Correct agricultural technology always helps amateur gardeners to achieve maximum results. Growing zucchini, like many other vegetables, can be done in five successive steps:
- choose a site;
- process the soil and apply fertilizers;
- select seeds and prepare planting material;
- sowing and / or growing seedlings;
- organize the care of plants and soil.
The sixth stage will be harvesting and storing zucchini. Below we will look at the nuances of each of these stages.
Modern agrotechnical techniques relieve from hard work to pain in the joints and lower back. The first steps towards the future harvest are taken in the fall.
Allocate a sunny and wind-protected area for zucchini. All varieties of zucchini grow well on black earth soils and light loam. Avoid clay and peat soils. Agronomists recommend often changing the place of planting zucchini and every two years to allocate new beds for them in your garden. Growing zucchini in open ground requires you to pay attention to the "predecessors" - the plants grown in the previous season. Places where potatoes, root vegetables, 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. An important factor getting a good future harvest - autumn fall plowing or digging the soil.
Soil maintenance is also possible in spring, but autumn plowing significantly increases yields: 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 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 500–800 grams / 10 sq. M. In spring, soil care is not so difficult, the soil is simply loosened to a depth of 10-15 cm. If it was not possible to apply top dressing 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 self-grown fruits should start checking 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 seeds on the eve of planting. simple options increased 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 a moist cloth also accelerates the emergence of seedlings.
At least 8 seeds should sprout out of ten
It is better for novice gardeners to buy seeds in specialized stores. Insufficiently experienced vegetable growers using seeds from their own zucchini can get poor-quality material, since some flowers are sometimes fertilized with pollen from other pumpkin, 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 greenhouse at a constant temperature of + 18 ... 25 C and air humidity within 60-70%.
The soil mixture is formed from the same parts of sod soil, peat with neutral acidity and river sand... Two seeds are immersed in the seedling pot soil 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, the seedlings can be fed. To avoid chemical burns, the plant is first watered warm water, and then feeding is carried out with potassium permanganate (2g / 1l of water) or urea (3g / 1l of water). Top dressing rate: 80–100 ml per plant. After a week, you should repeat the feeding with nitrophos (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 every day, but also periodically loosen the soil where the seedlings develop.
Transfer to open ground
Transplantation of zucchini with formed leaves on the garden bed 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 with more low temperatures from + 9 ... 13 C.
The planted sprout develops better in already warmed up soil
Seeds are placed in holes, in the amount of 2-3 pieces. The seeding depth depends on the density of the soil: in heavy soils - maximum 5 cm, in light - up to 7 cm. The planting site is covered with foil or straw in case of a sharp drop in external temperatures. The step between the holes depends on the morphological characteristics of the variety, therefore the area allocated for one zucchini bush can vary from 60x60 cm to 100x70 cm. Pronounced bush forms are assigned less area, and climbing varieties occupy more space.
Seedlings are also planted in the holes. Together with a lump of earth, it is lowered into the 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 ovaries of large fruits
Climate has always been an important condition for high yields, but soil and plant care plays an important role in achieving good results even in harsh zucchini conditions.
For the strength and health of the squash, it is important to organize regular maintenance of the soil. For this, the aisles are processed, and the zucchini bush is spud. The first loosening is performed two days after planting the seedlings. Periodic loosening of the row spacing, where the seeds are sown, begins after the appearance of the first cotyledonous leaves and thin out the seedlings when the first true leaf appears, leaving one of the strongest plants in the hole. In total, at the stage of bushes growth, 2–4 soil cultivation can be carried out.
The first feeding with a solution of a fresh mullein (4 parts of water and 1 part of a mullein) is done on the 14th day after disembarkation. Seed shoots can be fed mineral fertilizers on the 10th day from the moment they appeared: ammonium sulfate, superphosphate and potassium salt. Fertilizers are applied as dry powder.
The second feeding is carried out in the budding and flowering phases. The most effective fertilizer at this stage is chicken droppings (1 part droppings and 10 parts water). Application is welcomed wood ash and, as always, it is appropriate to fertilize in reasonable quantities with the mineral fertilizers mentioned above.
As for irrigating 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 is affected by powdery mildew. In this case, remove the affected leaves and treat the leaves with Bayleton fungicide (25%).
Harvest
Harvesting of 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 6 to 15 kg / 10 sq. M. From one bush.
So, growing zucchini is a multi-step process, but not burdensome and allows even beginners to successfully get to the pleasant harvesting stage.
