Proper agricultural technology always helps amateur gardeners achieve maximum results. You can grow zucchini, like many other vegetables, in five successive steps:
- choose a site;
- cultivate the soil and apply fertilizer;
- select seeds and prepare planting material;
- to sow and/or grow seedlings;
- organize the care of plants and soil.
The sixth stage will be the harvesting and storage of zucchini. Below we will look at the details of each of these stages.
Modern agricultural techniques relieve hard work to pain in the joints and lower back. The first steps towards the future harvest are taken in the fall.
It is necessary to allocate a sunny and wind-sheltered area for zucchini. All varieties of zucchini grow well on chernozem soils and light loams. Avoid clay and peaty soils. Agronomists recommend frequently changing the planting site of zucchini and allocating new beds for them in their garden every two years. Growing zucchini in open field requires that you pay attention to "predecessors" - plants grown in the previous season. Those places where potatoes, root crops, cabbage and peas grew are suitable.
In agricultural technology, it is important not only how to plant zucchini, but also when and in what soil. Important factor obtaining a future good harvest - autumn autumn plowing or digging the soil.
Soil care is also possible in spring, but autumn arable work significantly increases productivity: moisture is better retained in the soil and weeds freeze out. And with favorable spring weather, this will allow for early sowing.
Loose soil makes life easier for the roots
The soil is dug up to a depth of 22-27 cm and brought into it organic fertilizers, at the rate of 30–50 kg 10 sq.m. In the absence of manure or compost, mineral fertilizers are applied at a rate of 500-800 grams / 10 sq.m. In the spring, soil care is not so complicated, the soil is simply loosened to a depth of 10–15 cm. If it was not possible to fertilize in the fall, and planting zucchini is planned in a week, apply organic fertilizers immediately. Organics require 10-20 kg / 10 sq. m; mineral fertilizers - superphosphate 150 g, potassium salt 70 g, ammonium sulfate 70 g per 10 sq.m.
Before sowing, the soil is harrowed with a rake - such care will help break the soil into small fractions and the soil will warm up better.
seed material
Those who sow seeds from their own grown fruits need to check their germination 1-2 months before sowing. The technique is simple and effective. It is necessary to germinate several dozen seeds, and if 8–9 out of 10 “hatched”, there is no reason to worry about the future harvest, and if less, it is better to purchase other seeds or use two on the eve of planting simple options increase in germination offered by applied agricultural technology:
- soaking in warm water for a day - nutrients come out of dormancy and the seeds germinate faster in the soil;
- germination for 3-4 days at +20...25 C under moistened tissue also accelerates the emergence of seedlings.
Out of a dozen, at least 8 seeds should germinate
It is better for beginner gardeners to buy seeds in specialized stores. Insufficiently experienced vegetable growers using seeds from their own squash may receive poor-quality material, as some flowers are sometimes fertilized with pollen from other cucurbits, which affects the biological characteristics of the next generation.
Seedling
Agrotechnology for growing seedlings helps to harvest in the open field in the early stages. Zucchini seedlings are grown in an apartment or a greenhouse at a constant temperature of + 18 ... 25 C and air humidity in the range of 60-70%.
The soil mixture is formed from the same parts of soddy soil, peat with neutral acidity and river sand. Two seeds are immersed in the soil of the seedling pot no more than 3 cm and moisten the mixture. Future seedlings are placed in a place inaccessible to direct sunlight.
Powerful seedlings give a great start to future vegetables
Seedling care begins five days after seed germination. Then the plants are transferred to a place with abundant sunlight.
A week after germination, seedlings can be fed. To avoid chemical burns, the plant is watered first warm water, and then carry out feeding with potassium permanganate (2g / 1l of water) or urea (3g / 1l of water). Feeding rate: 80–100 ml per plant. After a week, you should repeat feeding with nitrophoska (3g / 1l of water). Feeding rate: 150 ml per bush or lash.
Weak undeveloped shoots are removed, only plants with two well-developed leaves remain. The rules of care require not only watering daily, but also periodically loosening the soil where seedlings develop.
Transfer to open ground
Transplantation of zucchini with formed leaves to the garden is carried out when the threat of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up to + 16 ... 18 C. Sowing with seeds is possible at more than low temperatures from +9…13 С.
