How to grow zucchini seedlings at home?

Zucchini can be grown either by sowing seeds, as many of us do, or by transplanting sprouted seedlings into open ground. In the second case, it is possible to get a much larger yield than with the seedless method. From our article you will learn how to organize high-quality cultivation of marrow seedlings at home, what you need to do for this and in what order.

Which variety should you choose?

To get a rich harvest, you need to know which zucchini to choose for planting. In each climatic region, preference may be given to different varieties. But there are those that take root well almost throughout the entire territory of our state.

So, what varieties of this vegetable crop should be planted? It all depends solely on your preferences and on the goals you strive for when planting the material.

Zucchini and zucchini are grown the same

Among the early ripening varieties, experts distinguish:

• Tsukesha;
• White winch;
• Zolotinka;
• Video clip;
• Helena;
• Skvorushka;
• Waterfall.

By planting them, you can get an earlier harvest. Mid-season samples include:

• Nephritis;
• Black handsome;
• Macaroni.

Fans of late varieties plant these types of zucchini:

• Long-fruited;
• Walnut.

These two representatives ripen in summer and bear fruit until late autumn. So the choice is yours.

Hybrid or pure varieties

Zucchini, as well as other crops, can be grown from pure varieties, or from hybrid varieties. The latter on the shelves are marked with the index F1. First of all, they differ in the nature of origin - if a pure one is obtained from year to year from the same parent crops, then hybrid ones are obtained as a result of crossing different varieties to obtain an optimal yield in terms of characteristics.

Pure is less whimsical, but at the same time it can get sick, freeze, not always suitable for growing on an industrial scale.Hybrid ones are devoid of all these drawbacks, but they require greenhouse conditions in order to give a really planned harvest.

Hybrids are one-to-one, which cannot be said about conventional

Do not confuse hybrids with genetically modified foods. Selection is carried out within the framework of one species, when optimal characteristics are taken from different species:

• the shape of the fruit;
• yield;
• ripening period;
• resistance to precipitation and temperature peaks, etc.

For convenience, we have systematized the main distinctive features in the table:

Clean	Hybrid
More unpretentious to a certain climate - the memory stores data on precipitation, temperature, soil characteristics, etc. Even with a sharp climate change, the plant will still survive and give a normal harvest.	In principle, they are unable to adequately perceive any changes - they were born in artificial conditions and require the same "attitude" in the future. Most often, hybrids are grown in greenhouses - here you can really stabilize humidity, temperature and the amount of light
Requires pollination	Self-pollinated culture
The fruits are all different sizes, the shelf life is determined by the duration of fruiting	90% of fruits are the same size, tolerate transportation and storage well

Which one to choose is everyone's personal business, but keep in mind that it will not work to get seeds for growing crops next year from hybrid ones.

When is sowing of zucchini seeds for seedlings carried out?

The timing of planting seeds of this vegetable crop for seedlings is regulated by the variety and climatic characteristics of the region where this crop will be grown. As a rule, all information regarding the timing of sowing planting material is indicated on the package with the seedlings themselves. But at the same time, it is better to take into account the specifics of the region where this vegetable will be grown.

The planting date is determined by the manufacturer and this information is usually reflected on the package.

Seedlings can be planted for seedlings from the second decade of April to the third decade of May. It all depends on the climatic conditions in a particular region.

When determining the time for planting seedlings, it is necessary to take into account that the seedlings of zucchini are planted in open ground after a month after the first shoots hatch.

By the time the sprouts were transplanted onto the ridges, the ground had already warmed up, and the threat of night frosts was gone. It is dangerous for zucchini to drop the temperature even to 0- + 1 ° C. According to ancient signs, plant zucchini, tomatoes, cucumbers, etc. in open ground. you need it right after Easter.

In the low-chernozem zone for growing early seedlings, seedlings for warm beds with film covering structures begin to sow in the third decade of April. Whereas planting of seedlings is carried out in the third decade of May.

For an open garden, seedlings are sown for seedlings in early May, and a transplant is organized in early June, as soon as return frosts have passed.

VIDEO: Effective tips for growing zucchini

How to germinate squash seedlings

The first thing to do is seed germination. This process is optional, but thanks to it, it is possible to significantly increase the percentage of germination. To do this, we choose the type of zucchini that you plan to grow in your garden, put them in a specially prepared container. Medical cotton wool should be at the bottom in it (it may not be sterilized). On top of such a layer, seedlings are laid out, which are also covered with cotton on top.

Soaking the seeds, which causes the shell to swell, accelerates germination

Now you need to be very careful so that the seeds do not float, pour all this with warm water (20 ° C). It is important not to allow all the components to dry out, so add water to the container from time to time.After some time, the seeds will swell, and some of them will sprout. Those grains that have not sprouted can be safely thrown away - nothing will ever grow out of them.

Sprouted seeds must be prepared for planting. In order to prevent diseases, it is necessary to soak the sprouted grains in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 2-3 hours.

What to grow?

Sowing of seedlings of this vegetable crop is carried out both in closed and in open soil. Separate cups or pots for each sprouted grain are best suited for growing seedlings. Many experienced gardeners use peat containers for these purposes, which are easy and convenient to use. After all, there is no need to remove them before transplanting into open ground.

