When to plant zucchini seedlings in open ground: timing. How to plant zucchini seedlings in open ground: instructions, recommendations, care

In this article we will talk about when is the best time to plant zucchini, how to properly prepare and plant them in open ground.

Zucchini has long become a common vegetable for everyone. However, it also has its own characteristics of planting and care. Experienced gardeners have long known what and how to do correctly, but beginners always have many questions. You will learn how to properly grow zucchini and care for them in our article. I would like to note that the vegetable itself is not whimsical and does not require careful care. At the same time, it gives an excellent harvest. It can be planted either by seeds or seedlings. The main thing is to do it right.

What zucchini to plant: choosing a variety

Planting zucchini
If you decide that you need to plant zucchini, then first decide what variety you want to plant. It is selected depending on the final result you plan to get.

So, the following groups of zucchini are distinguished:

• Early ripening . These varieties ripen very quickly and give a good harvest. It is recommended to plant them in open ground, since there is no point in waiting a long time for the seedlings to ripen. This category includes the following varieties: Tsukesha, Malysh, Apelsinka, Skvorushka, Chaklun, Belukha, Aliya F1, Salvador, Myachik, Karam, Mavr.
• Harvest . Most gardeners prefer these varieties. The fact is that they really produce a large harvest, and therefore you can get more profit from them if you sell them. Representatives of the category are the following varieties: Belogor F1, Kuand, Jade, Mini-zucchini, Nut.
• Self-pollinating . These varieties are resistant to external influences. They are not afraid of pests, insects, bad weather and other factors. These include: Cavili F1, Parthenon F1, Suha F1, Medusa F1, Sangrum F1.
• For planting in open ground . Most varieties of zucchini often spread long vines and therefore require a lot of space to grow. At the same time, gardeners are limited in territory and try to plant several crops at once close to each other. This is where varieties for open ground come to the rescue. They are: Black Beauty, Spaghetti, Calabash Lagenaria, Odessky-52.
• Yellow varieties . These zucchini grow with a yellowish skin. This is especially attractive to gardeners. At the same time, in other parameters and properties, the culture does not differ from the usual white and green zucchini. These varieties include: Pineapple, Zolotinka, Gold Rush F1, Goldline F1, Sunlight F1, Zheltoplodny.
• Bush . There are a huge number of bush zucchini and there is simply no point in listing all the varieties. The high popularity of varieties is due to the fact that they have excellent taste and high yield. The best of their kind are: Iskander F1, Aeronaut, Gribovsky, Bely, Vodopad.
• With soft skin . This is an early ripening variety of Dutch selection. After planting, the fruits ripen within 5-6 weeks after the first shoots appear. Gardeners are attracted by good presentation. The fact is that the peel has a smooth surface, and the fruits themselves have a regular cylindrical shape. The variety is also resistant to various diseases. These include: White Bush, Genovese.
• Climbing . There are also such varieties. They bear tasty and edible fruits. At the same time, the lashes from them serve as a good decoration for the local area. These include: The Amazing Giant, The Ascension.
• With excellent keeping quality . If you want to get a harvest that can be stored for a long time without losing its quality, then choose the following varieties: Aral F1, Festival F1, Golden Key, Negritenok.

Planting methods

Zucchini is unpretentious and does not require special care. This may be why summer residents have such a wide variety of ways to plant this vegetable. Let's look at the most popular and original ones.

Standard method

Everything is simple here: choose a bed, prepare it for planting. If you prepare it in the fall, you can dig it with fresh manure, and when preparing it in spring, use compost or humus, since fresh manure can burn the roots of young plants.

Zucchini is planted in the prepared soil according to the following scheme: the distance from one plant to another should not be less than 70 cm , and between rows - 35 cm .

To a warm bed

This method is suitable for those who have a cold climate and there is a danger that the earth will take a long time to warm up, delaying the growth and development of the vegetable crop. Also, this type of planting is suitable for those who want to speed up the harvest time, and who want to enjoy zucchini a few weeks earlier than everyone else.

Heat in the garden bed appears during the fermentation of freshly cut herbs placed underground. The temperature of the earth raised in this way by several degrees warms the roots of the plants for 2-3 weeks.

In the box beds

Boards knocked down on four sides create a box in which zucchini is planted. This method is good because it puts certain barriers on the vegetable, preventing it from growing throughout the garden. This control is appropriate in small areas where every centimeter of land is important.