The planted sprout develops better in the already warmed ground
Seeds are placed in holes, in the amount of 2-3 pieces. The depth of seed placement depends on the density of the soil: in heavy soils - a maximum of 5 cm, in light soils - up to 7 cm. The seed planting site is covered with a film or straw in case of a sharp drop in external temperatures. The step between the holes depends on the morphological characteristics of the variety, so the area allocated for one squash bush can vary from 60x60 cm to 100x70 cm. less area, and climbing varieties occupy more space.
Seedlings are also planted in holes. It, together with a clod of earth, is lowered into a hole, deepening to the cotyledon leaves. To accelerate the growth of seedlings in the hole, you can first put a handful of well-rotted organic fertilizers.
Care
These beautiful flowers will soon become the ovaries of large fruits
Climate has always been an important condition for high yields, but soil and plant care play an important role, allowing you to achieve good results even in harsh conditions for zucchini.
For the strength and health of the zucchini, it is important to organize regular soil care. For this, row-spacings are processed, and a squash bush is spudded. The first loosening is carried out two days after planting seedlings. Periodic loosening of row-spacings, where the seeds are sown, begins after the appearance of the first cotyledon leaves and seedlings are thinned out when the first true leaf appears, leaving one of the strongest plants in the hole. In total, at the stage of bush growth, 2–4 soil cultivation can be carried out.
The first top dressing with a solution of fresh mullein (4 parts of water and 1 part of mullein) is made on the 14th day after planting. Seedlings can be fed mineral fertilizers on the 10th day from the moment of their appearance: ammonium sulfate, superphosphate and potassium salt. Fertilizers are applied in the form of a dry powder.
The second feeding is carried out in the phases of budding and flowering. by the most effective fertilizer at this stage is chicken manure (1 part manure and 10 parts water). Application welcome wood ash and, as always, top dressing in reasonable quantities with the mineral fertilizers indicated above is appropriate.
As for the irrigation of the soil when growing zucchini, the first time the plants are watered before flowering and then several more times when the fruits are formed.
Most often, when growing zucchini, it is affected by powdery mildew. In this case, remove the affected leaves and treat the leaves with Bayleton fungicide (25%).
Harvest
Harvesting zucchini lasts 45…90 days. Depending on the variety, every week it is necessary to collect 4–6 young ovaries that have reached a mass of 300–700 grams. The fruits are cut with a knife along with the stalk. If you leave a ripe zucchini on a bush, then after a short time the process of seed formation begins and the taste of the product will decrease. Regular collection of ovaries increases the yield of zucchini and significantly increases the yield of each individual plant, helping to collect from one bush from 6 to 15 kg / 10 sq.m.
So, growing zucchini is a multi-stage process, but not burdensome and allows even beginners to successfully reach the pleasant stage of harvesting.
For a long time, people have been growing zucchini in their plots. The vegetable bears fruit well, quite unpretentious, often used in cooking. It has dietary qualities, while tasty. Zucchini can be stewed, fried, stuffed, canned, cooked caviar. But still, when growing zucchini, it is worth considering some factors so that they please you with their good harvest.
Perhaps this is where the cultivation of zucchini should begin. After all, the success of the harvest largely depends on the choice of variety! Not every variety is suitable for certain climates and soils.
| Variety | Description |
|---|---|
| This early ripe hybrid variety has short shoots, the fruits are cylindrical in shape, the weight reaches 1 kg - they are not very large. Zucchini has white flesh, quite dense. | |
| The variety is good - resistant to pests, a changeable climate is also not a hindrance. Ripens well in dry weather. Fruit weight 3.5 kilos. | |
| Many will like the variety, because in any weather a good harvest is guaranteed! Bears fruit in the shade. Vegetables are large - up to three kilos, white-green. | |
| The yield is increased. Fruits are light green 700 g. | |
| The variety is early, ripens in seven weeks. The fruits have a ribbed surface, 1.8 kg of weight. | |
| The fruits are tasty, weight - 900 grams. Resistant to powdery mildew. Other diseases are well tolerated. | |
| An interesting variety, named because of the pulp - it tends to disintegrate into fibers if it is subjected to heat treatment. Weight - up to 2.5 kilos. Their lashes should be directed in the right direction in time, otherwise this variety will easily capture the entire area! If this is not included in your plans, then try to avoid the active growth of lashes. | |
| High yield. Vegetables with a white smooth surface, ripen after sowing in forty days. The pulp is tender. The variety is well related to transportation, it can be stored for a long time. But it was not without drawbacks: it will take more space to grow it, since the bushes of this variety are very large. | |
| High degree of productivity. From one square meter you can collect up to 20 kg of fruit. | |
| Gives great amount ovaries. The fruits have a pleasant salad color, delicate in taste. You can store for a long time. They ripen early. |
With proper care, any of the varieties will delight you with its harvest. The main thing is to follow some simple rules.
