. But the fruits grown by seedlings have one drawback - they cannot be stored for a long time. Therefore, if you need to store these vegetables, then it is preferable to choose planting seeds in the ground. In both cases, pre-sowing seed preparation is important.

As preparatory procedures, it is recommended to freeze, warm and treat seeds.. These measures help to increase the resistance of plants to cold and disease. However, at present, on packages with seeds, you can find a warning from the manufacturer that they have already undergone such training, therefore, it is not necessary to repeat it.

Be sure to soak the seeds before planting in the ground, which is carried out in several stages:

Warm up the bag with seeds on the battery, this will increase their germination. Discard empty and visually ugly seeds.
Soak the seeds in warm water. When they swell, place them between layers of fabric (the use of gauze can lead to breaking off delicate roots). The optimum temperature for seed germination is 25 C.
When the shoots are a few centimeters long (usually after 4-5 days), plant them in the soil.

The timing of planting germinated seeds directly into the ground may vary depending on climatic conditions. On average, these are the last days of May or the beginning of June. The optimum soil temperature is 10–12 C.

The soil must be watered before planting. 0.5 kg of humus and 2–3 seeds are placed in an earthen hole (depth 10–12 cm), then sprinkled with earth 3–4 cm and mulched with peat (2–3 cm) on top. Then the excess plants are thinned out.

Seedlings of this vegetable are prepared in late April - early May. Hatched seeds are traditionally placed in individual paper cups or peat pots filled with substrate. Interest is also aroused by alternative methods of obtaining seedlings in the so-called snails or rolled cigarettes.

Video: Planting zucchini seeds in a snail

After the appearance of sprouts, the first feeding of seedlings is carried out (0.5 tablespoons of superphosphate and urea per 1 liter of water). In addition, each plant should receive no more than 1.5 tbsp. spoons of this solution. The second is performed in 10–12 days. The composition of the solution is somewhat different - for 1 liter of water, 0.5 tbsp. spoons of ash and nitrophoska (1.5 tablespoons for each bush). For irrigation, only warm water is used - 100 ml for each plant every 4–5 days.

Transplanting seedlings into the ground is carried out after 25–30 days, when at least three leaves are formed. It is deepened into the ground to the cotyledon leaves. Before the onset of stable heat, planted seedlings are recommended to be covered with a film or non-woven materials.

Unconventional ways of planting and growing

Summer residents who are faced with the problem of lack of free space on their site have invented quite original ways growing zucchini. Their unusualness lies in the fact that zucchini is planted not in the ground in the garden, but in various devices: bags, barrels, compost heaps. And there is also a vertical landing method.

Growing zucchini in bags is not difficult. For this, polyethylene big packages for garbage) or polypropylene bags (sugar, cereals are sold in such bags) with a volume of 100-120 liters. Organic residues, compost, sawdust are laid at the bottom and then sprinkled with earth. Several small holes are made in the bottom of the bag to avoid stagnant water. Zucchini is planted with seeds or seedlings, watered. In case of cold weather, cover with a cut plastic bottle. At the same time, the plant does not require special care and a significant amount of fertilizer.

Similarly, you can grow zucchini in 150–200 liter barrels.. A pipe (with a diameter of not more than 0.3 m) with small holes is installed vertically in the barrel in the center. Drainage in the form of cones or brushwood is laid at the bottom of the barrel. Then successively lay out layers of humus, hay, earth, a mixture of sawdust and peat, and, finally, the soil on which the zucchini will grow. Plants are planted in holes on both sides of the irrigation pipe, through which the plants are subsequently watered.

Zucchini can be grown even on the site of a compost heap containing the remnants of last year's hay, tops of vegetables, husks from grain. The decomposition of these products can be accelerated with the help of special microbiological solutions.

Video: Growing on a compost heap

https://youtube.com/watch?v=bVTIQ-tDgds

The vertical method of planting zucchini is suitable for climbing varieties of zucchini(for example, Profit F1, Ambassador F1). It consists in the fact that the lashes of the plant are launched along a trellis attached to the ground or a wall.

The approaches described above have a number of advantages. First of all, plants are much easier to care for. It also reduces the risk of plant damage by diseases and pests. In addition to saving space on the site, these "beds" are mobile - they can be moved from place to place. At the same time, the greenhouse effect that occurs inside bags, barrels and compost heaps in the process of decay of organic residues contributes to a crop of more early dates. Another plus of these planting methods is that the fruits of zucchini always look attractive, because they do not come into contact with the surface of the earth.

Growing zucchini on the balcony

Growing zucchini at home is quite difficult, but possible. To do this, it is necessary that the balcony or loggia have a southern exposure and be protected from frost, since the zucchini is photophilous and afraid of frost. The best temperature for growing is above 16 C.

For each plant, a separate pot is allocated, with a volume of 10-15 liters of soil. The capacity for planting should be chosen high - 35–40 cm, because when the tap root reaches the barrier, the growth of the aerial part of the plant slows down. Humus can be used as soil, but be sure to provide drainage to avoid stagnant water (for example, expanded clay or gravel). It is necessary to arrange the pot so that no objects and structures create a shadow. It is also worth taking care of the support, to which the zucchini will be tied in the future.