Under film

If there is no room in the greenhouse for a spreading zucchini, and you want to get the harvest early, cover the sown seeds with film. A greenhouse effect is created , and in warm, moist soil the seeds of the crop germinate faster.

But as soon as they emerge from the ground and grow a couple of centimeters, the film must be removed. She can break fragile sprouts with her weight.

In boxes

The vegetable is also planted in large wooden boxes. This method is convenient because, if desired, the boxes can be moved around the site and even stacked on top of each other in a pyramid, thus saving space on the site.

Under the bottle

A cut five-liter plastic bottle is an excellent alternative to a greenhouse. Use it to cover the planting site of the sprouted seed, not forgetting to water it periodically.

The comfortable conditions of heat and moisture inside the bottle help the sprout to quickly germinate through the soil, grow and develop until the mini-greenhouse becomes crowded. Then the bottle is removed.

In a barrel or large bag

Another way to save garden space is to plant zucchini in a barrel or bag. As the crop grows, it will completely cover the bag and barrel with leaves, thus decorating the area. When planting in a barrel, take care of drainage in advance.

Attention! medium-sized zucchini are planted in a high barrel and a large bag . Hanging from the edges of the barrel, large fruits may not support their own weight and come off.

On the compost heap

Practical gardeners do not have empty space on their plot. Even a compost heap can be put to good use: plant zucchini on it. Rising above the ground, the heap is always in the sun, which is necessary for the growth of zucchini.

With this planting method, additional feeding will not be required.

When can you plant zucchini: timing

Planting zucchini is possible in two ways. Depending on which one you choose, the timing of sowing work will depend:

• Seedling method . In this case, the seedlings are first grown and only after their germination is transplanted into open ground. There is no need to worry about seed germination here. As a rule, seeds are sown for seedlings in mid-April or early May. When the seedlings reach the age of 25-30 days, they can be moved to the beds. It is recommended to cover them temporarily with film or other material until the spring frosts end, approximately until the beginning of June.
• Direct planting in open ground . This method is less labor-intensive, but only if frost returns there is a risk of crop loss. Seeds are sown in heated soil. Its temperature should not be lower than 12-13 degrees. In this case, the planting depth is 8-10 cm. Typically, this period occurs at the end of May - beginning of June. In this situation, in order to reduce the risk of damage to seedlings by frost, it is recommended to sow several times, in 2-3 periods with an interval of 3-4 days. The minimum temperature for germination is 12-15 degrees Celsius.

It is important to consider that if you choose the seedling method, the zucchini will not be stored for long, and therefore, after harvesting, it is important to immediately use it for preparations or food. So if you want to preserve the shelf life of ripe fruits, it is better to immediately sow them in the ground.

What kind of soil do zucchini like?

Light loams and chernozems with neutral acidity are the best soils for zucchini. If you have to grow them on sandy and sandy loam soils, then it is better to prepare holes for each plant with a diameter of about half a meter at intervals of one meter in the fall. The distance between the rows is 1.5 m. Each hole should be well filled with chernozem or turf soil and add one bucket of humus. And also in the fall you need to add 20-30 grams of superphosphate to each hole. In the spring, before planting, add 20 grams of urea and 10 grams of potassium monophosphate per hole.

How to prepare zucchini seeds for planting?

Preparing the seeds for planting
Before planting the zucchini, it is important to prepare the seeds.

To do this, do the following:

• Check the seed for emptyness . Table salt is used for this. Dissolve one teaspoon in a glass of water and place the seeds there. All empty ones will float to the top in about 30 minutes. You can safely throw them away. In this case, the germination will sink to the bottom.
• Next, treat the seeds with a growth stimulator . This is done with gauze. It is treated with a solution and the seeds are placed in it until they swell. This usually takes two days. All this time, the seeds should be kept in a cool room. After this, the seeds are placed in a warm and well-lit place for a week.

As a result, the seeds will germinate and you can plant them.

Preparing seeds for planting

Often gardeners collect their own zucchini seeds for planting. At the same time, you need to know that freshly collected seeds cannot be planted - as a rule, plants grown from them form only male flowers (barren flowers). For planting, it is better to use two to three year old seeds. Before sowing, they should be pre-prepared. Preparation consists of the following steps:

1. Calibration At this stage, the best (large, full, undamaged) seeds are selected. To do this, they are poured into a jar of water for 20-30 minutes, after which the floating seeds are discarded, and those that have sunk to the bottom are used for sowing.
2. Etching. In order to prevent fungal diseases, the seeds are dipped for 15-20 minutes in a pink solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate), after which they are washed with water.

