How to germinate zucchini seeds before planting outdoors?

If you have a question: why do you need to germinate zucchini seeds before planting in the ground, then you want to grow this wonderful vegetable in your summer cottage or garden plot. There are many benefits to growing vegetables in your own backyard. Today we will try to talk about them, and explain to beginners in gardening, why sprouted seeds are better than dry ones.

Grow a pure product in your garden

Zucchini is one of the most recommended foods in the diet. It can be consumed both raw and processed. What kind of dishes are prepared from zucchini: all kinds of salads, hot snacks, caviar. They can be fried, stewed, pickled and canned. It is a truly versatile vegetable that is very healthy and inexpensive.

Unfortunately, we are not always sure about the quality of this product when we purchase it in stores or markets. That is why many gardeners who have the opportunity to grow zucchini in their garden do not refuse to plant several zucchini seeds in their beds. The advantages of growing vegetables on your own plots are that:

Zucchini

1. You are completely sure that the plants planted in your garden or greenhouse have not been chemically treated, which means they do not contain nitrates, are edible, and will not harm your health.
2. The choice of the variety of zucchini will always be yours, you will not depend on any specific specimens offered for sale, usually their assortment is not so diverse.
3. At any time, you can choose a zucchini in your garden that is suitable in size and maturity for cooking a particular dish.

These advantages are obvious, but if you want to get a harvest earlier than two weeks, then heed the advice and recommendations of experienced growers. They will definitely advise you to soak the seeds before planting in the ground and wait for them to germinate.

Germination of vegetable marrow seeds

Seed preparation and soaking should be done 7-10 days before planting them in open ground or in a greenhouse. We recommend that you perform these steps in the following order:

• decide on the choice of the variety of zucchini, purchase the required amount of seeds (preferably with a small margin);
• prepare a bowl of clean water and place all the seeds in it;
• after a few minutes, some seeds will settle to the bottom, others will remain on the surface, these are empty seeds that should be removed;
• drain all the water, and fill the seeds with a weak solution of potassium permanganate, slightly pinkish in color;
• leave in solution for 2-3 hours for disinfection;
• rinse the seeds with clean water, and soak again, but in a solution with the addition of a growth stimulator;

Zucchini seeds

• put cheesecloth in four layers in a container (plate, bowl, saucer), pour the solution with seeds into it, drain the excess;
• distribute all the seeds evenly, cover the top with the same piece of gauze (4 layers);
• in this form, they should stand until the sprouts hatch (3-4 days), if the liquid evaporates too quickly, you need to add it little by little, literally one teaspoon every day.

Advice. Buy seeds from trusted suppliers, do not trust dubious sellers who can deceive you and sell low-quality goods. Check the expiration dates on the packaging, otherwise you may end up with expired seeds that will not germinate or may be empty, infected with diseases.

Benefits of planting germinated seeds

After a certain time, the sprouts will hatch together, and they can be planted on the prepared beds. The sprouts should be no more than 5 mm long, otherwise, when planting, they can be accidentally broken. What does planting seeds with sprouted shoots give us:

1. You will harvest at least a week earlier.
2. The flowering and development of such plants is amicable, the ripening of the fruits occurs almost simultaneously.
3. When planting zucchini in a greenhouse, you can get two crops per season.
4. Preparation of seeds before planting by disinfection and with preliminary soaking, guarantees one hundred percent germination and a consistently high yield.

The preparation of the seeds is completed, the next stage is sowing in the ground, and in this case it is necessary to comply with agrotechnical requirements, to know how to choose the right place for zucchini, fertilize the ground, and take care of the plant.

Planting zucchini in open ground

Preparing for planting and caring for zucchini

An important aspect when planting zucchini is the choice of location. If you have enough of it in your garden, this will not create a problem. They can grow in both sunny and shaded areas. It's another matter when there is very little space. The scourge and leaves of the plant are large and spreading, they can interfere with other plantings. In this case, experienced gardeners use the method of tying and hanging fruits on high stakes or wattle fence. The antennae of the plant cling to the poles, stretch upward. The weight of the pouring fruits is supported by special nets fixed on the wattle fences.

Zucchini is a very unpretentious vegetable crop, requiring minimal attention during planting and care. It is enough to apply fertilizers once before planting:

• compost or humus - 2 kg per 1 sq. meter;
• superphosphate - 1 teaspoon;
• wood ash - 2-3 tablespoons.

In the future, when watering, top dressing is applied 2-3 times during the period of ripening and fruiting, usually a solution of organic fertilizers, manure or humus.

Plant dry seeds or germinate them before planting, you decide for yourself. We hope that our tips and tricks will help you make the right choice. With just a little work, you will provide yourself and your family with a great dietary and organic product. Good luck.