For reference. Peat pots are made from peat, cellulose and compost in a ratio of 7: 1: 2. This is an ideal composition that decomposes in the soil within a month and additionally nourishes the roots with useful microelements. Such cups cost in bulk from 17 rubles / piece. In cheaper samples, the ratio changes in favor of cellulose. For the plant itself, this is not scary, seedlings grow well even in plastic, but a pot with a lot of paper will not dissolve in the soil, will not allow the root system to develop and will destroy the plant.

Peat pots

Zucchini belongs to the type of plant that responds extremely poorly to transplantation. Therefore, it is necessary to minimize all disturbing moments for them. It can be grown in cardboard and paper cups, cut milk containers or other containers. Although, many gardeners do not recommend using containers from milk or juice for these purposes, since the dusting inside such bags, when evaporated, does not in the best way affect the growing culture.

It is for zucchini that peat tablets are best used. This is compressed peat with compost with the addition of minerals, where 1 seed is placed. It is very convenient and does not require transplanting - the seed with a sprout is simply laid in the ground and covered with earth.

Priming

Growing squash seedlings on their own does not require the use of soil that is special in composition. This should be the usual fertile land, which is sold in any agricultural store.

The soil must contain a large percentage of humus and have a neutral reaction

In addition, you can make your own soil for growing marrow seedlings. For this, the following classic recipe is used:

• 600 gr. peat;
• 200 gr. humus;
• 200 gr. turf land;
• 100 g Sawdust.

To get a fortified soil, add to it (based on a ten-liter container) ½ glass of ash, 5 gr. ammonium nitrate or urea, 15 gr. superphosphate and 10 gr. potassium sulfate.

Planting seedlings in cups

So, having decided on the moment of planting the germinated seeds, we proceed to the implementation of this task:

1. We fill the container for planting with nutritious soil.
2. We water the ground with warm water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
3. We make a depression (20-30 mm) in the ground with our finger and put the germinated seed in it so that the sprout looks down.
4. Sprinkle the seedling with earth.

At first, it is necessary to provide future seedlings with a temperature of 18-25 ° C. As soon as the seedlings hatch, the temperature drops to 15-20 ° C. At the same time, do not forget that zucchini love light, so we organize good lighting for them (a 60-watt light bulb will be enough) for about 12 hours a day.

In greenhouses, it is more rational to use LED lighting, which fully compensates for the lack of sunlight, but at the same time uses less electricity than other analogues.

Watering seedlings

As for watering, zucchini in this regard are not particularly picky, but at the same time, you must always make sure that the outer layer of the earth does not dry out, but it is not too waterlogged.

You need to water the seedlings on time and in moderation.

Warm water (20-22 ° C) is used as a source of moisture, which has been kept for at least three days. In addition, unlike tomatoes and cucumbers, the zucchini does not need to be sprayed. And there is no need to loosen the top layer of the earth.

In greenhouses for this culture, it is desirable to organize drip irrigation, when water flows directly into the root zone and from there to the roots. With this method of watering, the earthen ball is always wet, but not dirty and sticky.

Fertilizer

Despite the fact that zucchini is not a picky culture, it still needs feeding.

The first complementary feeding is carried out after 10 days from the moment of emergence. A weak mullein solution is used as fertilizer. Complementary foods are applied at the rate of 50 mg for each plant. In addition, it is allowed to use a urea solution (1/2 teaspoon per 1 liter of water) or a substance called "Bud" (2 grams per 1 liter of water). It is not forbidden to use as complementary foods and all kinds of growth stimulants, which are in a wide range in any agricultural store.

Inexpensive but effective fertilizer is available in every store

After two weeks after the primary feeding, the second is introduced. And then, when 2-3 full-fledged leaves (not cotyledons) grow on the plant, you can safely transplant the shoots into the open soil of the garden.

Hopefully these tips will help you grow a high-quality zucchini crop without a lot of effort. Good luck!

VIDEO: How to grow zucchini. Helpful tips for a good harvest

Zucchini is often presented as an early ripening variety of hard-bore gourd, so the basic conditions for their cultivation are similar. But since the harvest is not harvested at once in the fall, but throughout the summer, the agricultural technology of these vegetables, of course, differs. In most regions, zucchini is grown by direct sowing in the garden, but seedlings are often prepared in order to obtain early production.

Preparation of soil and containers for seedlings

Zucchini require fertile soil throughout their entire life, including when growing seedlings. An average family does not need a lot of squash bushes, 4–5 plants are enough. Therefore, the required amount of soil is easier to buy ready-made in the store. If you have to save money, you can compose it yourself, but this requires several ingredients, and not all of them will necessarily be at hand.

One of the best mixtures for seedlings includes half peat, 30% humus, the rest - equal parts of sod land and semi-rotted sawdust of any tree species. In addition, mineral fertilizers are added to a bucket of such a mixture: several grams of any nitrate, about 10 g of superphosphate and 5-8 g of any potassium salt. It is easier, of course, to replace this fertilizer mixture with a complex composition, for example, Azofos. Thus, self-mixing may not be much cheaper.

When buying soil, it is advisable to choose one that is intended specifically for zucchini.

In the absence of peat, you can mix the sod land in half with humus and add a glass of wood ash and 20–40 g of ammophos to a bucket of the resulting mixture. In any case, it is advisable to disinfect the self-prepared substrate by spilling it with a hot pink solution of potassium permanganate a week before sowing the seeds.