   In order to prevent fungal diseases, seeds are dipped for 15-20 minutes in a pink solution of potassium permanganate (potassium permanganate), after which they are washed with water.

3. Hardening. Wrapped in damp gauze, the seeds are placed in the refrigerator overnight.
4. Germination (soaking). Place several layers of gauze or toilet paper on a plate, pour in a little water and lay out the seeds. The plate is placed in a plastic bag to create a greenhouse effect and placed in a warm place, for example, on a radiator. As soon as the seeds hatch, they can (and should) be planted.

   As soon as the seeds hatch, they can (and should) be planted

How to plant zucchini in the ground for seedlings: instructions, recommendations

So, planting zucchini seedlings is carried out in special soil. You can buy it ready-made, or you can make it yourself. To do this, one part of sawdust, two parts of turf and six parts of peat need to be mixed. Some mix sand and peat in equal quantities.

Next, pour soil into the selected containers and place the seeds there. Sprinkle them with earth, water them and cover them with glass or film. It is recommended to place the pots on a sunny windowsill to ensure strong seedlings. Until the first shoots appear, try to ensure the room temperature is 18-25 degrees. In about seven days the first shoots will appear.

Lunar calendar for planting zucchini in 2022

Folk sign: zucchini should be planted in the ground with seeds when the cherry blossoms.
Below you will find favorable days in 2022 when to plant zucchini seedlings and in the ground, as well as days when you should not do this. Also, the lunar calendar will help determine the timing of certain works in the garden.

In 2022, unfavorable days fall on the following dates:

• January – 2, 3, 17, 18
• February – 1, 2, 16, 28
• March – 1, 2, 18, 27, 28
• April – 1, 2, 16, 23
• May – 1, 16, 30
• June -14, 18, 29
• July – 13, 14, 28, 29
• August – 11, 12, 27-28
• September: 9-10, 26, 27
• October: 9, 10, 25, 26
• November: 1, 2, 7-9, 24, 25, 28, 29
• December: 7-9, 23-25

How to transplant zucchini seedlings into open ground: instructions

Planting zucchini in open ground after growing seedlings should also be done correctly. First of all, you should not remove the soil from the roots, as this plant does not like unnecessary disturbance. So, be sure to do this together with a lump of earth. Or initially use peat pots for sowing. Then you can plant them in the holes right away with them.

• Before planting seedlings, choose a warm place in the garden and prepare the soil there. It needs to be loosened to a depth of about 10 centimeters. Also, the land is immediately fertilized. To do this, per 1 sq.m. 15 g of ammonium nitrate is added.
• When choosing soil, keep in mind that zucchini does not like acidic soil with a high groundwater level. In addition, the crop reacts poorly to chlorine-containing fertilizers.
• In order for plants to take root well, it is important to adhere to the planting scheme. So, keep a distance of one meter between seedlings.
• Dig small holes in the garden before planting. It is recommended to carry out the procedure in the evening. Then the sun will not burn young plants. In the garden, choose a warm place, but protected from direct sun and drafts.
• Add humus and ash to each hole and mix them with the soil. After this, fill the hole with water and only then lower the seedling into the hole. Sprinkle the roots with soil and trample them down. Place mulch near the roots of the plant.

Barren flower on zucchini - what to do?

Male flowers that are not able to form ovaries are popularly called barren flowers. However, this is not always a problem, because such flowers fertilize female flowers and soon fall off. But sometimes the number of barren flowers significantly exceeds the number of female flowers. In this case, you should pay close attention to your green pets.

The reasons for the occurrence of a large number of barren flowers can be:

• adverse weather conditions;
• acidic soil;
• improper planting or sowing of seeds;
• sowing fresh seeds that are prone to the formation of barren flowers;
• excess nitrogen fertilizers;
• illness;
• insufficient number of pollinating insects.

To cope with unfavorable weather factors, in cold, damp weather, zucchini are covered at night, and the female flowers are pollinated with a brush. In hot weather, pollen grains sometimes completely lose their ability to fertilize. To avoid this, plants are watered with clean warm water and sprayed with a solution of boric acid (2 g per 10 liters of water).