Growing zucchini: video

When to plant zucchini for seedlings? Seedling zucchini at home

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The benefits of zucchini

Compared to cucumbers, zucchini are more frost-resistant and unpretentious. With an average daily temperature exceeding 15 degrees, they feel great already in the open field, while the optimal temperature for them is about twenty degrees. When growing in a greenhouse, it should only be borne in mind that when the heat comes above 28 degrees, the zucchini, like cucumbers, stop tying, so greenhouses and greenhouses must be ventilated, thereby reducing the temperature in them. it is required, nevertheless, it is necessary to take care of favorable conditions for their growth. Like all pumpkin squash, zucchini love warm, loose and, if possible, fertile soil, sufficient, but not excessive watering. They also do not tolerate excessive acidity of the land allotted for planting. Ridges for zucchini are advised to cook in the fall, abundantly bringing in humus and digging up the soil on a full bayonet of a shovel.Further, the ground is leveled, litter is selected, clods are broken and mineral fertilizers are applied, if necessary.

Zucchini varieties

Fried with garlic and herbs, baked with minced meat, tomatoes and cheese, pickled and stewed, turned into the most delicate baby puree and even jam - these are all zucchini. Zucchini has long been famous as a low-calorie product, recommended, due to the high content of minerals in vegetables, for dietary and baby food.Seedlings must be shaded with translucent materials for the first few days so that direct sunlight does not fall on the leaves and the leaves do not burn out.

Zucchini zucchini

Zucchini seedlings grow quickly because the seed is large and contains a lot of nutrients. But already after 1-2 weeks after germination, the seedlings need to be nourished, since the supply of nutrients quickly ends. The feeding of squash seedlings is carried out in three stages: Own seeds are sown depending on the timing of planting seedlings in open ground. Zucchini seedlings can be planted in open ground after 21-30 days. Therefore, they begin to sow zucchini seeds for seedlings in mid-April and do this after 3-4 days so that there are seedlings of different age categories. This allows you to get a stable harvest throughout the warm season.

Planting time zucchini

Due to the fact that the zucchini bushes are prone to overgrowth, they must be cut off. It is worth removing the largest leaves, which block the flow of sunlight. Under the sun's rays, the ovaries will develop faster.

Germinating seeds

A good period for sowing zucchini for seedlings is the beginning of April (depending on the climatic zone). First, the seeds need to be germinated in wet gauze (germination duration 2-4 days.) We have figured out how to plant zucchini for seedlings, when to sow and how to care. But planting them in open ground is no less important. It is important that previously spent efforts are not wasted. Zucchini are large plants that grow strongly during the summer, so they are planted at a sufficient distance. About one and a half meters should be left between the rows, and about one seedling between the bushes. Before planting, add organic fertilizer to each well. We take it about one tablespoon and mix it with earth. You can use ready-made substrates that are sold in specialized stores. We also add the Agricola-5 solution (a tablespoon to a bucket of water). Pour a liter into each hole.

Planting capacity

Sowing zucchini seeds is carried out both indoors and outdoors. For growing seedlings, it is better to use separate containers for each grain. These can be peat cups, which are very convenient, since they do not require subsequent removal during planting. Zucchini, like other plants in this family, do not like transplants. Therefore, they should be disturbed as little as possible during this event. Planting zucchini for seedlings can be carried out in small paper cups, cardboard packaging from milk and other containers. As practice shows, experienced gardeners find many cheap improvised means.

Planting soil

Zucchini can be called the most favorite vegetable among both culinary specialists and gardeners. The unpretentiousness of this culture makes its cultivation affordable even among beginners. But to harvest a rich crop of zucchini, you need to make a little effort. Like any plant, this vegetable loves to be taken care of and taken care of. Grown zucchini seedlings at home will delight you with good fruits all summer long. Talking about growing methods, selecting seeds and caring for plants, you can go to the trick of attracting insects that can help pollination. For this, sugar syrup is sprayed onto the plants with a small addition of boric acid.

Planting seeds in pots

With peat soils, it is recommended for zucchini to make, per square meter, about a bucket of humus mixed with rotted cow dung, and the same amount of sod land. From mineral additives, a spoonful of superphosphate, potassium sulfate and a handful of pure wood ash will not hurt. After planting the seeds, the hole can be watered with a warm solution of any growth activator, and then cover the soil with a film to conserve moisture and retain heat.

Watering seedlings

Unlike its closest relatives, cucumbers, zucchini retain their fresh properties for a long time, therefore, having harvested in the middle of summer, you can enjoy a delicious zucchini stew in early spring next year. Growing seedlings is not typical for southern regions. It is most often grown in the cold northern regions and sometimes in the temperate zone. Also, the seedlings of zucchini take root very poorly in the garden, therefore they are transplanted only with an earthen lump in a shaded place. Zucchini take root better if they are watered with growth stimulants before and after planting. Zucchini grow quickly if watered well, so in the first days after transplanting, they especially need abundant and daily watering.

Top dressing

Zucchini should be regularly watered and loosened to prevent crusting. After a week, zucchini seedlings need to be fed with organic fertilizers, which can be purchased at garden stores.

