Zucchini are fast-growing annual crops that usually grow in bushy or vine-like forms. An annual culture of the gourd family with creeping vegetation has large palmate leaves, bright yellow flowers. The root reaches a depth of 40-50 cm. Many side stems grow from it.
They need bees to pollinate flowers for continuous fruit production. Poor pollination will cause new fruits to wither or fall off the plant while they are still small. This happens when the flowers are not pollinated and is usually a big problem early in the season.
Additional Information! To keep the bees active, it is recommended to plant plants nearby, such as white alissum, calendula, clover, phacelia and sunflower.
If the zucchini does not bear fruit, despite the abundance of flowers, it can be pollinated by hand.
In the morning, the petals are removed from the male flower (on short stems closer to the center of the plant), and the pollen is transferred to the female flowers. You can also use a clean brush or cotton swab.
Methods for growing zucchini
Zucchini needs a lot of space, water and warmth. It is a thermophilic, sun-loving culture that does well in direct sunlight. They need at least 6-8 hours of full sun per day. Try not to plant them in places shaded by trees or other buildings.
The soil
Courgettes need a warm, sunny and sheltered location. The soil must be permeable and rich in nutrients. They give higher yields in soils rich in organic matter and good soil moisture. Zucchini can be grown in soils with a pH of 5.5-6.8, but they grow best at pH6.
Weed control does not require much effort, as they cannot compete with the rapid growth of the crop.
How to plant zucchini in the garden? You can sow zucchini directly in the garden, or grow them as young plants indoors. This will increase the sowing time by a few weeks and the zucchini will grow at home 4 weeks before transplanting the seedlings to their final location.
Zucchini do not tolerate frost. They are not placed in the garden until night frosts are expected. This usually happens from mid-May. They need to be transplanted with great care, as the root system is sensitive. The distance between plants should be at least one meter.
When to plant zucchini? From mid-May you can also sow seeds in open ground. Soil temperature should be at least 15°C. Sowing in beds requires the introduction of well-rotted manure or compost.
Sow seeds to a depth of 2.5 cm. Planting distance is 60-90 cm in all directions. Shrub varieties can be grown at closer distances.
Irrigation
Constant humidity is the key to high productivity. Just like cucumbers, zucchini should be watered regularly. Otherwise, the fruits may become deformed or taste bitter. Mulching helps keep the soil temperature stable, the soil retains water to keep it moist.
Note! This is a demanding crop for soil moisture, but the soil should not be waterlogged. The critical period for watering is the flowering phase. Leaves should not get wet when watering to avoid the development of fungal infections.
Pruning helps when growing zucchini
Their leaves grow so large that they often shade the plant itself and reduce sunlight. This is why leaf pruning may be necessary to give the zucchini more sunlight.
In addition, pruning allows more energy to reach the fruit rather than the leaves, improves air circulation, which helps prevent powdery mildew to which zucchini is susceptible.
Once the cucurbits have begun to bear fruit, you can remove the tips from the stems, but do not cut too close to the developing fruit.
Diseases and pests
To combat them, it is recommended to use healthy disinfected seeds and crop rotations. It is recommended to remove infected and diseased garden plants to prevent the spread of diseases.
The main strategies for dealing with enemies and diseases of gardens are their biological treatment. There are biological pesticides (pyrethrum, azadirachtin, copper, zeolite, ash, etc.) that can deal with problems from enemies and diseases that may arise. They certainly won’t have the effectiveness of conventional chemical pesticides and regular applications will be required, but it’s worth it.
Flower rot is a disorder that occurs due to a lack of calcium (which occurs due to poor soil moisture. The plant does not receive the necessary nutrients, turns yellow and rots at the end of the fruit where the flower is located. The solution to the problem is to maintain good humidity.
Powdery mildew on squash is a common problem. This is a fungal disease that manifests itself as a white powdery coating on the leaves, which slows down growth and causes wrinkling of the leaves.
To stop the spread of the disease, spray with a dilute copper solution. For preventive purposes, resistant varieties are also used.
Yellowing of squash leaves may also be due to cucumber mosaic virus. This causes deformation, leaves with a characteristic “mosaic” yellow pattern. Affected plants produce few or no flowers, and any developing fruit is small and inedible.
Gray rot is a fungal disease that manifests itself as powdery gray rot on the squash stem, gradually covering the entire fruit, which then rots. There are no means of combating gray rot. Remove affected fruits immediately.
Spider mites cause yellowing of the leaves, and with a strong infection, they curl, dry and fall off,
Aphids cause leaves to curl. In addition to the direct harm they cause, they also transmit viruses.
Slugs and snails eat the leaves of young squash plants and can be identified by the slime trails they leave as well as the damage they cause. Check plants at night and remove slugs and snails by hand.
Harvesting
Zucchini have significant nutritional value, as they contain vegetable fibers, vitamins, potassium, calcium and folic acid. Zucchini is a key ingredient in many favorite summer recipes.
Large zucchini are edible, but they are tougher and have larger seeds. Harvesting can continue throughout the summer. Harvest can be stored for several months, at a temperature of 6-12°C, and a relative humidity of 70%.
How long does a zucchini grow? Zucchini grows very quickly, so after 6 weeks you can harvest your first crop if everything goes well. Plus, zucchini will continue to fruit all summer and even most of the fall if it’s warm.
