Zucchini: How To Grow Overseas Zucchini?

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

In many vegetable gardens, the usual zucchini we are used to is replaced by its overseas counterpart zucchini. Why is this close relative good, that in his favor they abandon the long-time-tested variety? As it turned out, it is also more compact, and its yield is higher, and the fruits ripen soon. However, the vegetable also has its own whims in character. Let's take a closer look at this interesting vegetable and the peculiarities of its cultivation

Features of zucchini

The eternal concern of gardeners is saving space on the ridges. And unlike zucchini, zucchini requires less floor space. At the same time, the yield is much higher, and it can bear fruit for a longer time. In addition, the zucchini beds can be left without weeding; with their rapid growth, these garden crops themselves drown out the growth of weeds. Another advantage of zucchini is its early maturity. The first fruits reach the kitchens of housewives earlier than simple zucchini.

The taste of zucchini is somewhat superior to zucchini. Like cucumber, it can be eaten even raw. At the same time, zucchini are less nutritious and also require more maintenance. Compared to zucchini, this vegetable is more thermophilic and capricious in terms of moisture.

Sowing zucchini seeds

They start sowing zucchini when the soil in the garden warms up to + 14 … + 16 ° С. In our latitudes, this time usually falls in the second decade of May. Presowing preparation consists in soaking the seeds and stimulating them by alternating temperatures. For this, the inoculum is kept for two days on a saucer with damp gauze at room temperature, and then left in the refrigerator for another two days.

The best precursors for sowing zucchini will be legumes and nightshades - tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, potatoes. For filling the soil for 1 square meter. the beds are brought in a bucket of organic matter (rotted manure or humus) and 1 table each. l. fertilizers such as urea and potassium sulfate, as well as 2 tablespoons. l. superphosphate.

The holes for seeds are made according to the scheme 70 x 70 cm. A handful of humus is added to each hole, salted with ash. Sowing is carried out in moist soil, so the wells need to be watered in advance. A couple of seeds are placed in each. The depth of planting depends on the type of soil in your area: on heavy ones they are placed 3-4 cm, on light ones - up to 6 cm. After sowing, the beds are mulched; humus or peat is suitable for these purposes. Seedlings are shown in about a week. When the plants form one true leaf at a time, the weaker seedling is removed from the nest.

Planting care

You can harvest zucchini after a week and a half after the ovary appears. And so that the result does not disappoint the gardener, you need to know about the intricacies of planting care. Bearing in mind that these plants are thermophilic, in case of sudden frosts, it is worth keeping arcs and breathable agrofibre or perforated film near at hand - after all, we must not forget that high air humidity is also harmful to these vegetables.

These plants are hygrophilous. But watering should be done carefully so that splashes of water do not fall on the leaves or ovaries. It is recommended to mulch the beds so that water does not evaporate from the soil too quickly and the soil remains loose enough. As for the loosening itself, they are performed to a depth of 10 cm.

During the season, zucchini is fed 2-3 times. For this, the same fertilizers are suitable as for cucumbers. Organic dressings alternate with mineral mixtures.

The fruit is harvested twice a week. The zucchini should be approximately 20 cm long. They are cut with the stalk. As they grow, aging leaves from the lower tiers are also removed from the plants.