Choosing a landing site

You can buy the soil for growing zucchini at the store, or you can prepare it yourself. To prepare 10 kilograms of a high-quality mixture, you need:

Preparing the land for landing

Zucchini is grown both through direct sowing of seeds in open ground and with the help of seedlings. In regions with a temperate climate, you need to have seedlings to get early zucchini fruits. Zucchini takes root very poorly after transplanting it to a new place. Therefore, it is very important to think over the cultivation of seedlings, so that you can plant the plant along with an earthen clod. It is not difficult to get early fruits if you know how to grow marrow seedlings correctly. 3-5 days after emergence, they can be planted in open ground. Remember, with this method of growing, zucchini are not suitable for storage - they must be eaten or processed.

How to plant

It is better to plant seedlings in the morning, in cloudy weather. If the sun is shining, then it is better to postpone this procedure for the evening. Seedlings are planted together with peat cups, without damaging their integrity. Deepen the plants to the first leaves. If a cold snap is still expected, then a temporary greenhouse should be made. In the first days after planting, loosening of the soil can be carried out.

Seedlings of zucchini at home do not require a special soil composition. This should be fertile soil, which can be obtained from specialized stores. You can prepare the ground for planting yourself.

Zucchini care

Why do they like zucchini? First, it's delicious. You can cook many wonderful dishes from them and make preparations for the winter. Second, it's helpful. Zucchini contain many vitamins and minerals. They include potassium, iron, phosphorus, magnesium and calcium.

Zucchini growing technology

You can protect zucchini from diseases by planting onions and garlic in the neighborhood. Zucchini also perfectly coexist with potatoes, any legumes and cabbage.

With loam and clay soils, several kilograms of peat, fine dry sawdust are added per meter to create a looser structure and sifted humus. Mineral additives are the same as in the first case, except for potassium sulfate.

What varieties of zucchini to choose?

But not only cooks are inspired by early zucchini, they are also grown with pleasure by summer residents.The fruitful and unpretentious relatives of pumpkins and cucumbers are really famous for the fact that they practically grow on their own, one has only to stick a seed in and water it from time to time.

Zucchini. Growing and care

How to grow zucchini?

The second feeding is done 1-2 weeks after the first. For feeding, you can use your own nutritional mixtures, but it is better to use ready-made ones.5 kilograms of peat, 2.5 kilograms of humus, 1 kilogram of sod land, 1 kilogram of semi-rotted sawdust, 300 grams of river sand and 200 grams of wood ash.Zucchini is a wonderful plant that contains many nutrients and nutrients. Growing marrow seedlings consists of several stages, which include:

To get a crop of zucchini suitable for storage, germinated seeds must be planted directly into the ground in early June. It is important here to properly distribute the seeds in the garden. In the area designated for zucchini, they dig holes about 70 by 70 cm in size and put zucchini seeds in each to a depth of 2-3 cm. The soil must first be watered.

With proper plant care, you can expect to get good yields. Zucchini does not require complex agricultural techniques. It is necessary to remove weeds and loosen the soil in a timely manner. Pour these vegetables with warm water. Plants require more moisture during the period of fruit ripening. Once a week, you can feed the zucchini with a mixture of urea (1 kg), potassium sulfate (1 kg), nitrophoska (6 kg), magnesium sulfate (1 kg) and boric acid (15 grams). You can also use a solution of mullein or bird droppings. Large leaves should be removed. Harvest on time so that the plant has the opportunity to form new fruits.

To do this, take six parts of peat and mix it with two parts of humus and sod land. One part of sawdust is added to them. To make the mixture more saturated with useful substances, half a glass of ash, 5 grams of nitrate or urea, 15 g of superphosphate and 10 g of potassium sulfate are mixed into it (per bucket). The soil is now ready for growing seedlings.

The use of zucchini leads to the cleansing of the body and to its strengthening. This vegetable is recommended for dietary and baby food. Zucchini is even used in cosmetology. In addition, the fruits of this plant can be stored for a very long time, while retaining all their useful qualities.

Zucchini is one of the earliest ripening vegetable crops. It takes only two weeks from flowering to harvest. Edible, zucchini is considered when it reaches fifteen centimeters in length, while the diameter of the fruit is about five centimeters. Such a fruit is easily cut with a knife, its peel has not yet formed and is easily pierced even with a fingernail. These are the most delicious fruits, characterized by a sweetish taste and containing a large amount of magnesium, potassium and other trace elements.

With sandy soils on the site, it is necessary to enrich the composition of the soil with a bucket of sod land, humus mixed with manure, and be sure to apply mineral fertilizers in a standard set. As a rule, such lands are rather loose, which is good, but not too fertile. Therefore, one should not neglect growth activators and fertilizing for vegetable plants.

However, as practice shows, in order to get an early harvest and then enjoy healthy strong fruits for a long time, you should take care of zucchini, know the features of their agricultural technology and some secrets of cultivation.