Preparing zucchini seeds for sowing

From sprouting of zucchini to the beginning of fruiting, 60–80 days pass, therefore, for growing seedlings, you do not need to resort to special preparation of seeds: they will have time to sprout even with dry sowing. To accelerate the emergence of seeds, before sowing, you can pre-soak in water before pecking.

Zucchini seeds are not a case of germination problems, unless they are hopelessly spoiled. They are stored for a long time, and in specialized stores they now sell quite reliable varietal seeds.

If the seeds are of unknown origin, it is best to lightly prepare them first. It is worth carrying out the following work.

1. Calibrate by discarding the smallest and not very thick ones. This is a matter of a minute, it is easy to do it manually.The seeds of zucchini are large, and choosing puny ones among them is not a problem.
2. Disinfect.In the case of zucchini, it is not necessary to use potassium permanganate, it is enough to hold them for a couple of hours in water with a temperature of about 50 ° C, and then cool in cold water.If you use potassium permanganate, you need to prepare a strong solution (as on the left), but you can just do with hot water
3. Temper by placing them wet overnight in the refrigerator.
4. If you want to speed up the process, germinate a little by placing it on a saucer in a wet cloth and covering it. Water must be added periodically until the tails of the roots appear.If the tails grow too large, they can be broken when sowing.

Do not wait for the tails to grow large: the seeds will be difficult to plant. The length of the tails of a few millimeters is sufficient: the seeds that have not woken up can be left on a cloth longer, and the germinated ones must be planted immediately.

Some vegetable growers also process seeds with growth stimulants, but this, nevertheless, is far from a mandatory procedure.

Rules for sowing zucchini for seedlings

Zucchini seedlings are necessarily grown in separate cups: better than peat ones, but you can also reusable ones, with a removable bottom. Common large boxes are completely unsuitable, since zucchini tolerate any transplant extremely painfully, the slightest damage to the roots greatly slows down their further development.

How to sow seeds

It is advisable to grow seedlings not at home, where they are strongly stretched, but in solar greenhouses: they require the maximum possible amount of direct sunlight. The size of the cups depends on the age at which the seedlings are supposed to be planted in the garden. There are no clear criteria here. It is better to hold it until it reaches the age of 25-30 days, but then the cups should be at least half a liter, or even larger. You can plant it in the garden at two weeks of age, then a volume of about 300 ml will be enough. The optimal diameter of the cups is 8–10 cm, the height is 10 cm, that is, the volume is almost a liter.

Among the many available peat zucchini pots, choose the largest

Sowing seeds is elementary. They are buried by 3-4 cm. The hatched seeds are sown one at a time, dry seeds - 2-3 pieces each, and after emergence the best plant is left, the rest are removed. The soil is poured abundantly with warm water and placed in a warm place (temperature from 25 to 30 ° C). In a few days, seedlings will appear, which will climb up literally "before our eyes." The glasses should be immediately transferred to a well-lit place with a temperature of about 18 ° C. Failure to comply with this condition will lead to a rapid pulling out of the seedlings, and literally in 2-3 days it can already be thrown away.

Dates of sowing seeds for seedlings

For growing seedlings, marrow seeds are sown in the middle lane from about April 20 to 25. But this period is approximate, each gardener determines on his own when he is going to move the seedlings to the beds. It will be possible to transplant zucchini into the garden when the weather is warm. Zucchini absolutely does not tolerate frosts at any age: when the temperature drops to 10 ° C, its vital activity is sharply inhibited, and at a minimum negative temperature, the plant dies.

Therefore, when sowing seeds, one should take into account both the climatic features of the region, and the fact that it is impossible to keep seedlings at home for more than a month: it outgrows. The variety that affects the early maturity of the plant is also of some importance. Seeds of most varieties, for example, at the latitudes of Volgograd or Kursk, can be sown in mid-April, in the Moscow region around May 1, and in the Urals and Siberia - closer to the 20th of the last spring month. It makes no sense at all to talk about zucchini seedlings in the southernmost regions.

Seedling care

Caring for zucchini seedlings does not present any difficulties: these vegetables grow very powerfully from the very first days, almost do not get sick, unless the owner overdoes it with heat and watering, and in a month they grow into a completely viable bush.

Growing conditions for seedlings of zucchini

The most critical seedlings in life are the first few days, when it requires low temperatures and bright, but diffused lighting. Zucchini in the first month only needs watering, feeding and compliance with light and temperature conditions. That is why it is advisable to grow seedlings in a greenhouse, if there is one: in a city apartment it may be a little dark (which means that you have to equip a backlight), and it is also too hot.

In terms of the complexity of growing seedlings in urban conditions, zucchini occupy an intermediate position. So, tomatoes or peppers in an apartment are very comfortable, it is almost impossible to grow strong cabbage seedlings at home because of the heat, and zucchini may be uncomfortable only if the gardener, unknowingly or for lack of time, does not complete the prescribed procedures in time.

Lighting and temperature for growing seedlings on the windowsill

The optimum temperature for the growth of zucchini is 20-25 ° C, but they feel good even at 15-20 ° C, so when growing seedlings at home, it makes no sense to think about temperature especially. The main thing is not to be too hot in the first 4–5 days after germination: at this time you need to find a place on the coldest windowsill. Further, the typical temperature of most city apartments is remarkably well suited to this culture.

Lighting should be diffused, but the power is sufficient: direct April sun rays can burn the leaves, and it is too dark for zucchini on the northern windowsill. Daylight hours should be more than 12 hours, but in April-May it already exceeds this value. The light intensity has to be adjusted by installing additional lamps. On the south side, they are not required, otherwise a phytolamp or a cold-glow fluorescent lamp should be placed directly above the cups. Incandescent bulbs heat up the air too much and burn the plants.