Proper preparation of beds
This vegetable can be called demanding on soil fertility. You will have to apply various fertilizers based on the composition of the soil.
| soil type | Recommendations |
|---|---|
| Peat | Add two kilos of compost per square meter (can be replaced with humus). Also a bucket clay soil. Sprinkle potassium sulfate, and also superphosphate (a spoonful of each remedy is enough), add a couple of spoons of ash. After that, dig the bed (depth is about 25 cm, width - 70), level the surface. Water the garden warm solution"Rossa" or "Agricola-5". Use 3 liters of fertilizer per sq.m. Insulate the bed with foil. |
| Sandy | A bucket of soddy land, four kilos of humus with sawdust. A bucket of peat will not be superfluous. Fertilizers - superphosphate, ash. |
| Chernozem fertile | Add one sq.m. two kilos sawdust, add two tablespoons of superphosphate with ash. |
| clayey | Enter per sq.m. three kilos of sawdust, peat, you can add the same amount of humus. You can’t do without mineral fertilizers either - you need to add wood ash, superphosphate (a couple of spoons each). |
| loamy | Everything is simple here - take the components for the previous soil. |
If you need to develop a new plot for zucchini, then remove any roots from the ground at the time of digging, and remove the larvae of the May beetle, if any, are found. In the first year after planting, three kilos of humus, a spoonful of nitrophoska, two of wood ash are added. Instead of humus, compost is suitable. Next, dig the site, pour liquid fertilizer.
Seed preparation
It is important to properly process the seeds before planting. First, warm them up so that the seedlings go more amicably and the yield increases. To do this, it is enough to leave the bag with seeds overnight for warm battery. Don't forget to cull the ugly, empty seeds!
After that, soak the seeds in warm water - they should swell. Spread between layers of fabric, pre-wetting it slightly. Just do not use cheesecloth - nimble seed roots will simply get tangled in it!
After 4-5 days at room temperature, the seeds will reach a length of several centimeters. At this stage, they need to be planted in open ground so that the roots do not intertwine with each other!
Sowing the seeds correctly
Planting seeds for seedlings is usually carried out in two periods (depending on climatic conditions). If you live in the west-eastern region - May 1-10, and in the south - in the second or third decade of April. After 5-30 days, seedlings can be planted in prepared soil.
Note: it is advisable to start sowing in cloudy weather!
Landing is very simple:
Proper planting of seeds is already half the battle, which will provide you with a high yield! These rules should not be ignored.
Video - Planting seedlings of zucchini in the ground
How to water
Watering requires regular - avoid getting liquid on the foliage, pour under the root. Before flowering, water once a week (five liters per sq.m.). When the fruiting period comes, increase watering - twice a week with ten liters of warm water. It is impossible to completely do without watering, otherwise to get bountiful harvest may not be counted. And in case of drought, the leaves with inflorescences quickly dry out and fall off.
Note: Avoid watering cold water otherwise there is a risk that young ovaries will begin to rot!
Growing zucchini does without hilling and loosening - this harms the root system, which is located high enough!
Don't Forget Fertilizers and Pollination
Feeding should be regular.
In addition to these top dressings, carry out foliar nutrition during the fruiting period: sprinkle the aerial part with a ready-made solution of 10 liters of oxen with 10 g of Bud. The frequency is once every ten days.
The female flowers require pollination. In the morning, spray the flowers with a solution of honey (a glass of ordinary water + a spoonful of honey) to attract bumblebees with bees. If insects are not pollinating your flowering squash because of bad weather, then do it yourself. Remove the flowers from the male flowers and pollinate the female flowers with them. The strength of one such flower is enough to pollinate three female ones.
Video - Pollination of zucchini
Getting rid of pests
This culture needs to be protected from pests, all kinds of diseases. Of course, when growing tasty fruits in the open field, there is a risk of encountering many common diseases and pests. Perhaps, powdery mildew, melon aphid and sprout fly can be called the most common pests. But it can also be encountered with white or root aphids, whiteflies, mites.