Zucchini

The third feeding is done a week before planting seedlings in open ground.

4.3 kilograms of sod land with compost and bent (1: 1), 300 grams of river sand and 200 grams of wood ash.

Zucchini seeds, in comparison with other plants grown by gardeners, are large in size. Therefore, their preparation is important, especially in the case of growing seedlings. Zucchini seed preparation includes:

If both seeds germinate, one will have to be removed or transplanted.

Unfortunately, last year for many summer residents turned out to be not rich in the harvest of zucchini. And it's not just the weather.

Features of growing zucchini seedlings

If you have decided when to plant zucchini for seedlings, then you can start this process. Fill the cups with prepared nutrient soil. Then we spill them with hot water or a weak solution of manganese. Sprouted seeds are laid to a depth of about 2-3 centimeters. It is necessary that the sprout is directed downward. Cover the seed with earth on top. The optimum temperature for sprouting is about 18-25 degrees. After the sprouts appear, it can be reduced to 15-20 degrees. Seedlings require a lot of light. With its lack, it will become too long and weak.

Preparation for sowing zucchini seeds

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 that are successfully cultivated practically throughout the country. What varieties of zucchini are better to plant? It all depends on the result that you expect from the future harvest.

• Subject to agricultural technology and favorable conditions, one plant per season can produce up to two dozen fruits, which during the period of intense fruiting have to be cut off almost every other day. It is important to do this regularly so that the zucchini does not overripe and allow the plant not to experience unnecessary stress and to tie all new greens.
• With chernozem soils, the most fertile of those listed, you only need to take care of the looseness of the soil intended for planting zucchini. So, you need to add sawdust, sifted sand, ash and superphosphate.
• Before planting, you need to select those seeds that can give the strongest shoots, and therefore a friendly harvest. It is better to discard empty, ugly seeds in advance, and to speed up germination, spread them in a thin layer on wet gauze. After a few days, the seeds will swell and give the first rudiments of shoots and roots.
• Can be planted in open ground with seeds or seedlings. To prepare for planting, the seeds are soaked for 12 hours in a solution: 1 tsp. nitrophosphate 1 liter of water. After that, the seeds are placed in a moist bag for three days. Zucchini seedlings are best grown in peat or other cups at a temperature of 18-20 ° C. 2 seeds are planted in each cup, after the emergence of sprouts, the strongest is left. When 3-4 leaves appear, the seedlings can be transplanted into open ground.
• Zucchini seedlings take root very poorly in the garden, so hardening is very important for it. The process of hardening seedlings consists of three main stages:

Determining the timing of sowing zucchini

Sand and peat in a 1: 1 ratio.

1. Mechanical processing;
2. Another secret of growing squash is the placement of squash melon. It is recommended to plant them in a new place every year - this way you can avoid diseases and increase yields. When choosing a site for planting, keep in mind that these plants love light and water.

Preparation of land mixtures

Zucchini is an unpretentious plant. But without knowing the secrets of its cultivation, you can find yourself without vegetables.

1. How much and when to water the zucchini? Seedlings, which are easy to grow, require moisture as needed. It is necessary to ensure that the top layer of the soil does not dry out. Young plants are very delicate and will not tolerate sudden changes in conditions.
2. 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 to late autumn.
3. When ripe, the zucchini skin becomes dense, keratinized, it can no longer be pierced by the nails, and the stalk lengthens and dries up. The flesh of the fruit also changes. It loses a significant part of its moisture, acquires a taste similar to pumpkin, but less pronounced. Such fruits, when tapped, emit a dull sound, and their color gradually changes from green to yellow.

Sowing marrow seeds

After planting, the zucchini can be fed if necessary. Experienced gardeners are advised to do two dressings, but they should be carried out before the start of fruiting.

1. Sprouted seeds, depending on weather conditions, can be planted either in the ground or in a greenhouse. If there is frost on the street, then the seeds are embedded in peat pots for further cultivation in the form of seedlings. The ideal time for planting zucchini in the beds is the appearance of a third leaf on a young plant.
2. ❧ In recent years, decorative gardens have become popular, where all the beds are beautifully decorated, and vegetables and herbs grow in slender rows. However, here, too, the rules of cultivation and crops are important for the plants to be beautiful and healthy, and the yield to be high.
3. Simple airing of the seedlings a few weeks before planting in the garden. Seedlings 1-2 times a day should be taken out into fresh air, but at the same time make sure that direct sunlight does not fall on the young leaves of the squash. The residence time of seedlings in the fresh air should be increased by 5-10 minutes daily.
4. Sowing seeds is the most crucial stage, after good preparation of all components, it includes:
5. Disinfection;

Zucchini seedlings care

But watering should be carried out only at the root and only with warm water - this will help to avoid rotting of the fruit.