On the southern windowsill, there is enough light for seedlings of any crops

Watering and humidity

Watering the seedlings of zucchini is only necessary with warm water (at least 25 ° C) so that the soil never dries out. But no less harmful is excess moisture, which causes rotting of the roots and the death of seedlings. Therefore, if the gardener knows his weakness to water the plants abundantly, he must definitely place at least a centimeter layer of drainage material on the bottom of the cups. The frequency and intensity of watering depends on the conditions, but on average it is necessary to water once every 3-5 days with a dose of 40–50 per pot, and then up to 100 ml of water.

In addition to soil moisture, air humidity is also important, which should not be too high. It is not easy to deal with it, but at least one should not allow neighboring plants to interfere with each other, and moist air stagnates in the plantings. The cups with seedlings must be moved away from each other at such a distance in time so that the leaves of neighboring bushes do not come into contact with each other.

Top dressing

If the seedlings are kept in cups for about a month, during this time they are fed twice. The first time - a week after germination, the second - another 7-10 days. The easiest way is to use ready-made seedlings, but you can take any complex mineral fertilizer and apply it according to the instructions on the package.

In ready-made dressings, the composition of nutrients is always balanced

If the soil was taken highly nutritious, you can do without mineral fertilizers, and feed the plants with infusion of wood ash. When feeding, the nutrient solution should not come into contact with the leaves. Both before and after the application of the fertilizer solution, the seedlings are irrigated with clean warm water.

Picking

Picking up zucchini seedlings is highly undesirable. At least in its classical understanding, when when a plant is transplanted into a larger volume of soil, its central root is pinched. Damage to the roots, even minimal, is very painful for the zucchini.Therefore, if you have to transplant seedlings into another container (from a common box into separate cups or from a glass to a larger pot), this must be done extremely carefully.

If it is necessary to transplant, the soil is watered abundantly before the procedure and they try to extract the plant with a large clod of earth without damaging the root system. A hole for him in a new place is made in advance, pouring water on it. Slowly, the voids in the hole are covered with soil, then the seedlings are well watered in a new pot and harvested for a couple of days in partial shade. In any case, for zucchini, transplanting is a big stress, after which they slow down growth and development for almost a week.

Planting seedlings in the ground

In the south of the country, there are no problems with growing zucchini, and almost no one grows seedlings there. In moderately warm regions, areas that are well warmed by the sun are allocated for them, planting the culture on the ridges. In the North-West region, there is not always enough heat in the open field, and zucchini are grown under the simplest film shelters. In any case, it is advisable to plant seedlings in the beds at 25-30 days of age.

Seedling planting rules

Zucchini grows best on light, fertile soils, but it is possible to get good results even on clay. But shading is absolutely contraindicated. Therefore, the garden bed is prepared in sunny areas, having dug it up on a shovel bayonet in advance with the introduction of traditional fertilizers common for garden crops, but it is better to focus on organic fertilizers.

Since the zucchini forms a well-developed root system, spreading in all directions, the holes for planting seedlings are made at considerable distances from each other - at least 70 cm.Use a scoop or shovel to dig a hole no less than a bucket in size, so that, despite the area dug up with fertilizers in advance, apply local fertilizers. Half a bucket of humus and a half-liter jar of wood ash are placed in the hole; mineral fertilizers are best avoided.

Before planting seedlings, a large amount of warm water is poured into the holes in order to properly wet all the soil around the future plant. Normally developed seedlings are planted without deepening, and overgrown or elongated seedlings are lowered deep into the hole, to the very cotyledonous leaves. For the first time, seedlings are necessarily covered from the bright sun, and if frosts are still possible, then they are protected from their effects. For this, nonwovens are used - lutrasil, spunbond.

Good seedlings are planted without burying

Dates of planting seedlings in open ground

The timing of planting seedlings occurs simultaneously with the planting of tomato seedlings. The specific dates completely depend on the climate of the region and the current weather in a particular year: it is impossible to allow zucchini to get into even under the slightest frost and generally low temperature. If the seedlings have outgrown, they still have to be planted, but under a temporary film cover. You can't keep her at home for more than a month.

If you do without shelter at all, then in the central region and, in particular, in the Moscow region, you can plant zucchini in open ground without risk only after June 5. In the conditions of the Urals and most of Siberia - another week later. But, of course, these are approximate dates, year after year is not necessary. If zucchini are grown for winter storage, then you can not deal with seedlings at all, but calmly sow seeds in the garden after the threat of frost has passed.

A ready-to-plant seedling of zucchini should have 2-3 true dark green leaves, a thick short stem, and the roots should be white and intact. If there is only one leaf, planting is possible only in the case of peat pots, that is, without the slightest violation of the root system. It is better to plant seedlings on cloudy days, in the morning.

Possible problems when growing seedlings

If you strictly follow the rules for growing seedlings, the whole process goes smoothly, there should be no problems.However, bad luck can happen and the gardener is sometimes faced with the following points.