Not all varieties of zucchini are suitable for growing on the balcony. It is better to give preference to bushy early-ripening hybrids (Kavili). You can sow the seeds immediately into the container, but it is better to pre-soak them in water for 3-4 days and plant the seed that has already hatched.

If the selected variety is not self-pollinating, it is necessary to provide insects with access to the balcony, and sprinkle the sprouts with a solution of honey. If there is no possibility for this, then you can pollinate the plant manually - with a brush, transfer pollen from male flowers to female ones.

It is necessary to water the plant regularly, under the root. During fruiting, watering is increased. And regular loosening of the soil will ensure sufficient oxygen supply. You can feed the zucchini with complex water-soluble fertilizers.

You can collect the fruits when they reach a length of 20–25 cm. It is important not to overexpose the fruits on the plant. This leads to a decrease in its productivity and early aging.

What varieties to choose for planting

There are two varieties of this vegetable: white-fruited zucchini and zucchini, having a more diverse color of fruits (yellow, green, variegated, striped). It is believed that zucchini are more resistant to diseases and enter the fruiting stage much earlier. They have a special yield, which is associated with the predominance of female flowers.

According to the ripening time, zucchini varieties are divided into:

Early ripe (super early). The fruits ripen 30-50 days after planting. Such varieties are suitable for growing in the Urals and Siberia.
Mid-season. Fruits are formed on the 50-60th day.
Late ripe. The fruits of these varieties are harvested in late August or autumn (more than 60 days after planting).

Giving preference to one or another variety of this vegetable, it must be taken into account that the difference in ripening time between varieties is insignificant, but it is strongly manifested in the yield of this vegetable. Most popular high productive varieties and hybrids are briefly described below.

Table: The most popular high-yielding varieties

Variety	Ripening time, days	yield	Fruit characteristics
40–45	17 kg per bush	Pale Green colour cylindrical shape, average weight 0.5 kg
41–50	12 kg per bush	Smooth green color, cylindrical shape. Weight 0.9 kg
40–48	12 kg / sq. m	White, cylindrical, weight 0.6–0.9 kg
35–40	8 kg / sq. m	White, smooth. Weight 0.6-0.9 kg. creamy pulp
60	9 kg / sq. m	Short-cylindrical with ribs. Weight 0.7-1.3 kg
40–45	7–9 kg/sq. m	Cylindrical, white-green. Weight 0.3-0.4 kg
43–50	9 kg / sq. m	Light green, slightly club-shaped. Weight 0.6–1 kg
Black handsome	40–45	14–20 kg/sq. m	Dark green, almost black smooth. Weight 0.5–1 kg
38–46	9–12 kg/sq. m	Light green with dark green stripes. Weight 0.5–1.2 kg

Photo gallery: The most productive varieties of zucchini

Zucchini Iskander F1

Zucchini White Bush F1
Zucchini Beloplodny
Zucchini Gribovsky 37
Zucchini Zebra
Zucchini Cavili F1
Zucchini Black handsome
Zucchini Nemchinovsky F1

When choosing a variety of zucchini, you should also not forget about the influence of such factors as:

resistance to low temperatures;
disease resistance;
the ability to self-pollinate;
features of transportation and storage;
the purpose of the fruit;
taste qualities fruits.

Growing and care rules

In growing and caring for zucchini, they are not too whimsical. You just have to follow some rules.

Watering is one of the determining factors for the full development of the plant and its fruits.. The watering regime depends on the stage of development of the zucchini. Before flowering, the sprouts are watered once every 5–7 days at the rate of 5 liters of water for each bush. At the fruiting stage, the intensity of watering is increased up to twice a week using the same volumes of water. It is important to remember that watering zucchini with cold water is impossible. The optimum water temperature for irrigation is 22-25 C.
Top dressing of zucchini is carried out 2-3 times during the summer: the first - in the phase of 4–5 leaves with a solution of slurry or bird droppings; the second - at the stage of flowering and fruit formation with mineral fertilizers. It is important to remember that zucchini does not tolerate chlorine. Carefully read the composition of the fertilizers used.
Bush care. In climbing types of zucchini, the main trunk is pinched when the buds appear, and the side trunks when they reach a length of 40 cm. In order to improve ventilation and illumination, it is recommended to remove the lower leaves of the plant.
Soil care consists in loosening it and removing weeds. The first loosening is carried out immediately after planting seeds or seedlings. Subsequent loosening is carried out after rain or watering to prevent the formation of a soil crust. They help retain moisture and provide soil ventilation.
Harvesting. The timing of fruit ripening depends on the variety of zucchini you choose. It is necessary to harvest regularly with a frequency of 2-3 days. It is important to remember that if you skip the harvest, the fruits outgrow and coarsen, and the growth of young ovaries is also delayed. This negatively affects the level of productivity.

What causes diseases of vegetables

Like other representatives of pumpkin crops, zucchini can be affected by pests and various diseases. This can negatively affect the degree of yield, the appearance of the fruit, or lead to the death of the plant. Therefore, it is very important to recognize the disease in time and take measures to eliminate it.

