Why Are Zucchini Not Happy With The Harvest?

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Last year, the zucchini disfigured wonderfully, but this season they do not please the gardener at all - is this a familiar situation? It also happens when in one bed the fruits grow for a feast for the eyes, while others do not want to develop into any. What is the reason for this failure? Let's figure it out

Last year's seeds

Sometimes gardeners make the following mistake: when last year the zucchini did well, they collect seeds from them and use them for future crops. At the same time, after inattentively examining the packaging, they do not know that they have acquired hybrids. And in the offspring of these vegetables, as a rule, there is a splitting of varietal characteristics. That is, if at the first sowing they please with yield, size, taste, then the next generation can reduce fertility or even leave without a crop. You should always remember that the F mark on the package means a hybrid, and you should not collect seeds from them.

Another point that can fail is improper storage of seeds. Those that yielded great yields last year can disappoint with the results this year if left in a cold or too humid environment. Such specimens are rich in flowers, but they are barren flowers.

Sowing material of zucchini may not lose germination for a very long time. The shelf life may well stretch up to 8 years, but only if they are kept in sufficiently dry and warm conditions. In addition, it is advisable to warm them up before sowing.

Weather

This year the summer was cold and rainy. And this is not the best weather conditions for the development of zucchini fruits. The result of such "cataclysms" is the decay of the ovary. In this case, the gardener needs to try to at least protect the plantings from getting wet with rain. Here arcs for a greenhouse will come in handy, on which you can throw a film on when it rains. It is also recommended to drive pegs along the beds, on which, if necessary, you can also throw a shelter from the rain.

Another problem of a rainy summer is the low activity of pollinating insects. Therefore, their work has to be taken over by the farmer. The moment when pollen is ready for artificial pollination should not be missed. This can be seen from the fact that she has become noticeably fluffy. Pollination is recommended in the morning. To do this, the male flower is plucked, the corolla is carefully cut off and the pollen is carefully transferred to the female stigma.

Pollinating insects can deprive zucchini of attention in good weather, but when choosing an unsuccessful place for the beds. Zucchini are famous for their unpretentiousness in lighting. And this is often abused when sowing in the densely shaded corners of the garden. But our industrious insect helpers are reluctant to look into such a jungle. Therefore, if you place shade-tolerant zucchini away from the sun, then it should be a light lace penumbra, and not complete dusk.

Diseases of squash

Another danger posed by a too shaded area is favorable conditions for the development of zucchini diseases here, which negatively affect productivity. These include powdery mildew. To combat it, fungicide preparations, mullein infusion or the most ordinary serum are used.

If we talk about the cool summer that nature has endowed us with this year, then it can bring such a disease as root rot to zucchini. The first signal of such an ailment is the slowed down development of the plant. To avoid ailments, during cold snaps, watering is reduced as much as possible. It is necessary to moisten the beds only in emergency cases, when the leaves look lethargic. For the prevention of root rot with irrigation, biological fungicides can be applied. They also use special sticks and tablets, which are poured into the ground to the root system.