1. It is imperative to pay attention to the "homeland" of zucchini - it is grown almost everywhere, and it is not surprising that half of our hybrids are of foreign origin. The fact is that domestic zucchini varieties are better adapted for the northern and central regions of Russia, while hybrids grow better in the southern ones, since they have a longer growing season. In addition, Russian zucchini are distinguished by better nutritional characteristics and adaptability to local conditions. And they taste more familiar. It is also important that our zucchini are more "maturing" - they are well stored, suitable for pickling and pickling. The only drawback of Russian zucchini is its quick ripening. The crop should be removed from the bushes as soon as it reaches maturity, otherwise the zucchini will be "old".
2. Water at room temperature is used for irrigation. It is not necessary to overmoisten the plants too much. Everything should be in moderation. Spraying seedlings does not require. Loosen the top layer, too, so as not to damage the tender, young shoots.
3. Separately, I would like to talk about zucchini zucchini. Their fruits are slightly elongated and dark green in color. It is the color that is their main difference from ordinary zucchini. On average, one zucchini fruit can weigh from 1 to 1.5 kilograms. These varieties include Tsukesha, Zebra and Aeronaut. The latter variety is distinguished by early harvests. Already on the 47th day after germination, the first harvest of fruits takes place.

Hardening zucchini seedlings

If tender greens are stored only in the refrigerator and then up to two weeks, then mature zucchini can be stored and used for food until next spring. The fruits laid with dry straw are stored in a ventilated basement, only occasionally turning them over and checking for damage.

1. Zucchini sprout soon, literally a week after planting, and amicably. At first, the sprouts look like cucumbers, but when real leaves appear, it becomes clear that the plant is more powerful and large.
2. When planting seeds in open ground, they are embedded in the soil, watered abundantly, and then mulched with dry rubbed soil.
3. Zucchini are planted in areas warmed by the sun. Seedlings are planted in open ground when warm weather sets in or under a film. The best predecessors for zucchini are root vegetables, legumes, potatoes, onions, and cabbage.

Planting zucchini seedlings in the garden

Further, the seedlings of zucchini should be in the fresh air for more than one hour a day. At this time, the seedlings can be taught to direct sunlight for 1-5 minutes a day. The residence time of seedlings in the open air should be increased daily by 10-15 minutes.

1. Zucchini seeds are sown in containers from 0.5 to 0.8 liters. These can be peat pots, packages of juice and milk, or any other containers of the required volume.
2. Soaking in a solution of trace elements;
3. When the ovaries appear, water the zucchini twice as intensively.

Fans of foreign varieties of zucchini choose them because such fruits are not prone to overgrowth, their seeds are small and soft, the skin is thin, and the flesh is very fleshy. These zucchini are well suited for culinary dishes, but it is not recommended to store them for future use, they are not suitable for cooking zucchini caviar. In addition, foreign hybrids have fewer useful substances - vitamins, pectins and sugars, and their ability to accumulate harmful substances is higher.

How to grow zucchini

Do you need to fertilize zucchini? Seedlings, the cultivation and care of which does not require much effort, need fertilization. The first time they should be added about 10 days after sprouting. The solution is prepared from a weak infusion of mullein. Apply about 50 milligrams for each plant. Also use a solution of urea (half a small spoon per liter) or the drug "Bud" (2 grams per liter of water). As a top dressing, you can also use any growth stimulants, which are sold in large quantities in specialized stores. Read the instructions carefully and follow the directions. After 10 days, you can re-fertilize. After the appearance of 2-3 leaves, the plants can be planted. Zucchini seeds are sown in open ground when the soil warms up well enough. But it is better to use the method of growing seedlings.

Preparing for planting zucchini

In terms of taste, zucchini does not differ much from ordinary zucchini. However, many prefer them. When choosing which varieties of zucchini are better to plant, be guided by the proven types recommended by experienced gardeners. Take into account all the features of the local climate. But do not forget about the new selection, which may be more optimal for planting.Ripe varietal fruits are also used to obtain seeds at home for the next year.

But like cucumbers, squash loves water. Water them abundantly and often at all stages of growth, flowering and fruiting. With a lack of water, the leaves wither quickly, and the fruits begin to ripen hastily, losing their juiciness and taste.

Planting zucchini in open ground

When planting seedlings, protect the root system from any damage. Like all their relatives, zucchini react painfully to transplantation, so it is better to take care of this in advance and use medium-sized peat pots for planting, or gently roll over the sprout along with a lump of earth.

A planting scheme of 70 X 70 cm is used. Zucchini are planted in holes along with peat cups or a lump of earth. In this case, they are immersed in the hole 2-3 cm below the edge, sprinkled with soil and pressed from all sides. Previously, it is recommended to apply fertilizers to the hole - 0.5 buckets of compost or humus, 20 g of superphosphate, 10 g of potassium chloride, 5 g of urea. When watering, 1-2 liters of water are consumed per plant. When planting with seeds, fertilizer is applied to each hole. Seeds are sealed in holes of 2 pcs. to a depth of 2-3 cm. The distance between the seeds is left at 5 cm.When both seeds germinate, one sprout can be transplanted into the other hole.