But the most common causes of zucchini infertility are cucumber mosaic virus and powdery mildew. (aphids, ants, Colorado potato beetles) can be carriers of the cucumber mosaic virus It is also important to treat seeds before sowing and be sure to disinfect gardening equipment.

To disinfect instruments, you can use a dark pink solution of potassium permanganate, a 5-10% solution of ferrous sulfate, Farmayod, as well as various alcohol-containing products

To prevent powdery mildew, it is important not to overfeed plants with nitrogen fertilizers. And if signs of the disease appear, you need to promptly remove the affected leaves and spray the zucchini with a suitable fungicide (for example, Topaz).

• Diseases of zucchini in open ground - photos, descriptions, control measures

  We save zucchini from dangerous diseases that lie in wait for plants in unprotected soil.

In order to reduce soil acidity , you can use dolomite flour or ash (0.5 kg per 1 sq.m. - with significantly increased acidity, 0.3 kg - with an average degree of acidity, 0.2 kg - with slightly increased acidity).

• Soil acidity: determine and regulate

  If your soil is highly acidic, this can seriously harm your plants. How do you know when it's time to take action?

How to plant zucchini seeds in open ground: instructions

Planting zucchini seeds in open ground
The second way to plant zucchini is to sow the seeds directly into open ground.

• In order for the first shoots to appear and for them to all be healthy, it is important to observe three conditions regarding water, air and heat.
• Moisture can force a dormant seed to start growing. Water gets inside through the peel and processes begin that create high pressure. Seeds should be planted in the garden already swollen and ready to germinate. That is, you only need to wait for the latter in the case of seedlings. In this situation, it is enough to wait for swelling. The very first thing they will have is a spine. It is fixed in the soil and provides nutrition to the plant.
• For each seed, dig a small hole and pour it well with warm water. 2-3 seeds are placed in it. If they all sprout, then leave the strongest sprout and pinch off the rest.
• Cover the seeds with soil on top and mulch the beds with humus, straw or peat. This will prevent a dense crust from appearing on the kidney. To preserve the seedlings, cover them with film.
• You can also plant it under a bottle. Then it turns out like a greenhouse. To do this, take a plastic bottle and cut off its bottom. A separate structure is installed on each hole. It is not recommended to take bottles less than two liters, as they are too small.

At first, the bottle caps do not come off. This can be done, and even necessary, when the temperature outside reaches +20 degrees. At the same time, it is important to water the zucchini around the containers. After the seedlings grow, begin to gradually harden them. To do this, remove the caps from the bottles at night. And by June the bottles are completely removed. This method is usually used if the crop needs to be planted in the garden ahead of schedule.

Planting zucchini seeds

It is necessary to plant zucchini in open ground with seeds according to the rules, in a special order. This will eliminate the occurrence of annoying errors, as a result of which the harvest will be far from ideal.

Seed preparation

Since zucchini seeds should be planted in open ground, gardeners have no “right to make mistakes.” It is important to properly prepare the seed and ensure its good quality before planting. Otherwise, the time before re-seeding will be wasted.

Preparation procedure:

• First of all, the seeds are calibrated. Get rid of too small ones, as well as those that have mechanical damage. They will not produce good, strong shoots. Seeds with signs of rot, disease, or pest damage should not be allowed to be planted.
• Next, the seed material is heated. To do this, the seeds are placed in the sunniest place and heated for about 10 days, or heated in the oven at 50 degrees for up to 4 hours. This activates the embryo and brings it out of dormancy.
• Seed material is disinfected. To do this, the seeds are soaked in a solution of Fitosporin-M and potassium permanganate. The procedure allows you to get rid of fungal and bacterial infections that may be located on the surface of the seeds.
• The seeds are soaked in a nutrient solution. It can be simply soft, clean water, or with the addition of fertilizers or growth stimulants (Zircon, Epin, HB-101, etc.). Soaking will have a positive effect on the germination rate. The shoots will be friendly and strong.
• Hardening of the seed shows good results. Zucchini seeds are placed in the refrigerator for three days. Such material is more viable and produces more stress-resistant seedlings.

Properly prepared seeds will produce strong, high-quality seedlings in the coming days.

Selecting a location

Zucchini is a light-loving crop. A bright place with shade during the midday hours is selected for it. Do not plant plants in too shady places. In this case, flowering and fruiting will be mediocre.