• If, even on the tenth day after sowing, the seedlings did not appear, there is no need to wait any longer: the seeds that hatched at this time would have sprouted long ago, and if the seeds were planted dry, then they are unusable. Normal seeds in moist soil will certainly germinate at room temperature. We urgently need to buy new ones and resell them.
• Seedlings can stretch out, this is the most common problem, and there may be several reasons, but the main one is the high temperature in the first week after germination. In addition, this happens in low light or cramped cups. First of all, you need to add light and try to pour soil into the cups. It is possible to carefully transplant the zucchini into larger pots, deeply deepening the stems. If things haven't gone too far, this might help.Such seedlings must be urgently transplanted into a large pot, deeply deepening
• Seedlings can grow slowly only because of poor-quality soil: the temperature in the apartment is enough for normal growth, and in overdried soil the plants would wither. We urgently need to feed the zucchini with full mineral fertilizer.
• Withering of seedlings is possible not only due to dry land, but also, conversely, from excessive moisture. Overflow, especially with cold water, can lead to the appearance of root rot, as a result of which the tips of the roots die off, then the root collar turns brown. Such plants wither and die, it is no longer possible to save them.
• If there is a lack of nitrogen in the soil, the leaves may turn yellow. The process starts from the edge of the sheet, then goes to the entire area. If they realized it right away and fed the seedlings with a solution of urea or saltpeter, it can recover. If the leaves turn yellow entirely, the seedlings will die.

Video: mistakes when growing zucchini seedlings

Further care of zucchini

Watering zucchini at first is carried out less often than cucumbers: after two or three days. This is done until the seedlings get stronger and clearly do not grow. And during the summer, especially during the period of mass flowering, they are watered as needed, when from strong daytime evaporation and lack of moisture in the soil by the evening the leaf plates wither and sag. Water for irrigation must be warm, heated during the day in the sun. Watering should be done in such a way as to wet the soil almost to the full depth of root penetration, that is, at least 30–40 cm. With a lack of moisture, the fruits grow medium-sized, but more sugary.

Summer care is the same as for other plants, but slugs cause concern, which gnaw the bark on the ovaries, after which they fall off. Therefore, the fight against these pests must be carried out constantly. During the growing season, 2-3 fertilizing with mineral fertilizers is carried out, trying not to overdo it with nitrogen, from which the leaf mass grows, but the fruits ripen poorly.

There are climbing and bush forms of zucchini. Depending on this, it is necessary to arrange the stems of plants in different ways. It is easier to work with bush varieties, but climbing ones often give a more solid yield. The scourges should be placed in the garden so that they do not interfere with each other, but when caring for the plants, try not to disturb them. Shrub plants do not need to be formed, their fruits are formed mainly on the central stem. Long-leaved plants require pruning, which significantly increases yields. In such plants, above the fourth or fifth leaf, after their appearance, the top of the stem is pinched, as a result of which lateral shoots develop: it is on them that the main crop grows.

Bush forms are much more convenient: they take up less space

Zucchini ovaries 7–12 days old must be systematically harvested, otherwise further fruit formation may stop. But if there is a desire to preserve the fruits for winter consumption, in August you can leave no more than two pieces on the bush and let them fully ripen.Harvested in September, they already have a thick bark and are normally stored at home until at least the New Year, and this applies to most varieties.

Video: from sowing seeds for seedlings to harvesting

Growing zucchini does not always require a seedling stage; these vegetables grow well after sowing seeds directly into the garden. But in order to obtain early production, they try to sow seeds in pots at home, than to bring the harvest closer by almost a month. It is not difficult to grow high-quality seedlings, you just need to clearly fulfill some conditions that are well known to gardeners.

Zucchini are especially loved by gardeners and chefs. This culture is unpretentious: its cultivation is available even to beginners. You can cook many delicious dishes and preparations for the winter from zucchini. They contain a complex of vitamins and microelements: iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, calcium.

Zucchini are useful for cleansing and strengthening the body, they are recommended for baby and diet food. The fruits of the plant can be stored for a long time, retaining their beneficial properties.

Each gardener tries to allocate a small garden bed for zucchini on his site. This vegetable loves to be taken care of and taken care of. It takes a little effort to get a rich harvest. Experienced gardeners share the secrets of when and how to plant zucchini for seedlings, which variety to choose, how to properly care for the plants in order to grow a rich harvest.

Choosing a variety for planting

Different types of plants are preferred in each region. The choice of variety depends on the result expected from the future harvest. It is important to take into account the peculiarities of the local climate and focus on proven species that experienced gardeners recommend.

Among the early ripe representatives, the varieties Tsukesha, Zebra, Zolotinka, Helena, Waterfall, Gribovskie 37, White Swan, Rolik, Odessa 52, Skvorushka are distinguished. Having planted these varieties, you can count on an earlier harvest. Black handsome, Macaroni, Jade - varieties of medium ripening. Later harvests give Walnut and Long-fruited.

Zebra, Tsukesha, Aeronaut are varieties of zucchini zucchini, the fruits of which are dark green in color and slightly elongated. The average weight of one fruit is 1-1.5 kilograms. The zucchini variety Aeronaut is distinguished by an early harvest: the first harvest of fruits occurs already on the 47th day after germination. The taste qualities of zucchini squash are not very different from the usual ones, but many gardeners prefer them.

When to plant zucchini for seedlings?

Planting zucchini for seedlings, depending on the climatic conditions of the region, is usually carried out from mid-March to mid-May. After 25-30 days, the seedlings will be ready for planting in open ground. You can transplant seedlings to the garden from late May to mid-June. You should not do this later, since the plant will not have time to gain full strength.