Consider what symptoms of disease damage you may encounter when growing zucchini:

Table: Signs and methods of dealing with major diseases

Signs of defeat	Name	Causes	Fighting methods
Rounded powdery spots appear on the leaves, then the leaves turn brown and dry.	powdery mildew	Sudden change in weather, high humidity	Spraying plants with a 1% suspension of colloidal sulfur, the first time - at the first appearance of plaque spots, the second - after 15–20 days
The appearance of rounded or oval yellow-brown spots on the leaves, spots appear on the fruits, turning into darkening sores, the fruits become bitter	Anthracnose (verdigris)	High humidity and temperature	Spraying plants with 1% Bordeaux liquid, 0.2–0.3% suspension of 80% cineb, 0.4% copper oxychloride.
Leaves and lashes are covered with a white coating of mycelium, the affected areas become soft and slippery, the plant fades, the leaves dry out	white rot	Cold wet weather, crowded planting	Removal of affected plants, sprinkling with lime in places of their growth
The lower part of the stem and roots turn brown, the lower leaves turn yellow and wither	root rot	Low soil temperature, watering the plant with cold water, applying large doses of fertilizers	Watering with warm water, timely hilling
Angular oily spots on leaves, darkening later, ulcers and watery spots on fruits	bacteriosis	Wet warm weather	Spraying plants with 1% Bordeaux liquid
The leaves become wrinkled, swollen and variegated, yellowish depressions appear on the fruits.	Mosaic	viral disease	The affected plant is removed

These vegetables can also be attacked by dangerous pests: sprout flies, spider mites, melon aphids, wireworms, and bears. Methods of dealing with these insects are quite diverse:

spraying the affected plant with water and special solutions;
the creation of repellent structures with specific odors;
the creation of special baits that allow insects to accumulate in one place, and then destroy them.

Photo gallery: The main pests of zucchini

Germ fly larvae damage seeds and shoots of squash
spider mite entangles the leaves with a small cobweb
The melon aphid causes leaf curl
Wireworms and their larvae damage seeds, seedlings, young plants.
Medvedka damages seeds, roots and young shoots

Thus, when planting zucchini in your garden, remember the methods for preventing diseases and pests:

follow the rules of crop rotation (do not place zucchini every year in the same place and where cucumbers or pumpkins grew before);
follow the rules of watering (water the plant regularly under the root warm water(22–25 C));
remove weeds and plant debris in a timely manner.

As you know, any disease is better to prevent than to treat later.

So, armed with the knowledge gained about the rules for growing zucchini, decide on the choice of varieties and method of planting this vegetable, demonstrate your diligence and patience, and you can enjoy the rich results of your work, eating the tender flesh of the food of the gods.

Let's go straight to the point. Namely, we will analyze all the basic nuances and rules for planting zucchini seeds in the spring in open ground.

On a note! Did you know that the well-known squash, grown on every continent except Antarctica, actually comes from Mexico. Interestingly, at first in Europe it was customary to eat only the seeds of this vegetable. It became so popular thanks to the Italians, who proved its indispensability for the most exquisite dishes. Not without reason, and today one of the best glamorous delicacies of French cuisine (Provence) is considered stuffed zucchini flowers.

The optimal timing for planting zucchini in open ground varies depending on where you live and its climatic features:

So, in the Middle lane (Moscow region), zucchini should be sown in open ground in the second half of May.
In the Urals and Siberia - in early June (as in the Leningrad region).
In the South of Russia, direct sowing into the ground can be carried out in April-first half of May.

Interesting! And you can, by doing it 20-30 days earlier.

Advice! When choosing the timing of planting zucchini, first of all, you need to pay attention to weather conditions: as soon as the threat of return spring frosts has passed, then sowing can be carried out. It is also worth considering the use of covering material or the creation of warm beds.

According to the lunar calendar in 2020

The lunar calendar will always come to your rescue if you want to know exactly when to plant.

Yes, in 2020 auspicious days for planting zucchini in open ground are:

in April - 1, 2, 24, 25, 27-30;
in May - 2-4, 6, 15-17, 20, 21 25-31;
in June - 2-4, 11-14.

If you fail to plant zucchini exactly on the above dates, then do not be discouraged! The main thing is that the landing day is not among the unfavorable ones in 2020 according to the lunar calendar (the days of the Full Moon and New Moon, as well as the period when the Moon is in Aquarius, because this is a barren and dry sign - italicized):

in April - 8, 15-17 , 23;
in May - 7, 13-14 , 22;
in June - 5, 9-11 , 21.

According to lunar calendar, from the magazine "1000 tips for summer residents."

Planting zucchini seeds in open ground

Preparing zucchini seeds for planting

As a rule, when planting seeds immediately in open ground, they are almost not prepared in any way, but to improve their germination and speed up germination, you can treat zucchini seeds.

However, if you are not sure that the return frosts will not return, then it is advisable to sow the zucchini with dry seeds, because. in the event of frost, germinated seeds can simply die.

By the way! The site already has a detailed article about (for zucchini everything is the same).

For example, they can be warmed up by standing for 7 days in a sunny window or by leaving a bag on the battery overnight.

Note! All pumpkins respond well to heat, and their developmental mechanisms start faster.