Zucchini care

For 1-4 days before planting in the garden, the seedlings should be free in the open air (day and night), but mostly in the shade. Over time, the seedlings should tolerate external conditions well.

Seeds are sown with witches down to a depth of 3-4 centimeters. Seeds are sown only in moist soil. After sowing, for better seed-to-soil contact, it is watered again. 1 seed is sown in one container.

Hardening;

A few more tips:

There are two

Zucchini love the sun. Therefore, for outdoor cultivation, windless, sunny areas are best suited. After planting, the zucchini are returned to their original place only after 3-4 years. The best precursors for this crop are legumes, potatoes, some types of cabbage (white and cauliflower), garlic and onions. After cucumbers, squash and pumpkin, it is better not to plant zucchini. Knowing all the intricacies of when to plant zucchini for seedlings, how to care for them and plant them in open ground, you can grow a rich harvest.

When to plant zucchini for seedlings? This question is asked by all inexperienced gardeners. It is necessary to choose the right period so that the plants are planted in open ground at the most suitable moment. Mistakes in farming can lead to stunting and poor harvests. Usually, planting zucchini for seedlings is carried out from mid-March to mid-May. It all depends on the climatic conditions of the region. After 25-30 days, the seedlings will need to be planted in open ground. Therefore, it is easy to figure out when to plant zucchini for seedlings. The average time for planting in open ground is from late May to mid-June. This should not be done later, since the plant will not have time to gain full strength.

Planting zucchini

At the end of the harvest season, many gardeners have a desire to leave their favorite seeds for the next year. This can be done, but the result of such an operation will be only if varietal zucchini are used. Hybrids will not give the desired effect, their seeds must be purchased every year from the store.

It is advised to water the zucchini at the root, making sure that the soil above the root system does not wash away, and moisture does not get on the leaves. The best time to water is in the early morning before daylight or in the evening just after sunset. This requirement is especially important to observe on warm sunny days in order to avoid burns on the plants.

• Do not plant zucchini too tightly. The bush culture forms a rather lush rosette of powerful leaves up to two meters in diameter, from this calculation, holes are made for planting seeds or planting seedlings of zucchini.
• Zucchini care consists in watering, weeding and loosening the soil, dressing. The first time the soil is loosened 5-7 days after planting the seedlings. When planting with seeds, after the first true leaves appear on the shoots, they are thinned out - weak shoots are cut off at ground level. When 3-4 true leaves appear, the plants are spud with the brought soil. It is impossible to spud these plants like potatoes. In the same period, zucchini are fed. A solution is used for 10 plants: 40 g of superphosphate, 20 g of ammonium nitrate and potassium salts each. During the flowering period, a second feeding is carried out. A solution is prepared for 5-6 plants: 40 g of potassium sulfate, 20 g of phosphates, 10 liters of water. You can use organic fertilizers: chicken manure (1: 15) or mullein (1: 10). To attract insects, you can spray flowering plants with honey solution (1 tsp honey in 1 glass of water).

Zucchini are planted in the garden using the following technique:

Before germination, crops are kept at a temperature of 27 to 30 degrees.

Germination (optional).

Preparing the soil for squash

1 pollination of zucchini

• Zucchini growing technologies
• Preparatory work begins long before the zucchini are planted for seedlings, when it is too early to sow, and the land must be prepared.Since autumn, the site is fertilized with manure or compost at the rate of a bucket per square meter of land. Superphosphate (30-35 g per square meter) and potash fertilizers (15-20 g per square meter) are also added.
• 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 choose delicious varieties of zucchini and put the seeds in any not very deep container. Put cotton wool or plain toilet paper on the bottom.
• Today the choice of seeds is very wide, but you should not pay too much attention to beautiful bright drawings, but it is better to read who bred this or that variety or hybrid. For the northern regions, domestic varieties will be preferable, and in the southern regions there will be fruitful and imported ones, which bear fruit much longer and differ from our varieties in food quality.

As they do not like zucchini of overdried soil, they do not tolerate the proximity of groundwater and stagnant moisture. The roots of plants quickly rot, the zucchini begin to ache and eventually die.

Zucchini care

You need to choose a place on the site with the approach that it will be uncomfortable for these vegetables to grow after any of their relatives: pumpkins, cucumbers, squash and melons. Zucchini can be returned to this place only after a couple or even three years.

Zucchini are regularly watered - 8-10 liters of water per 1 m2. During the fruiting period, the water consumption is doubled. Water should be watered in the afternoon with warm water. Watering with cold water causes the ovary to rot. Watering is stopped 7-10 days before harvesting.

Zucchini is planted on the garden bed 21-30 days after germination. It is necessary to plant seedlings at least 2-3 meters from each other. The greater the volatility of the zucchini, the further you need to plant them from each other.