For a long time, people have been growing zucchini on their plots. The vegetable bears fruit well, is quite unpretentious, and is often used in cooking. It has dietary qualities and is tasty. Zucchini can be stewed, fried, stuffed, canned, caviar can be cooked. But still, when growing zucchini, it is worth considering some factors so that they delight you with their good harvest.
Perhaps this is where the cultivation of zucchini should be started. Indeed, the success of the harvest largely depends on the choice of the variety! Not every variety is suitable for a particular climate and soil.
| 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. In zucchini, the flesh is white, rather dense. | |
| The variety is good - it is 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! It also bears fruit in the shade. Large vegetables - up to three kilos, white and 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 in weight. | |
| The fruits are delicious, weight - 900 grams. Resistant to powdery mildew. She tolerates other diseases well. | |
| An interesting variety, named because of the pulp - it tends to break down into fibers if it is cooked. Weight - up to 2.5 pounds. Direct their whips in the right direction in time, otherwise this variety will easily capture the entire site! If this is not part of your plans, then try to avoid active growth of lashes. | |
| High productivity. Vegetables with a white smooth surface, ripen after sowing in forty days. The pulp is tender. The variety is good for transportation, it can be stored for a long time. But it was not without its drawbacks: more space will be required to grow it, since the bushes of this variety are very large. | |
| High yield. From one square meter you can collect up to 20 kg of fruit. | |
| Gives great amount ovaries. The fruits have a pleasant salad color and are tender to the taste. You can store it for a long time. Ripen early. |
With proper care, any of the varieties will delight you with their harvest. The main thing is to follow some simple rules.
Proper preparation of the beds
This vegetable can be called demanding on soil fertility. You will have to apply different fertilizers based on the composition of the soil.
| Soil type | Recommendations |
|---|---|
| Peat | Apply two kilos of compost per square meter (can be replaced with humus). And also a bucket clay soil... Sprinkle potassium sulfate, and also superphosphate (a spoonful of each product is enough), add a couple of tablespoons of ash. After that, dig up the bed (depth about 25 cm, width - 70), level the surface. Water the garden warm solution "Ross" or "Agricola-5". Use 3 liters of fertilizer per m2. Insulate the bed with foil. |
| Sandy | A bucket of sod earth, four kilos of humus with sawdust. A bucket of peat will not be superfluous. Fertilizers - superphosphate, ash. |
| Fertile black earth | Spice one sq.m. two kilos sawdust, add two tablespoons of superphosphate with ash. |
| Clayey | Contribute per sq.m. three kilos of sawdust, peat, you can add the same amount of humus. You can't do without mineral fertilizers - 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 site for zucchini, then remove any roots from the ground at the time of digging, and remove the larvae of the May beetle, if any. In the first year after planting, three kilos of humus are introduced, a spoonful of nitrophoska, two - wood ash. Compost will work instead of humus. Next, dig up the area, pour liquid fertilizers.
Seed preparation
It is important to process the seeds correctly 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 a bag of seeds overnight for warm battery... Remember to discard the ugly, empty seeds!
Then soak the seeds in warm water - they should swell. Spread out between layers of fabric, after wetting it slightly. Just do not use gauze - the nimble roots of the seeds will simply get tangled in it!
After 4-5 days at room temperature, the seeds 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, the seedlings can be planted in the prepared soil.
Note: it is advisable to start sowing in cloudy weather!
Landing is very simple:
Planting your seeds correctly is half the battle to ensure high yields! You should not neglect these rules.
Video - Planting zucchini seedlings in the ground
How to water
Watering is required regularly - avoid getting liquid on the foliage, pour under the root. Before flowering, water once a week (five liters per square meter). When the fruiting period comes, increase watering - twice a week with ten liters of warm water. It is impossible to do without watering at all, otherwise to receive bountiful harvest you can not count. And during drought, the leaves with inflorescences will quickly dry out and fall off.
Note: avoid watering cold water, otherwise there is a risk that the young ovaries will start to rot!
Growing zucchini does without hilling and loosening - this harms the root system, which is located high enough!
Do not forget about fertilization and pollination
Top dressing should be regular.
In addition to these dressings, carry out foliar nutrition during the fruiting period: sprinkle the aboveground part with a ready-made solution of 10 liters of oxen with 10 g of the Bud preparation. The frequency is every ten days.