A more standard way to prepare zucchini seeds is to soak and subsequent germination on a napkin (toilet paper). As a rule, the seeds hatch in 2-3 days.

Important! Soak should be in well-settled water. Zucchini, like all pumpkin, do not tolerate chlorine.

By the way! In garden stores, you can find already processed zucchini seeds, they also say coated or glazed. They, of course, must be planted in the ground in a dry form.

Selection and preparation of beds

It is advisable to choose a sunny place for planting zucchini, but so that, for example, at lunchtime it is covered with a shadow from a fence or trees. It is also desirable to find a site protected from the wind.

Remember! Pumpkin (zucchini) can not be planted together with other pumpkin (watermelons, melons, cucumbers, squash, pumpkin).

When choosing a place to plant, it is also worth considering that planting zucchini in one place for several years in a row is harmful to plants. It will be good if you plant them in the place where such trees used to grow. vegetable crops like potatoes, onions, beets, carrots and cabbage, as well as legumes.

Zucchini love loose soil rich in humus, in other words, you will need a lot of organic matter.

To prepare a bed for zucchini, you need to do the following:

Loosen the top layer of the earth (for example, with a cultivator).
Add more manure to the garden. As an alternative, you can of course use compost.

Think! There is also an opinion that pumpkin is very fond of fresh manure, which warms. Especially if the spring is cold and the earth does not warm up enough.

But it's still better to use .

Pour a small layer of earth on top.

Zucchini can be planted on warm beds, placing arcs and pulling an oilcloth over them.

A flower bed for growing zucchini (although this method is suitable for both zucchini and squash) can be made as follows:

Video: how to make a flower bed for growing zucchini

Video: the result of growing zucchini in such a flower bed

Direct fit

Step-by-step instructions for sowing zucchini seeds in open ground:

Prepare the bed and make holes.
Treat the seeds (optional).
Plant the seeds to a depth of 2-4 cm at a distance of 50-70 cm from each other, placing them on the ribs (dry), or sprouted end down.

Video: how to properly prepare a garden bed and plant zucchini with seeds immediately in open ground

Outdoor zucchini care

The basis of caring for zucchini includes their regular watering and top dressing as needed.

Watering

Zucchini is very demanding on moisture. They need to be watered as the soil dries up, and preferably at the root, and not by sprinkling (this method is best left for top dressing). As a rule, one watering every 5-10 days is enough, while the water consumption is approximately 1 bucket per 1 sq. garden meter. But still, first of all, you should focus on the weather conditions.

Important! Zucchini do not like cold weather and cool rains, because. their ovaries are prone to decay, therefore, they need to be watered with slightly warm water, for example, after placing a watering can with water in the sun. In addition, almost all summer residents in the garden have a barrel or old bath used as a container. That's where you get your water from!

When it comes to harvesting, then watering should be stopped or reduced to a minimum. This is done to reduce the likelihood of their decay.

If you grow zucchini in a greenhouse or greenhouse, then after watering, do not forget to ventilate the room well. These pumpkins do not like high humidity!

Also don't forget about loosening and weeding weed plantings.

And the appearance of 4-5 real leaves in zucchini is a signal to hilling plantings to stimulate the growth of lateral roots.

top dressing

Lack of calcium often causes fruit rot. It is possible to make up for the deficiency of this element by feeding zucchini with calcium nitrate. You can water with this solution both under the root and on the leaf, but the second method is more efficient and economical.

A very important trace element is boron. It is especially important to feed zucchini with boron during the beginning of flowering. For example, you can use boric acid. Again, you can do both root and foliar top dressing.

Also, to stimulate better tying, you can use specialized drugs, for example, Bud and Ovary.

Iodine deficiency often also causes rotting of zucchini. To replenish iodine, it is useful to use the following recipe: take 30-35 drops of the product and dissolve in 10 liters of water, and then perform foliar or root dressing.

Potassium is responsible for the formation of fruits, so zucchini should be fed with potash fertilizer. For example, potassium sulfate (potassium sulfate), as well as potassium humate, are perfect for this.

Thus, if you replenish the above macro- and microelements in time, then you will have an excellent crop of zucchini even in rainy and cool weather.

Advice! It is desirable to grow self-pollinated zucchini hybrids. In this case, you do not have to resort to artificial pollination, and in general they adapt better to adverse weather conditions.

Problems of growing zucchini

Why don't they tie

As a rule, zucchini is not tied up for one simple reason - there is no one to pollinate them. Moreover, if the weather is cloudy, the bees do not like this, besides, there are not enough of them at all.

But you can carry out artificial pollination, then the zucchini is guaranteed to set fruit. First you need to figure out where the male flower is and where the female flower is.

When zucchini is just starting to bloom, male flowers appear first, they do not have any ovary, unlike female ones.

To carry out artificial pollination of zucchini, you must first cut off the male flower and clean it so that only pollen remains on the flower. Then open the female flower and touch its pistil, as if anointing it with pollen.

By the way! With one male flower, you can pollinate 2-3 female ones.