After germination, the seedlings are transferred to a sunlit place with a night temperature of 13-14 degrees and a daytime of 16-17 degrees. This is done so that the seedlings do not stretch out quickly in the first days, but can get stronger enough qualitatively.

Zucchini seeds, after proper preparation, give rather fast shoots. Within a few days after sowing, young zucchini sprouts appear. The timing of sowing seeds for seedlings is as follows:

Bees, bumblebees and wasps are excellent zucchini pollinators. To attract these insects to your flowering bushes, it is recommended to spray the plants with a weak solution of honey in the early morning. This will increase yields.

- through the cultivation of seedlings or by planting seeds in the ground.

Next, the site is dug up and left until early spring. After the snow melts, the earth is slightly loosened, 15-20 grams of ammonium nitrate is added per 1 square meter and dug up. If the soil is sandy, then dry clay and sawdust should be added. If the soil is clay, river sand, manure or humus are introduced.

Harvesting and storage

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.

However, imported zucchini are mostly hybrids. It will not work to reproduce them at home, and it is not necessary. Domestic zucchini today are favorably distinguished by both a more pleasant taste and a higher content of nutrients in fruits. Russian varieties are perfectly stored and, unlike Western ones, are suitable for the popular type of fruit processing, conservation.

Under the lush foliage of overgrown zucchini, weeds, as a rule, do not get along, but while the bush is growing, it is very important to remove all weeds from under it and make the necessary fertilizing.

But, as it turned out, zucchini feel great in the middle of a flower garden or near an artificial reservoir.A lush plant does not lose its appearance for a long time and looks quite decorative even next to flowering plants, shading from bright greens.

Elastic, juicy zucchini, one of the first vegetables to appear on the tables in summer, is loved by many gardeners and consumers. And although zucchini will never overtake in popularity, for example, potatoes or tomatoes, and they do not take up so much space in the beds, but in terms of their versatility and taste, they compete with many other gifts of the garden kingdom.

Selection of varieties for the site

Zucchini seedlings should be planted only with an unharmed earthen lump in well-moistened pits. After planting, the soil must be compacted and watered abundantly. It is better to cover wet soil with a layer of straw so that the water does not evaporate quickly.

During the rest of the period of growing seedlings, she needs a temperature of 20-22 degrees during the day and 16-18 degrees at night. At this temperature, the seedlings will grow well and quickly.

2. Pruning bushes

Zucchini is a plant belonging to the Pumpkin family, a bushy variety of hard-bore gourd. The vegetable has oblong fruits, they can be black, yellow, green, white, black-green; inside - tender pulp. Zucchini is eaten raw, stewed, fried, and canned and marinated. Their homeland is Mexico, it was from there that vegetables came to the European continent along with other unknown products in the 16th century. At first, they were grown only in greenhouses, and only a hundred years later they began to be eaten.

Low calorie content, easy digestibility and excellent taste have made zucchini an integral part of Russian cuisine, a component of children's and dietary menus. They are used in salads, hot dishes, preparations for the winter.

How to grow zucchini from seeds

If you grow seedlings and plant them, then ripe fruits can be obtained faster than when planting seeds in open ground, but there is one significant drawback: vegetables grown using seedlings cannot be left for long-term storage - the entire crop will have to be processed in a short time ...

If you want to preserve the fruits for the winter, planting zucchini with seeds in the ground should take place in early May-June, when the ground has already warmed up to 12 degrees at a depth of 10 centimeters.

Before planting in the ground seeds should be prepared: soak in a liter of warm water, adding a tablespoon of ash (solutions with trace elements, Zircon, Epin, potassium humate are also suitable) or warm in the sun for seven days, you can soak for a day in warm water, wrap in a damp piece of cloth and hold for several days at temperatures up to 25 degrees. But the most reliable way is to harden the planting materials: alternately move them into the refrigerator (for 14-16 hours), and then keep them at room temperature for 8-10 hours. Repeat the procedure several times.

The soil must also be prepared in advance: in the fall, it is imperative to dig up the soil, adding compost, superphosphate and wood ash. In the spring, the soil is leveled, holes are made, the depth of which should not exceed 10 centimeters, put in each tablespoon of ash and humus, kneaded, watered with water, put 2-3 seeds and covered with soil. If all crops have sprouted, leave only one plant in the hole.

How to grow seedlings

If you want to get a quick harvest, you will not do without seedling method of seed propagation... Presowing treatment is carried out the same as when planting in open ground, the main thing is the swelling of the seed and the appearance of tiny shoots. The soil in which you are going to plant seedlings should not be too sour. Ash or chalk is added to lower the acidity. The stores can offer a ready-made mixture "Exo" - it is great for seedlings.

The mixture is laid out in separate small pots, poured over them with hot water for disinfection, then they put the seeds, sprinkle them with a substrate.The containers are covered using film or glass. Planting seedlings is carried out no later than a month before transplanting into the ground.