In central Russia, zucchini seeds can be sown for seedlings at the following times:

• for early production - from April 20 to May 12-16;
• for conservation and long-term storage - from 14 to 30 July.

In order to correctly determine the time of planting zucchini for seedlings in any region, you need to inquire about the weather forecast for the next month, in particular, the estimated air temperature.

For transplanting seedlings into a greenhouse or open ground, the optimal daytime temperature is 23 ° C, and the nighttime temperature is 19 ° C. From the date of the onset of warm weather, 30 days are subtracted, which will elapse from sowing seeds to obtaining shoots with several true leaves. As a result, the optimal period is obtained for sowing zucchini seedlings in a particular region.

How do I prepare the seeds?

The first step is to treat the seeds against disease. First, they are poured with hot water for 4-6 hours, and then placed in cold water for 5 minutes. For dressing zucchini seeds, aloe and Kalanchoe juice, mixed in equal quantities, is suitable. Seeds bought on the market are necessarily subjected to such processing.

The germination of seeds contributes to an increase in the percentage of germination and an improvement in the quality of seedlings. Cotton or toilet paper is placed on the bottom of a not very deep container, seeds are laid out, covered with any of these materials and moistened with water.

It is important not to let them dry out. After some time, the seeds will swell, sprouts will appear. Unsprouted grains must be removed, and the rest must be prepared for planting.

Tempering is recommended before planting. Planting material without sprouts is first kept in the refrigerator for 12 hours, and then the same amount indoors at a temperature of about 20 ° C. After this procedure, the seedlings will be much stronger.

This helps to achieve good seed germination. Also, the sprouts will be less sensitive to cold. The germination capacity of domestic zucchini seeds lasts for 7 years, but over time they lose these qualities. They cannot be planted right away, it is better when the seed has lain down for a year. The leaves and whips of such plants will be small, but the yield is high.

How to choose a container for seedlings?

It is better to grow each grain of zucchini in a separate container. Peat cups are very convenient, which do not need to be removed later when planting.

The optimum diameter of the container for the senses is 8-10 centimeters, the height is 10 centimeters. Zucchini do not like transplanting, therefore, when planting in open ground, they should be disturbed as little as possible.

You can plant seedlings in milk cartons, small paper cups and other containers. Practice shows that experienced gardeners always manage to find cheap improvised means.

Soil preparation

To grow zucchini seedlings at home, no special soil composition is required. Fertile soil can be purchased at specialty stores or prepared by yourself. To do this, it is recommended to mix 6 parts of peat with 2 parts of humus, 2 parts of sod land, add 1 part of rotted sawdust to them.

To saturate the mixture with useful substances, half a glass of ash, 15 grams of superphosphate, 10 grams of potassium sulfate, 5 grams of urea or saltpeter are mixed per bucket.

Technology of planting zucchini for seedlings

The cups are filled with nutritious soil, spilled with a 0.5% solution of potassium permanganate or hot water. Sprouted seeds are laid to a depth of about 2-3 centimeters. The sprout should point downward. From above, the seed is covered with earth.

Until the emergence of seedlings, the crops are kept covered with cellophane at a temperature of 18-25 ° C. With the appearance of sprouts, the temperature is reduced to 15-20 ° C during the day and 13-15 ° C at night, keeping the seedlings in this mode for 4 days. Before planting in the ground, the daytime temperature should be 17-22 ° С, nighttime 13-17 ° С. Seedlings require a lot of light, with a lack of which they become too long and weak.

Some gardeners use sawdust boxes for growing seedlings. The bottom is covered with a film, and then steamed sawdust is laid with a layer of 10 centimeters. On the surface, at a distance of 4-5 centimeters, grooves are drawn, at the bottom of which a small layer of humus is poured.

Seeds are planted at a distance of 3 centimeters between themselves, which are again covered with sawdust poured with a mixture of macro- and microelements. After the cotyledon leaves appear on the sprouts, the plants dive, watering the seedlings an hour before transplanting. The roots are very easily removed from the sawdust without damaging it.

Seedling care

Caring for zucchini seedlings does not require much work. If the seedlings grow on a south-facing windowsill, they do not need additional lighting. For plants that are on the north side, the installation of artificial lighting is required.

The seedlings located on the windowsills on the western and eastern sides must provide a total daylight hours of at least 11 hours.It is necessary to carefully monitor the air masses entering through the transoms and vents: cold air falling directly on the plants can destroy tender young shoots.

Watering

As necessary, the seedlings of zucchini need to be moistened, preventing the top layer of the soil from drying out. Young tender plants do not tolerate sudden changes in conditions of detention.

It is important to observe the measure, avoiding strong waterlogging of the plants. For one pot, 100 milliliters of water is enough every 5 days. In very hot weather, seedlings are watered more often, every 3 days. Seedlings do not require spraying. In order not to damage young tender shoots, the top layer should not be loosened either.

Top dressing

Zucchini seedlings need fertilization. The first feeding is carried out approximately 10 days after the emergence of sprouts. About 50 milligrams of a weak infusion of mullein (1:10) is applied under each plant. It is good to use a solution of urea prepared at the rate of half a teaspoon per liter of water or ready-made dressing "Bud" (2 grams per liter of water).

After 10 days, you can re-fertilize. To do this, prepare a top dressing by dissolving half a tablespoon of nitrophoska and ash in a liter of water. Fertilizer is recommended to be applied directly under each plant, with a maximum of 1.5 tablespoons of solution per container.