Video: why zucchini are not tied

If only male flowers appear on the squash and there is not a single female, then this means that the plant either does not have enough water (for example, in hot weather), or light if you planted it in excessive shade. But most often the problem is the lack of trace elements, which means that additional feeding is needed.

It often happens that zucchini rot at the stage of small ovaries. What are the reasons, and what to do about it, read on.

How to Attract Insect Pollinators

If you have non-self pollinating squash, then in order to get a high yield, one should take care of recruiting to your site pollinating insects. There are several ways to attract them.

For example, during the flowering period, some summer residents recommend spraying zucchini beds with a solution boric acid(1/2 teaspoon) and sugar (1/2 cup) in a bucket of water.

Another option: put containers with a solution of honey near the zucchini (1 tablespoon per 0.5 liters of water).

A more aesthetic way to attract pollinating insects to squash beds is. So you will not only attract pollinators, but also decorate your garden. Moreover, these flowers will protect the roots of zucchini from nematodes.

To attract pollinating insects to the garden, you can also feed squash plantings with an infusion of yeast and sugar. You will need 30 grams of yeast and 100 grams of sugar, which you need to fill with 3 liters of water, and then put in a sunny place until the first signs of fermentation appear. Next, pour the resulting infusion into a bucket and pour 10 liters of water, and then pour over the zucchini themselves.

Why ovaries rot

One of the most popular reasons for rotting ovaries of zucchini is cold and rainy weather. In such conditions, the ovaries do not pollinate, airing does not occur, bees do not fly in such weather. Even self-pollinated hybrids cannot develop normally.

The second most popular reason for rotting is the thickening of zucchini plantings or the bush itself. Therefore, it is necessary not only to plant at the correct distance, but also to cut the leaves to give access to light and air to the ovaries.

Another reason that is often forgotten is the situation when the flower does not fall off the ovary. It begins to rot, and then the ovary itself rots. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly review the ovaries of zucchini and manually remove the flowers when the fruit is already growing.

Not less than common cause a lack of micro and macro elements is considered, in other words, zucchini require additional feeding.

Harvesting zucchini for storage

The moment of harvesting zucchini, as a rule, occurs approximately 2 months from the date of sowing in open ground, or 1-2 weeks earlier if

highly valued in cooking for its delicate taste and dietary qualities. Not only stew and well-known caviar are prepared from it, but even sweet jam. This vegetable has long taken root in many summer cottages. Zucchini is quite easy to plant and care for in the open field, they can be grown both from seeds and through seedlings. We will talk about the nuances of the latter method further.

Growing zucchini through seedlings

Growing zucchini seedling method has many advantages. The method is suitable for areas with cool and short summers and provides an earlier harvest.

When to plant zucchini for seedlings

The exact time when it is most optimal to sow zucchini for seedlings depends on the climatic conditions of the region. It could be April or May. Seeds are sown a month before they are planted in open ground. If you plan to grow vegetables in a greenhouse or under cover, seedlings should be planted 15 days earlier.

Pre-sowing seed treatment

Courgettes grown from 2-3-year-old seeds bear fruit more abundantly and are more resistant to diseases. First of all, the seeds must be carefully examined and unsuitable for sowing removed. Store-bought zucchini seeds are most often already prepared, and additional steps for any processing will not be needed. Often these seeds are colored. Homemade seeds or those purchased from hand must be processed.

To prevent fungal diseases, the seeds are kept in hot water(48-50 degrees) for about 5 hours, after which they immediately dip for several minutes in cold water. A 20-minute treatment in a solution of potassium permanganate is often used, followed by rinsing with cold water. Seeds can be heated in the sun for several days or treated with aloe and Kalanchoe juices in a 1: 1 ratio. Also for dressing seeds, you can use the drug "Fitosporin-M". Processing them is carried out for 8-18 hours at room temperature.

Did you know? Homeland zucchini - America. The zucchini came to Europe in the 16th century and was originally an ornamental culture. Later, its taste was still appreciated. Zucchini is often used in Mediterranean cuisine. In combination with tomatoes and eggplant, they prepare the classic ratatouille dish.

Soil for seedlings

The optimal soil for planting zucchini for seedlings should have a neutral or slightly alkaline reaction. A mixture in the following proportion is well suited: 5 parts of peat land, 2 parts of humus and sod land, 1 part sawdust. If the substrate is too acidic, chalk or ash can be added to it. A store-bought ready mix for vegetable seedlings would also be an excellent option. On sale you can find special soils for pumpkin crops.

The procedure for sowing seeds for seedlings

Before sowing, homemade seeds must be soaked until they swell. Swollen seeds can be stored in the refrigerator. If they are germinated, they will sprout faster, but it must be borne in mind that the sprouts of zucchini are very thin, you need to handle them very carefully and sow such seeds immediately. Ready treated seeds should be wrapped in a damp cloth and a plastic bag, placed in a warm place and provided with ventilation, airing several times a day. The fabric should not dry out or be too damp.

It is very important not to injure the root system of zucchini when moving the seedling into the soil, so it is best to sow the seeds in cups or peat pots. Two-thirds of the containers are filled with soil mixture, moistened with warm water and zucchini seeds are planted to a depth of 2-3 cm. If there is no confidence in the high germination of seeds, it is better to put two seeds into the recess. Containers should be covered with glass or film.