Until the seeds have germinated, the room temperature should be maintained at 22 degrees. With the appearance of the first shoots, the protective coating is removed and access to bright diffused light in a cooler room (glazed balconies, loggias) is provided, during the day the temperature should be kept within 16-18 degrees and drop by 3-5 degrees at night. After a week, take the seedlings back to a warm room. This helps to prevent the seedlings from pulling out, for this purpose it is also important provide sufficient light access... Water as needed with cold filtered water, making sure that the top layer is constantly slightly damp.

Caring for the seedlings, you need to feed it with mineral fertilizers. To do this, take a teaspoon of nitrophosphate, dissolve it in a liter of water (one glass per plant). An important point: choose fertilizers carefully, they should not contain chlorine!

Planting zucchini in open ground

When to plant zucchini in the ground? Plants are planted in the ground about a month after the first shoots appear. As a rule, this is the end of May or the beginning of June, when the threat of frost disappears. The place must be chosen as sunny as possible (southern, south-western side), protected from the winds. You should not plant zucchini on the site, where did any pumpkin plants grow?, at least three years, otherwise there is a high probability of contracting diseases typical of this family. The best predecessors: potatoes, onions, lettuce, tomatoes, garlic, cabbage, radishes, carrots, parsley.

The planting process will be something like this:

1. The holes for planting seedlings are made at such a distance that three plants are located on each square meter of the allotted area, the distance between the rows is at least one meter.
2. Before planting, a little ash and humus should be put in each of the holes, mixed with the soil.
3. Then the seedlings are planted together with a lump of earth, deepened into the ground to cotyledon leaves, a sufficient amount of soil is added, tamped and watered.
4. The weather should be warm and cloudy.
5. If you are afraid of a return of cold weather, cover each of the seedlings with a cut plastic bottle, or install several metal arcs around the perimeter of the site and make a plastic cover.
6. One day after landing loosening the soil.

Growing in greenhouse conditions

Seedlings are planted in film greenhouses two weeks earlier than in open ground, respectively, the seeds are also sown earlier. Fertilizers are added to the holes, watered with water, seedlings are planted, covered with earth and watered again. During the daytime, the temperature inside the greenhouse should be kept at the level of 22-24 degrees, in the dark - not fall below 15 degrees.

Care for seedlings in the greenhouse after planting zucchini includes regular ventilation, moderate regular watering, timely loosening of the soil, weeding and feeding... If the leaves begin to grow too intensively in the plants, the air humidity can rise greatly and the zucchini will drop the ovary. To prevent this, pluck 2-3 leaves at the bottom or in the middle of the stems, and also constantly ventilate the greenhouse.

How to care for zucchini outdoors

Outdoor zucchini care includes:

• regular watering;
• timely loosening and weeding;
• plant feeding;
• control of diseases and pests, if necessary;
• in some cases, they help plants to pollinate (if the plants begin to bloom, and there are no bees nearby).

Watered in the evenings with waterwell warmed up in the daytime sun. In the heat, before the leaves close, it is necessary to water the beds every day. When the leaves begin to cover the soil, you can water less often, once every 5 days if it's cool, and every 2-3 days if it's hot.Water should flow under the roots. If the leaves wilt from the heat, water in the evenings using a nozzle with very small holes.

Zucchini are very fond of organic fertilizers. Planting and caring for them in the open field requires several additional fertilizing. Humus and wood ash are the best feeding solution and should be done 2-3 times per season. The beds are pre-watered.

To avoid unpleasant surprises in the form of diseases and pests, gardeners do preventive treatments of plants using drugs that help prevent their occurrence. So, care against fungi means that seven days after planting the plant you can grout (1%) Bordeaux mixture or copper oxychloride. Karbofos, a pest control agent, is also used.

How to harvest and preserve crops

Root crops are harvested as they ripen. The first zucchini, suitable for consumption, will ripen within one and a half to two months after planting. They are harvested not fully ripe, while the seeds inside are still small and tender. Harvesting unripe fruits will stimulate the growth of new zucchini. But if you want to store the crop in winter, you will have to wait until it is fully ripe until a hard and thick crust forms.

The fruits are carefully cut along the stalks. Young zucchini, which will go for conservation or will be immediately consumed, are cut off at the bases. They can be stored for no longer than two weeks. After this time, they begin to lose their taste, wither, coarse and rot. Fully ripe vegetables can be stored for five months in dry, cool and ventilated rooms... The cellar is not the best place for storage, since high humidity provokes putrefactive processes. Keep the fruits in a box, but so that they are in minimum contact with each other. Line the bottom with sawdust or straw. The stalks of each zucchini can be soaked in molten paraffin - this method helps to preserve them for a longer period.

When there is no separate storage room, you can leave them in the apartment, but in a dry and dark place, for example, under a bed or near a balcony door.

If you know how to plant zucchini correctly, what kind of care they need, you can get an excellent harvest and enjoy delicious fruits even in winter.

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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 in order 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 disadvantages, 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. It should contain medical cotton wool (not sterilized) at the bottom.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