Female flowers require pollination. In the morning, spray the flowers with a honey solution (a glass of ordinary water + a spoonful of honey) to attract bumblebees with bees. If insects do not pollinate your blooming squash due to bad weather, then do it yourself. Tear off 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 is required 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 aphids and sprout flies are the most common pests. But you can also run into a white or root aphid, whitefly, tick.
You can prevent diseases if you follow the rules of crop rotation. Remove affected fruits with plant debris in time. Treat sick plants with sodium phosphate, colloidal sulfur, mullein solution or hay infusion. And against insects to help you effective means: Confidor, Iskra.
We collect the fruits
Early, medium or late ripening vegetables differ in ripening time. Fruits can be harvested on the twentieth day after flowering. They will be small in size, but often such zucchini are canned, and from large ones they are already preparing zucchini caviar.
Do not miss the moment when the zucchini is completely ripe, if they are overripe, they will lose their taste. Determine the degree of maturity yourself: knock on the fruit, if the skin is hard enough, dense to the touch, and the sound is dull, then the vegetable is ripe.
Zucchini can be stored for up to five months in the cellar, during this period they do not lose their consumer characteristics!
There is a legend very similar to the truth. Once upon a time, in ancient times the coast Indian Ocean settled by fishermen, and the only source of their food was the fish they caught. They spent many days at sea, battling bad weather and storms. The women prayed tirelessly for the safe return of their husbands. Once women's patience ran out and they turned to the gods with a request to give them a gift of fruit, the pulp of which would be as tender and refined as fish meat. The gods heard them and gave the people zucchini. 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 that easy to grow this food of the gods?
How to plant zucchini
Despite the fact that you can find zucchini in almost any garden, not every summer resident can grow them successfully. Planting this vegetable requires taking into account some of the features of site selection, soil and seed preparation, selection different ways landing.
Choosing a site for planting
The place for growing zucchini is of particular importance. Considering that this vegetable is a warm and photophilous area for planting it must be protected from winds from the north and be sufficiently illuminated.
You can not grow zucchini annually 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, in the fall, the site is subject to deep digging (25–35 cm) without breaking clods, as well as refueling with organic matter. If the soil is acidic, it is lime. In the 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 outdoors and indoors... 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 for some varieties 40-50 cm is allowed).
In the open field, it is recommended to use the so-called warm bed... It is made high, and the leaves of raspberries, Jerusalem artichoke, carrot tops, beets, last year's grass, compost or humus are laid down for digging. At the same time, it is recommended to cover a bed with planted plants until mid-June (depending on climatic conditions) with a film or non-woven shelters. Day in good weather the bed must be ventilated.
Preparing plant seeds for sowing
You can plant zucchini with dry seeds or seedlings... It is not difficult to decide on the choice of landing method. If your goal is to get the 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.
Freezing, heating and dressing of seeds is recommended as preparatory procedures.... These measures help to increase the resistance of plants to cold and disease. However, nowadays, you can find a warning from the manufacturer on packages with seeds that they have already undergone such training, therefore, it does not need to be repeated.
Be sure to soak the seeds before planting in the ground, which is carried out in several stages:
- Warm up the package 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 between layers of fabric (using gauze can break the delicate roots). Optimum temperature for seed germination - 25 C.
- When the scions 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 can vary depending on climatic conditions. On average it is last numbers May or early June. The optimum soil temperature is 10–12 C.
Before planting, the soil must be watered. In an earthen hole (depth 10-12 cm) lay 0.5 kg of humus and 2-3 seeds, then sprinkle with earth 3-4 cm and mulch on top with peat (2-3 cm). Then the excess plants are thinned out.
Seedlings of this vegetable are prepared in late April - early May.... The hatched seeds are traditionally placed in individual paper cups or peat pots filled with substrate. Alternative methods of obtaining seedlings in so-called snails or rolls are also of interest.
Video: Planting zucchini seeds in a snail
After the sprouts appear, the first feeding of the seedlings is performed (0.5 tablespoons of superphosphate and urea per 1 liter of water). Moreover, each plant should receive no more than 1.5 tbsp. spoons of this solution. The second one is performed in 10-12 days. The composition of the solution is somewhat different - for 1 liter of water, 0.5 tbsp. tablespoons of ash and nitrophoska (1.5 tablespoons for each bush). Only used for watering warm water - 100 ml for each plant every 4–5 days.