Important! Peat pots are a biologically clean disposable container for seedlings. Seedlings can be planted in open ground directly in a pot, which later naturally decomposes.

Conditions before germination of zucchini seeds

Zucchini seedlings can be kept in a greenhouse, on a loggia or on a windowsill. Until the sprouts appear, you need to maintain a temperature of 18-24 ° C and water with warm water once a week.

Caring for zucchini seedlings

With the advent of sprouts, the containers must be freed from the coating and transferred to the light in a cooler room (balcony or loggia) with a temperature of 15-18 ° C during the day and not lower than 13-15 ° C at night. Before landing on the site, the temperature for seedlings of zucchini should be in the range of 17-22 ° C during the day, and 13-17 ° C at night. In order for the sprouts to develop normally, the seedlings need to be provided with good lighting, which can be increased using a foil and cardboard screen. It must be placed so that the reflected sunlight falls on the sprouts. If the air in the house is too dry, a damp cloth should be placed on the nearest radiator. With the appearance of the third leaf in the seedlings, in order to form a strong root system in the container, it is necessary to gradually add the soil mixture.

A week after the appearance of the sprouts, the first top dressing is done with a solution of superphosphate and urea (0.5 tablespoons per 1 liter of water) or ready-made top dressing "Bud". After 10 days, fertilize for the second time with a solution of a liter of water, ash and nitrophoska (0.5 tablespoons each).

During the cultivation of seedlings of zucchini, watering is done with settled water. room temperature. To water 8 pots, you need a liter of water.

Important! To lengthen the period of harvesting greens, the seedling method must be combined with sowing seeds.

Planting seedlings of zucchini on the site

At the age of 25-30 days, seedlings can be transplanted to the site.

When to plant seedlings of zucchini in open ground

When the average daily temperature is 15 degrees, you can plant seedlings of zucchini in open ground. The sprouts are ready for planting if they have a few dark green leaves, the root system is well developed and covers the entire volume of the container, and the roots are white and intact.

Choosing a place for zucchini

For growing zucchini in open ground, it is recommended to choose a sunny, wind-protected place with a low occurrence ground water. Zucchini love fertile soil with lots of humus.

Preparatory work

P Approximately 2 weeks before planting seedlings on the site, the soil must be dug to the depth of a shovel and fertilizers should be applied: a bucket of humus or compost, a bucket of rotted sawdust, 2 tablespoons of superphosphate, 2 cups of wood ash, a tablespoon of urea and a tablespoon of potassium sulfate per square meter area. It is possible, for reasons of economy, to apply fertilizer directly into the wells. They need to be mixed with the soil, water the bed hot water and cover with a film before planting seedlings. A week before planting, in the afternoon, pots with seedlings are taken out into the street to harden.

Good and bad predecessors

It is better not to re-plant zucchini in the same place where they or other pumpkin crops (cucumbers, pumpkin, squash) grew last year. In this case, the vegetable will not be able to please with a high yield and runs the risk of succumbing to diseases typical of pumpkin.

Good predecessors for zucchini are considered early and cauliflower, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes, radishes, onions, parsley, lettuce, garlic, green manure. The latter plants are grown for green fertilizer, they enrich the soil with nitrogen and trace elements, and inhibit the growth of weeds. These plants are legumes and cereal crops, calendula, sunflower, mustard and others.

How to plant seedlings in open ground

The distance between the beds for zucchini should reach 1-1.5 m. For every square meter of the plot, there should be no more than three zucchini plants.

It is recommended to plant zucchini in open ground in warm cloudy weather. Before planting, a little humus and ash should be placed in each well and moistened with warm water. A peat pot or a sprout with a clod of earth is lowered into the hole to the cotyledon leaves, soil is added and tamped.

If there is a threat of frost, the sprouts should be covered with plastic bottles or polyethylene. To do this, wire arcs are installed over the beds and the film is stretched.

Did you know? In Italy and France (particularly in Provence), stuffed zucchini flowers are a popular dish. For food use male flowers that are not able to create a fruit. They are eaten raw or fried in batter; cheese, pickled cucumbers, and anchovies are used as fillings.

Seasonal care for zucchini on the site

Zucchini is a rather unpretentious vegetable in care. Like any plant, it needs watering, loosening the soil and weeding, top dressing. Even with minimal care, he can please with a good harvest of fruits.

How to water

Watering zucchini in the open field is carried out mainly in the evening under the root with water heated in the sun. During hot weather, zucchini should be watered daily. When the plants have grown enough and the leaves cover the soil, watering can be done once every few days in hot weather and after 5-6 days in cloudy weather. If the leaves become sluggish from the heat, the plants are watered with a nozzle with small holes. Zucchini growing in a greenhouse need less watering than outdoor plants. Excess moisture can cause fruit rot.

Loosening and weeding between rows

Loose soil allows water and heat to pass through better, which is important for the growth of zucchini. In drought, the soil tends to harden, forming a crust, so it must be loosened. It is convenient to combine loosening with weeding.

How to fertilize zucchini

Organic fertilizers for feeding zucchini in the open field can be used purchased or prepared by yourself.