Plants are periodically sprayed with Epin extra growth stimulating agent. Seedlings can be planted after 2-3 true leaves appear.

How to plant seedlings in open ground?

7-8 days before planting on the garden bed, the seedlings begin to be carefully hardened. The pots are kept outdoors during daylight hours, brought into the room at night.

Choosing a landing site

It is best to grow zucchini outdoors in sunny, calm areas. The best predecessors for this crop are potatoes, cauliflower and white cabbage, onions, garlic, and legumes. It is better not to plant zucchini after squash, cucumbers and pumpkins.

Soil preparation

Long before planting zucchini for seedlings, soil preparation begins. Since autumn, the site is fertilized with compost or manure (a bucket per square meter of land), 30-35 grams of superphosphate and 15-20 grams of potash fertilizers per square meter are applied.

After digging, the site is left until early spring. When the snow melts, the ground is slightly loosened, 15-20 grams of ammonium nitrate is added to 1 square meter and dug up. Sawdust and dry clay are added to the sandy soil. Humus and river sand are introduced into the clay soil.

Planting seedlings

Zucchini are large plants that grow strongly during the summer, so they must be planted at a sufficient distance: about 90 centimeters between rows of semi-bushy and long-leaved crops and 70 centimeters between rows of bush varieties. There should be a distance of at least 70 centimeters between the seedling bushes.

Before planting, add a tablespoon of organic fertilizer to each well, which is mixed with earth. For this purpose, you can use ready-made substrates sold in specialized stores. A liter of Agricola solution is poured into each well (a tablespoon in a bucket of water).

Plants are best planted on cloudy days, in the morning. On sunny days, it is recommended to postpone the procedure to the evening. Seedlings in peat cups are planted together with the container, without damaging its integrity. The plants are deepened to the first leaves.

Having rooted the plant, gently compact the earth around it. If a cold snap is still possible, the seedling ridges are covered overnight with a film or non-woven protective material. In the morning, when the air warms up, the protective materials are removed.

Zucchini care

Zucchini do not require complex agrotechnical techniques. Timely removal of weeds and loosening of the soil is necessary. It is recommended to water vegetables with warm water. During the ripening period, the plants require more moisture.

Once a week, zucchini can be fed with infusion of bird droppings. Dilute 3 liters of droppings in 10 liters of warm water, mix with a wooden stick. After closing the lid, let it brew for 3 days. Before use, dilute the resulting infusion with water in a ratio of 1:10.

It is recommended to remove large leaves. The crop must be harvested in a timely manner so that the plant can form new fruits.

Zucchini is a thermophilic, herbaceous, annual vegetable crop with oblong, juicy and fleshy fruits. The appearance of the plant itself, depending on the variety, can vary and have a bushy, long-leaved or semi-bush form. In addition, there are differences in the color of leaves, fruits and, of course, in taste.

It is grown by sowing seeds or by transplanting grown sprouts into open ground and greenhouses. The most promising method is considered to be growing zucchini through seedlings. In this case, marketable products can be obtained almost a month earlier, in comparison with the seedless method.

Zucchini varieties

To grow a rich harvest, you need to know which varieties to choose. In each region, benefits can be given to different types. But there are those who successfully cultivate almost throughout the country. What varieties of zucchini are better to plant? It all depends on the result that you expect from the future harvest.

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The early ripening representatives include the Tsukesha variety, which has long been familiar to many gardeners, as well as White Swan, Zebra, Gribovskie 37, Zolotinka, Rolik, Helena, Skvorushka, Waterfall, Odessa 52 and some others. By planting them, you can count on earlier harvesting. Mid-season varieties are Jade, Black Beauty and Macaroni. And finally, the plants that give a later harvest are the Long-fruited and the Walnut. Modern breeding has made it possible to develop new varieties. They allow harvesting during the summer until late autumn.

When to sow zucchini seeds for seedlings

Each gardener determines the timing of planting zucchini seeds for seedlings independently, taking into account the variety of vegetables and the climate. Usually, all the data for calculating the sowing date is on the seed package, but it is best to rely on the specifics of the growing region. Seeds can be planted for seedlings from mid-April to the second half of May: the warmer the climate in a particular region, the earlier you can start sowing.

When determining the planting time, it should be borne in mind that seedlings are planted in open ground 25-30 days after the first shoots appear. At the same time, it is important that by the time the plants are transplanted into the beds, stable warm weather has already been established, and there is no threat of night frosts.

In the non-chernozem zone, to obtain early production, seeds for seedlings for warm beds with a film cover begin to be sown in the 20th of April. Seedlings are planted on May 20-25. For open ground, seeds are sown for seedlings on May 5-10. Seedlings are planted in the ground on June 5-10 after the threat of return frosts has passed. With a seedless culture, sowing seeds on warm ridges with a film cover - May 20-25, in open ground - June 5-10.

Sprouting vegetable marrow seeds

The first thing to do is germinate the seeds. This process is optional, but it improves the quality of the seedlings and increases the germination rate. We select delicious varieties of zucchini and put the seeds in any not very deep container. Put cotton wool or plain toilet paper on the bottom.

We also cover the seeds from above with any of these materials and moisten them with water. Care must be taken so that they do not dry out. After a while, the seeds will swell and sprouts will appear. We remove the sprouted grains, and prepare the rest for planting. To prevent diseases, it is recommended to soak them for several hours in a weak solution of manganese.