Transplanting seedlings into the ground is carried out in 25-30 days, when at least three leaves are formed. It is deepened into the ground to cotyledon leaves. Before the onset of stable heat, the planted seedlings are recommended to be covered with a film or non-woven materials.
Unconventional planting and growing methods
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 are 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.To do this, use polyethylene (large garbage bags) or polypropylene bags (such as sell sugar, cereals) with a volume of 100-120 liters. At the bottom, organic residues, compost, sawdust are laid and then covered 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 cropped plastic bottle... Moreover, the plant does not require special care and a significant amount of fertilizers.
Zucchini can be grown in the same way in 150-200 liter barrels.... A pipe (with a diameter of no more than 0.3 m) with small holes is vertically installed in the center of the barrel. Drainage in the form of cones or brushwood is laid at the bottom of the barrel. Then layers of humus, hay, earth, a mixture of sawdust and peat and, finally, the soil on which the zucchini will grow are laid out sequentially. Plants are planted in holes on both sides of the irrigation pipe, through which the plants are subsequently watered.
Zucchini can even be grown on site compost heap containing the remains of last year's hay, vegetable tops, husks from grain. The decomposition of these products can be accelerated using special microbiological solutions.
Video: Growing on a compost heap
https://youtube.com/watch?v\u003dbVTIQ-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 whips of the plant are launched along the trellis attached to the ground or wall.
The planting methods described above have several advantages. First of all, plants are much easier to care for. And the risk of damage to the plant by diseases and pests is also reduced. 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 obtaining a harvest earlier. Another plus of these planting methods is that zucchini fruits always look attractive, since they do not come into contact with the ground.
We grow zucchini on the balcony
Growing a vegetable marrow at home is difficult, but possible. For 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 cultivation - above 16 C.
For each plant a separate pot is allocated with a volume of 10-15 liters of soil. The planting capacity should be chosen high - 35–40 cm, because when the taproot reaches the barrier, the growth of the aboveground part of the plant slows down. Humus can be used as a soil, but be sure to provide drainage to avoid stagnant water (for example, expanded clay or gravel). It is necessary to position 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 bush early maturing hybrids (Kavili). You can sow seeds directly into a container, but it is better to soak them in water for 3-4 days and plant the already hatched seed.
If the selected variety is not self-pollinating, you need to provide insects access to the balcony, and sprinkle the sprouts with a solution of honey. If there is no opportunity for this, then the plant can be pollinated manually - with a brush, transfer pollen from male flowers to female ones.
It is necessary to water the plant regularly, at the root. During fruiting, watering is increased. And regular loosening of the soil will provide a sufficient supply of oxygen. You can feed the zucchini with complex water-soluble fertilizers.
You can harvest 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 zucchinihaving a more varied color of fruits (yellow, green, variegated, striped). It is believed that zucchini are more resistant to disease and enter the fruiting stage much earlier. They have a special productivity due to the predominance of female flowers.
By the timing of ripening, zucchini varieties are divided into:
- Early ripe (very early). The fruits ripen in 30-50 days after planting. Such varieties are suitable for growing in the Urals and Siberia.
- Mid-season. Fruits are formed on 50-60 days.
- Late ripening. The fruits of these varieties are harvested in late August or autumn (more than 60 days after planting).
When giving preference to one or another variety of this vegetable, it should be borne in mind 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: Most popular high-yielding varieties
| Variety | Ripening period, days | Yield | Fruit characteristics |
| 40–45 | 17 kg per bush | Pale green color cylindrical, average weight 0.5KG | |
| 41–50 | 12 kg per bush | Smooth green, 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 ribbed. 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 clavate. 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;
- peculiarities of transportation and storage;
- the purpose of the fruit;
- taste of fruits.
Growing and care rules
In the cultivation and care of zucchini are not too whimsical. You just have to follow some rules.
- Watering is one of the determining factors for the full development of a plant and its fruits... The watering regime depends on the stage of development of the squash. 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 watering intensity increases up to twice a week using the same volumes of water. It is important to remember that you cannot water the zucchini with cold water. The optimum water temperature for irrigation is 22-25 C.
- Zucchini is fed 2-3 times during the summer: first - in the phase of 4–5 leaves with a solution of slurry or poultry droppings; the second - at the stage of flowering and the formation of fruits with mineral fertilizers. It is important to remember that zucchini cannot tolerate chlorine. Read carefully the composition of the fertilizers used.