Weeds after weeding or mowing should be collected and placed in a barrel to the very top, pour water into it and stir occasionally. After a week, the contents of the barrel must be filtered and diluted with water in a ratio of 1:8. Next, zucchini is watered with herbal infusion, trying not to spill it on the leaves and stems. Do this two weeks after planting in open ground. Re-feeding is done a week after the first.
You can alternate such top dressing with manure fertilizer. Manure must be diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10, insisted for several days in the sun and watered. When the ovaries appear in the zucchini, top dressing is done a third time. For this, fertilizer is prepared from 10 liters of herbal infusion or slurry, a glass of sifted wood ash and a tablespoon of double superphosphate. Before fertilizing, it is recommended to water the area.

Processing (protection) of zucchini from pests and diseases

H A necessary measure in care is the protection of zucchini from pests and diseases. For the prevention of fungal diseases, a week after planting, it is recommended to treat the plants with a one percent solution. Bordeaux mixture or copper oxychloride, and against pests - karbofos. In autumn, after cleaning the site, the soil must be dug deep and prepared for another crop.

To combat melon aphids, plants are treated three times with a soapy solution (300 g of soap, dishwashing detergent per 10 liters of water) with a weekly interval. The whitefly should be washed off the leaves with water and loosen the soil around the plant to a depth of 2 cm. If such methods against pests do not help, use insecticidal preparations.

Slugs must be collected by hand, if there are a lot of them, baits are made from containers with dark beer. Zucchini can be affected by many diseases. At the first sign of appearance powdery mildew it is necessary to treat the site with a 10% solution of fungicides (Topsin, Bayleton), if necessary, repeat it after two weeks.

When black mold or white rot (sclerotinia) appears, the affected plants must be removed and burned; after harvesting, the area is completely cleared of plant residues. They fight bacteriosis with the help of treatment with Bordeaux liquid (1%).

With improper care (planting in cold soil, watering with cold water, excessive feeding), zucchini may develop root rot. To eliminate it, you need to remove adverse factors and treat zucchini with preparations containing copper. In hot rainy weather, zucchini is sometimes affected by anthracnose, which can be dealt with by treating with Bordeaux liquid (1%) or dusting with ground sulfur (15-30 g per 10 m² of planting).

Collection and storage of zucchini

The first harvest of zucchini can be obtained in one and a half to two months after planting. At good conditions one plant can give 15-20 fruits. It is advisable to collect them every other day so that they do not outgrow and new ovaries form.

Did you know? A very unusual and interesting zucchini dish is spaghetti. To prepare it, you need to rub the zucchini on a special grater for carrots in Korean. Eat vegetable spaghetti lightly stewed in tomato sauce and even raw.

The optimal fruits of zucchini for eating are 5-7 cm thick and 15-20 cm long. These are immature greens with soft skin and small seeds. They are fried, stewed, marinated, eaten raw (for example, in salads). Young immature fruits have already become traditional ingredients in dietary nutrition and raw food.

Only ripe zucchini are suitable for long-term storage: their skin is quite hard, and if you knock on it, you can hear a hollow sound. It is not necessary to wait for the full maturity of the fruit, because with correct assembly they can also ripen indoors. Green zucchini for direct use can be picked at the base, but a neatly cut long stalk is important for storage. If you simply pick the zucchini, the “tail” will begin to rot and spoil the fruits themselves in the future. You need to cut the stalks with a knife or secateurs.

Important! Slightly overripe and large zucchini can be used to prepare zucchini caviar. It is not scary if the fruits have a rough skin and hard seeds.

Young fruits can be stored at a low temperature for no more than two weeks. Ripe zucchini can be stored in dry and cool rooms with good ventilation for up to 5 months. They need to be put in a box or box so that the fruits do not touch each other, and the space between them is filled with straw or coniferous sawdust. Zucchini can also be stored in the refrigerator in the lower vegetable compartment.

Growing zucchini in the open field does not require special costs. Certain agrotechnical knowledge and some efforts will allow you to get a large crop of vegetables for your table or even for sale, because zucchini is a highly profitable crop for the agricultural business.

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The main feature of zucchini is versatility and simplicity. And we are talking not only about the culinary characteristics, when grown, it also does not cause any trouble at all. To collect good harvest, gardeners just need to work a little physically and apply some agrotechnical knowledge. Next, we will talk about how to properly grow zucchini in the open field, which neighbors to choose for them, how to fertilize, and whether the plant needs it.

Sowing zucchini seeds in open ground

The successful cultivation of this variety of cucurbits largely depends on the quality of the seeds, the chosen site and the complex. preparatory work. It consists in pre-sowing seed treatment, plowing and its enrichment with nutrients. Let's look at all the subtleties in more detail.

When to sow seeds outdoors

As soon as the threat of spring frosts passes, and friendly shoots of other crops appear in the garden, you need to sow zucchini in open ground. This usually happens in the last decade of May and at the beginning.

Did you know? Long time zucchini was grown as an exotic crop exclusively in greenhouses, and only in Mexico - in their historical homeland - they consumed seeds for food. The Italians were the first to dare to try the whole vegetable.