Preparing the soil for planting zucchini

Compositions of mixtures for sowing seeds

• 50-60% peat, 30-40% humus, 10-20% sod land and 10% semi-rotted sawdust. If necessary, you can add some river sand.Add 3-6 g of ammonium nitrate, 8-15 g of superphosphate and 5-10 g of potassium fertilizer to a bucket of the mixture.
• Sod land with compost or humus in a 1: 1 ratio. For 10 liters of the mixture, add 1 glass of ash, 20 g of superphosphate, 10 g of potash fertilizer and a little sand.
• Peat with sand in a 1: 1 ratio.

For those who find it difficult to make soil mixtures themselves, you can buy a universal ready-made soil for seedlings of vegetable crops. Also on sale are specialized soils for growing pumpkin crops.

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Proper preparation of beds for planting zucchini

This vegetable can be called demanding on soil fertility. You will have to apply different fertilizers based on the composition of the soil.

Peat. Apply two kilos of compost per square meter (can be replaced with humus). And also a bucket of 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 bed with warm Ross or Agricola 5 solution. Use 3 liters of fertilizer per sq. M. 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. two kilos of sawdust, add two tablespoons of superphosphate and ash.

Clay. Contribute per sq.m. three kilos of sawdust, peat, you can add the same amount of humus. Mineral fertilizers are also indispensable - 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, a spoonful of nitrophoska, two - wood ash are introduced. Compost is suitable instead of humus. Next, dig up the area, pour it with liquid fertilizers.

Sowing and growing seedlings of zucchini

If spring has come completely, the soil has warmed up to 14 degrees, you can sow seeds directly on the garden bed. 2 or 3 seeds are buried 3 cm with their "spouts" down, covered with earth, it would be good to mulch it with peat from above. With the appearance of a real leaf in the seedlings, they thin out so that one plant remains in the hole, others pinch off, and do not pull out, because they have very delicate roots. This is done when grown without seedlings. But most often, seedlings are first grown at home or in greenhouse conditions, and then they are planted on the site. So you can get the fruits earlier.

The seedlings are moved to the garden at the age of 20 or 30 days. Knowing this, given the timing of the arrival of heat in your area, you can easily decide when to sow. Zucchini are perfectly stored for a long time, so for storing ripe fruits until the spring of next year, it is better to do without seedlings, and sow the seeds in June directly on the garden - the fruits will ripen later, but will be stored for a long time.

For seedlings, a soil mixture is prepared as follows: mix sod land (5 parts), peat (3), humus (2); add superphosphate (20 g), ammonium nitrate (10 g), potassium sulfate (5 g), wood ash (1 glass) to 1 bucket of this soil. All this is laid out in jars or a pot of approximate size 10 by 10 cm, spilled with potassium permanganate (1%). The seeds are buried 2 cm, they are usually planted in 2 in each container, and after the appearance of a real leaf, a weak sprout is pinched off.

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It is necessary to grow seedlings at a temperature of +18 - +22 degrees, watered weekly with warm water, preventing the earth from drying out. At the age of one week, the seedlings are fed by diluting 1 tablespoon of superphosphate and half a tablespoon of urea with 5 liters of water. The second time the seedlings are fed a week later.For the second feeding, dilute 1 tablespoon of any complex mineral fertilizer with 5 liters of water. You don't need to dive.

Planting zucchini seedlings in the ground

It is necessary to plant seedlings when it reaches the age of one month, when the heat is already firmly established in the garden. It must be remembered that the roots of young zucchini are very fragile, so the plants are taken out carefully together with an earthen lump, placed in the holes, which were previously watered with warm water, covered with soil, lightly tamped the earth around. If there is even the slightest threat of frost, the seedlings need to be covered, for this they usually use a film or non-woven fabric.

Features of growing zucchini seedlings

1. When growing seedlings of zucchini on the windowsill:

• south side - additional lighting is not required;
• north side - installation of artificial lighting is required;
• west and east - it is desirable that the total duration of daylight hours is at least 11 hours.

2. Agricultural technicians recommend growing squash seedlings only in separate cups, even better if they are disposable peat pots. This moment, perhaps, is a feature of growing marrow seedlings. This is due to the fact that the plant "does not like" transplanting, and separate containers make it possible to move the shoot into the soil without injuring the root system.

3. The optimum diameter of the container for seedlings is 80–100 mm, height is 10 cm.

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4. Nutrition and choice of fertilizers:

• the first feeding is done 7 days after the emergence of sprouts, a solution is prepared for it - add 0.5 tbsp to a liter of water. spoons of superphosphate and urea. The solution can be replaced with a ready-made feeding "Bud";
• the second feeding is performed 10-11 days after the first - per liter of water, 0.5 tbsp. tablespoons of ash and nitrophosphate.

5. Watering. Only warm water is suitable for irrigation, its average temperature should vary between 21-25 ° C. For one pot, 100 ml of water is enough, every 5 days. In very hot weather, watering is necessary a little more often, once every 3 days.

6. Transplanting young plants into a greenhouse or open ground is carried out 20–29 days after sowing the seeds. The term for planting in the ground is individual, it depends on the temperature regime at which the shoot developed and the selected variety. The determining factor is the presence of at least 3 true leaves before planting.

Video "How to grow a good harvest a month earlier"

Demonstration video with examples of growing zucchini, as well as tips on how to grow a good crop a month earlier.