You can prevent diseases if you follow the rules of crop rotation. Remove affected fruits with plant debris in time. Treat diseased plants with sodium phosphate, colloidal sulfur, mullein solution or hay infusion. And against insects to help you effective means: Confidor, Iskra.
Collecting fruits
Early, medium or late ripening vegetables differ in ripening time. Fruits can be removed on the twentieth day after flowering. They will be small in size, but often such zucchini are canned, and zucchini caviar is already prepared from large ones.
Watch out for the moment when the zucchini are fully ripe, if they are overripe they will lose their flavor. Determine the degree of maturity yourself: tap on the fruit, if the skin is hard enough, dense to the touch, and the sound is dull, then the vegetable is ripe.
You can store zucchini for up to five months in the cellar, for such a period they do not lose their consumer characteristics!
There is a legend very similar to the truth. Once, in ancient times, the coast indian ocean 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. And indeed, zucchini are not only unique dietary product, but also have 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. Happy in good weather the 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 harvest as quickly as possible, then 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, it is important seedbed preparation seeds.
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). Optimum temperature for seed germination - 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 this last numbers May or early 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). Only used for irrigation warm water- 100 ml under 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 fixtures: bags, barrels, compost heaps. And there is also a vertical landing method.
Growing zucchini in bags is not difficult. To do this, use polyethylene (large garbage bags) 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 cropped plastic bottle. 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 spot 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-tDgdsThe vertical method of planting zucchini is suitable for climbing varieties 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 the bags, barrels and compost heaps during the decay of organic residues contributes to the harvest at an earlier date. 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. best temperature for growing - 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 color 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 of 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 spots appear on the leaves powdery coating, 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, tightness of landing | 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 be attacked and dangerous pests: sprout fly, spider mite, melon aphid, wireworms, bear. 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 with 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.
Zucchini, planting and care in the open field for which they have their own characteristics, are representatives of the Pumpkin family. A versatile vegetable with excellent palatability began to be used in cooking only from the 18th century, although it was brought to Europe two centuries earlier, where it was originally cultivated as a greenhouse rare plant.
Varieties of zucchini for open ground
Zucchini is represented by two types - zucchini and white-fruited, which in turn are classified based on different parameters:
- in the form of a bush - bush and semi-bush;
- in the shape of the fruit - oblong and round;
- in terms of ripening - early, mid-season, late-ripening.
Many breeders, both domestic and foreign agro-industrial complex, are working on breeding new varieties and hybrids.
Among the most famous, the following are especially popular:
- Aeronaut- bush zucchini, distinguished by its compact size. A plant with a small number of lashes demonstrates high yield. Cylindrical fruits of a dark green color with light speckles have a creamy, slightly sweet pulp, which is covered with a thin peel. The variety is suitable for conservation.
- White- an early ripening variety, the ripening period of which is 40 days. White fruits of an oval form with juicy pulp are suitable for long storage.
- Black handsome- a variety with high yields, which owes its name to the dark green, close to black, color of the fruit with white flesh. Vegetables are used for food and preparations for the winter season.
- yellow-fruited- bush zucchini of early ripening, distinguished by a high content of carotene in slightly ribbed fruits of a cylindrical shape of yellow color. An excellent vegetable for creating dishes from a children's diet.
- Kavili- very early hybrid, demonstrating high productivity and a long fruiting period, during which straight green fruits develop with white pulp that is delicate in taste. The hybrid is resistant to powdery mildew.
Basic requirements for growing
In order to obtain high annual harvest rates, when cultivating zucchini in the open field, a number of requirements must be taken into account:
- the correct selection of varieties and hybrids, depending on the climatic characteristics of the region and the purpose of the vegetable;
- competent choice of location, taking into account lighting and soil composition;
- compliance with crop rotation;
- organization necessary care, including the timeliness of treatments against pests and diseases.
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 - on their historical homeland- Seeds were eaten. 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 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. This stage of preparatory work is completed 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 main 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. In gourds and gourds a general need for nutrition 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 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 is bare root system squash, which leads to his 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 in full swing, pick a flower male type, tear off the petals from it and put the pestle in 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. pumpkin culture will not be able to fully develop if nutrients growing nearby are taken away 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, if desired, during the period of fruit ripening. 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 (,