- Bush care. In climbing zucchini species, 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.
- Caring for the soil 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 soil crust formation. They help to retain moisture and provide soil ventilation.
- Harvesting. The timing of fruit ripening depends on the variety of zucchini you have chosen. Harvesting is necessary regularly at intervals of 2-3 days. It is important to remember that if you skip harvesting, the fruits outgrow and coarse, and the growth of young ovaries is delayed. This negatively affects the yield level.
What vegetables are sick with
Like other representatives of pumpkin crops, zucchini can be affected by pests and various diseases... This can adversely 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 you may encounter when growing zucchini:
Table: Signs and methods of dealing with major diseases
| Signs of defeat | Name | Causes | Control methods |
| Rounded spots appear on the leaves powdery bloom, then the leaves turn brown and dry | Powdery mildew | Abrupt weather changes, 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 round or oval yellow-brown spots on the leaves, spots appear on the fruits, turning into darkening sores, the fruits become bitter | Anthracnose (copperhead) | High humidity and temperature | Spraying plants with 1% Bordeaux liquid, 0.2–0.3% suspension of 80% cineb, 0.4% copper oxychloride. |
| Leaves and whips are covered with a white coating of mycelium, the affected areas become soft and slippery, the plant withers, the leaves dry out | White rot | Cold wet weather, thickening of the 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 |
| Leaves have angular oily spots that later darken, 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. The methods of dealing with these insects are quite diverse:
- spraying the affected plant with water and special solutions;
- creation of deterrent structures with specific smells;
- creation of special baits that allow insects to accumulate in one place, and then to destroy them.
Photo gallery: The main pests of zucchini
Sprout fly larvae damage seeds and seedlings of courgettes 
Spider mite entangles the leaves with small cobwebs 
The melon aphid causes the leaves to roll 
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 of preventing diseases and pests:
- follow the rules of crop rotation (do not place zucchini annually in the same place and where cucumbers or pumpkin used to grow);
- follow the watering rules (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, it is better to prevent any disease than to cure it later.
So, armed with the knowledge gained about the rules for growing zucchini, make a decision on the choice of varieties and method of planting this vegetable, demonstrate your hard work and patience, and you can enjoy the rich results of your labor, tasting the delicate pulp of the food of the gods.
Zucchini, planting and care in the open field, which have their own characteristics, are members of the Pumpkin family. A versatile vegetable with excellent taste 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 rare greenhouse plant.
Zucchini varieties for open ground
Zucchini are represented by two types - zucchini and white-fruited, which in turn are classified based on different parameters:
- by the shape of the bush - bush and semi-bush;
- in the shape of the fruit - oblong and round;
- in terms of ripening - early, mid-ripening, late-ripening.
Many breeders, both domestic and foreign agro-industrial complex, are working on the development of new varieties and hybrids.
Among the most famous, the following are especially popular:
- Aeronaut - bush zucchini, distinguished by its compact size. A plant with few lashes demonstrates high yield... Cylindrical fruits of dark green color with light specks have a creamy, slightly sweet pulp, which is covered with a thin skin. The variety is suitable for conservation.
- White - early ripening variety, the ripening period of which is 40 days. Oval white fruits with juicy flesh are suitable for long-term storage.
- Black handsome - a variety with high yields, owing to the name of 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 cylindrical fruits of yellow color. An excellent vegetable for creating dishes from a children's diet.
- Kavili - highly early hybrid, demonstrating high productivity and a long fruiting period, during which erect green fruits develop with white flesh, delicate in taste. The hybrid is resistant to powdery mildew.
Basic requirements for growing
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 a place, taking into account lighting and soil composition;
- compliance with crop rotation;
- organization necessary care, including the timeliness of pest and disease control treatments.
The main feature of zucchini is versatility and simplicity. Moreover it comes not only about the culinary characteristics, it is also completely hassle-free when grown. To collect good harvest, it is enough for gardeners to physically work a little 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, what to fertilize, and whether the plant needs it.
Sowing zucchini seeds in open ground
The successful cultivation of this variety of pumpkin seeds largely depends on the quality of the seeds, the selected site and complex. preparatory work... It consists in pre-sowing seed treatment, plowing and enrichment with nutrients. Let's understand all the intricacies in more detail. 
When to sow seeds outdoors
As soon as the threat of spring frost 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 were grown as an exotic crop exclusively in greenhouses and only in Mexico - on their historical homeland - consumed seeds for food. Italians were the first to dare to try the vegetable entirely.