How to prepare zucchini seeds

All the worries about the future harvest begin with the choice of seed material. Some housewives collect it from their own, while others prefer purchased. It is important to check home seeds for germination.

To do this, they are soaked in a very weak solution of potassium permanganate, after which the settled specimens are kept for about 20 minutes in a growth stimulator. are completing this stage preparatory work by rinsing and wrapping the selected grains in a damp and warm cloth.

Important! Zucchini grains, homemade or purchased, except for hybrids, are suitable for planting for 5-8 years. Quality specimens remain viable for longer.

After the seed swells, but does not yet take root, it is stratified for 48 hours at a temperature of about 0 ° C. Then the bundle is placed on the southern windowsill for a week, periodically wetting with water.

The material is ready for planting when root processes up to a third of the grains long have developed on it. Not all summer residents are engaged in the germination of zucchini. Many plant seeds in open ground, processed only either.

Choosing a place for planting zucchini

When looking for a suitable bed for pumpkin crops, take note of the thermophilicity of zucchini and their basic requirements for growing agrotechnics. Plants will be very comfortable in an open, well-lit area, where there are no buildings or trees nearby.

It is desirable that the vegetables were in the sun throughout the day. It is also important to consider the landscape of the site: avoid cold lowlands, drafts and windy areas.

Don't be in a hurry to plan your garden: in this case, it is important to understand, after which and with what it is better to plant zucchini.

Experts consider ideal predecessors for culture:, all types, and. For 3-4 years, it is not recommended to cultivate representatives of the pumpkin family in the same area. Also, do not sow where they grew before.

Important! Almost all imported zucchini seeds from stores are hybrids. They are not suitable for collecting next year's seed.

Wrong crop rotation and neighborhood will make it difficult for the development of zucchini. This is because the grains end up in depleted soil, and an unfavorable pathogenic environment has remained from the predecessors.

In no case should you plant and next to zucchini. Cucurbits and melons have a common nutritional requirement and the same sensitivity to pathogens. As a result of such an experiment, you will get crop failure on both beds.

Preparatory work on the plot for zucchini

What exactly needs to be done on the site before planting depends on the physico-chemical characteristics of the substrate on it. Many, when asked what kind of soil is needed for zucchini, without hesitation, answer: “Warm”. This is important nuance, because in a cold environment the seeds will not sprout, but not the main one. First, determine the soil composition in the garden and adjust it with fertilizers.

Did you know? Zucchini has a diuretic effect, removes sodium salts from the body, improves bowel function, improves metabolic processes and digestion.

If you have:

Did you know? Scientists have proven that people who regularly eat zucchini dishes practically do not turn gray. This happens through the activation of melanin, which is responsible for the pigment of the hair.

The scheme and depth of sowing seeds

The technology of growing zucchini in open ground provides for significant distances between adjacent bushes. Experienced vegetable growers are advised to retreat in rows of 1 meter and leave one and a half meter aisles. Sowing should be carried out in moist soil, preferably in cloudy weather or in the morning.

The holes are made shallow, but wide. A soil mixture with an organic preparation Effekton is added to the bottom (1 tablespoon in each hole), 3 grains are sown at a distance of 2-3 cm.

If it is necessary to save crops from frost, seedlings are covered with hay, film or cut bottles (each plant separately).

How to care for zucchini outdoors

The subsequent care of the squash bed in the garden consists in timely feeding and weeding. Let's deal with everything in order.

Soil irrigation mode

Watering zucchini is carried out only under the root, since water should not fall on the foliage. Before the appearance of flowers, it is advisable to moisten once a week, and when the ovary is formed, the amount of moisture should be doubled. Under each bush, it is desirable to pour from 5 to 10 liters of warm water.

Always collect water for irrigation in advance, otherwise you will have to observe a lot of festering greens on the site. Do not overdo it - excessive watering exposes the root system of the zucchini, which leads to its death. Plants need to be saved with a mixture of peat and compost. It is enough to pour a layer up to 5 cm high around the bush.

Important! If bees do not fly in the garden, and zucchini bloom full swing, pick a male-type flower, tear off the petals from it and put it with a pistil in a female flower. So you can pollinate up to 3 stamens.

Loosening and weeding between rows

For zucchini, as for all other plants, the condition of the soil in the garden matters. A pumpkin culture will not be able to fully develop if nutrients growing nearby are taken from it. Therefore, it is very important to process row-spacings with a hoe in time and manually remove unnecessary vegetation from the bushes.

Fertilizer for zucchini

You can feed the squash bed with root and foliar methods.

For the season you need to carry out 3 top dressing:

Did you know? In cooking, not only the fruits of zucchini, but also flowers have found application. They are also fried, boiled, baked, added fresh to salads. And in Greece, you will be treated to rice and cheese baked in zucchini petals.

Foliar top dressing for zucchini in the open field can be carried out at will during the fruit ripening period. For these purposes, the plant is treated with drugs and Ross.

Prevention and protection against pests and diseases of zucchini

Cucurbits are susceptible to attack,. They can also be affected by rot, mold, and. In order not to lose the harvest, it is important to take preventive measures in time. To combat harmful insects, experts recommend insecticides (