How to prepare zucchini seeds
All worries about the future harvest begin with a 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 the 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. High-quality specimens remain viable for longer.
After the seed swells, but does not yet sprout, it is stratified for 48 hours at a temperature of about 0 ° C. Then the nodule is placed on the southern windowsill for a week, periodically moistened with water. 
The material is ready for planting when root shoots up to a third of the grains have developed on it. Not all summer residents are engaged in sprouting zucchini. Many plant seeds in open ground that have been treated with either.
Choosing a place for planting zucchini
When looking for a suitable garden bed for pumpkin crops, take into account the thermophilicity of zucchini and their main requirements for growing agricultural technology. Plants will be very comfortable in an open, well-lit area, where there are no buildings and trees nearby. 
It is advisable that the vegetables are in the sun throughout the day. It is also important to consider the landscape of the site: avoid cold lowlands, drafts and windy areas.
Do not rush to plan your garden: in this case, it is important to figure out, after which and with what it is better to plant zucchini.
Experts believe that the ideal predecessors for culture are:, all types, and. For 3-4 years it is not recommended to cultivate representatives of the pumpkin family on the same area. Also, do not sow where they grew before.
Important! Almost all imported vegetable marrow seeds are hybrids. They are not suitable for harvesting next year's seed.
Incorrect crop rotation and neighborhood will make it difficult to develop zucchini. This happens because the grains end up in depleted soil, and besides, an unfavorable pathogenic environment remains from the predecessors. 
In no case should you plant and next to zucchini. Pumpkin and melons and gourds general nutritional requirements and the same susceptibility to pathogens. As a result of such an experiment, you will get a crop failure on both beds.
Preparatory work on the site for zucchini
What exactly needs to be done on the site before planting depends on the physicochemical characteristics of the substrate on it. Many, when asked what kind of soil is needed for zucchini, without hesitation, answer: "Warm". it important nuancebecause in a cold environment the seeds will not sprout, but not the main one. First, determine the soil composition on the garden bed and correct it with fertilizers. 
Did you know? Zucchini have a diuretic effect, remove sodium salts from the body, improve bowel function, improve 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. It does this through the activation of melanin, which is responsible for hair pigment.
Seed sowing pattern and depth
The technology for growing zucchini in the open field provides for significant distances between adjacent bushes. Experienced vegetable growers advise to retreat in rows of 1 meter and leave one and a half meter aisles. Sowing should be carried out in damp ground, preferably in cloudy weather or in the morning. 
The holes are 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 necessary, to save crops from frost, the seedlings are covered with hay, film or cut bottles (each plant separately).
How to care for zucchini outdoors
Subsequent care for a vegetable garden vegetable garden is timely, feeding and weeding. Let's figure it out in order. 
Soil watering mode
Watering zucchini is carried out only at the root, since water should not fall on the foliage. Before the appearance of flowers, it is advisable to moisturize once a week, and when the ovary forms, the amount of moisture should be doubled. It is advisable to pour from 5 to 10 liters of warm water under each bush. 
Always collect water in advance for irrigation, otherwise you will have to observe a lot of festering greens on the site. Do not overdo it - excessive watering will expose root system squash, which leads to his death. You need to save the plants with a soil mixture of peat and compost. It is enough to pour a layer of up to 5 cm high around the bush.
Important! If bees do not fly in the garden, and zucchini are blooming in full swing, pick a flower male type, tear off the petals from it and put it with a pestle in female flower... So you can pollinate up to 3 stamens.
Loosening and weeding of row spacings
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 from her. Therefore, it is very important to handle the aisles with a hoe in time and manually remove unnecessary vegetation from the bushes. 
Fertilizer for squash
You can feed the squash bed by root and foliar methods.
During the season, you need to carry out 3 dressings:
Did you know? In cooking, not only the fruits of squash have been used, but also flowers. They are also fried, boiled, baked, added to salads fresh. And in Greece, you will be treated to rice and cheese baked in squash petals.
Foliar dressing for zucchini in the open field can be carried out at will during the ripening period. For these purposes, the plant is treated with drugs and Ross.
Prevention and protection against pests and diseases of squash
Pumpkin crops are susceptible to attacks,. They can also be affected by rot, mold, etc. In order not to lose the harvest, it is important to take preventive measures in time. To combat harmful insects, experts recommend insecticides (,