You can plant zucchini in open ground only in a place protected from the wind. Soil acidity should be at a neutral level. The planting area should not be too wet. Despite the fact that zucchini “loves” water, their root roots quickly rot if there is excess moisture and insufficient aeration, and the plant dies.

The predecessors of zucchini in the garden should not be “close relatives” - cucumbers, melons and pumpkins. You should also not plant zucchini in one place for more than two years. It is better to choose another bed for next year. Otherwise, pests and diseases accumulate and plants quickly become infected. Peas, garlic, tomatoes and potatoes are considered good predecessors of zucchini.

Preparing the bed

Full preparation of the bed should begin long before sowing the seeds - at least 2-3 weeks.

The soil preparation process is similar to other crops:

1. The area under the bed is dug up to a depth of about 0.3 m or deep loosening is carried out. At the same time, all weeds with roots are removed.
2. Mineral complex fertilizers are applied - superphosphate, saltpeter or potassium sulfate, depending on the fertility of the soil. If the soils are depleted, the recommended rate should be slightly increased.
3. Zucchini will respond well to the addition of organic matter - immature compost, humus. The crop can be grown in warm beds, which gives an early start to fruiting and a larger harvest.
4. Before sowing, the bed is loosened again and the remaining weeds are removed again. The soil surface is leveled. You can cover the bed with non-woven material - this will warm up the earth faster.

Holes are made in the prepared bed depending on the chosen planting pattern.

Planting schemes

There are unusual ways to grow zucchini:

• in bags;
• in a barrel;
• in buckets;
• in boxes;
• in plastic bottles.

However, traditional methods are to grow plants in the ground or on a compost heap.

The layout of holes for zucchini differs depending on the type of zucchini being grown - climbing or bush:

• When sowing long-climbing zucchini, the distance between plants should not be less than 1.5 m. The row spacing should be about 2 meters.
• Bush varieties are planted more compactly. About 0.7-0.8 m is left between plants in a row and between rows.

The depth of placement depends on the structure of the soil. If the soil is heavy and clayey, then the depth should be about 3-4 cm. In light soils, the seeds are buried up to 7 cm.

Care after landing

Growing and caring for zucchini in open ground will not cause any trouble even for a novice gardener.

During the season, you will need to carry out a number of simple activities:

• Watering. Since the vegetable is juicy and contains a large proportion of water, the plant requires a sufficient amount of moisture to form a harvest. It is correct to water zucchini exclusively at the root, but on hot, dry days in the evening you can sprinkle the bushes. Each zucchini requires 5 liters once a week until flowering, and during the process of fruiting - 10 liters twice a week. Water for irrigation needs warm, soft. Water carefully so as not to wash out the roots of the plant. Otherwise, the bush is re-hilled.
• Loosening. Zucchini roots are sensitive to the formation of a crust on the soil surface; they quickly rot, leading to the death of the vegetable. Loosening is carried out shallowly, since the roots of the plant are located on the surface and are easily damaged.
• Mulching. To reduce the frequency of watering and loosening, it is recommended to mulch the soil under the zucchini with organic materials - hay, straw. The roots will not suffer from drying out or lack of moisture, and the fruits will not come into contact with the ground and rot. Mulch prevents slugs from damaging the fruit.
• Feeding. The plant spends a lot of effort on ripening the fruits. You should support it by promptly feeding the zucchini with organic matter and mineral compounds. They can be applied when watering, or use foliar feeding - spraying on the leaf. Fertilize the zucchini three times - before flowering, during flowering and when fruiting. Fertilizers must be chlorine-free and complex.

Simple agrotechnical care measures will allow you to grow powerful, healthy plants with long-lasting and abundant fruiting.

Is it possible to plant zucchini and pumpkin next to each other?

Planting zucchini always raises questions, especially if you want to do it next to other crops. Beginners believe that they can be planted together with pumpkins, since zucchini is a type of crop.

Round, thick-skinned pumpkin varieties prefer to grow in light soil. If you plant them on wet clay soil, you risk being left without a harvest. It is important to consider that the pumpkin, due to its too long vines, requires a lot of space. Moreover, there should be frequent watering and fertilizing.

If you decide to place pumpkin and zucchini in the same bed, then be prepared to get an unusual harvest. This occurs due to cross-pollination of crops. The fact is that for the fruit to set, pollen must be transferred from the stamens to the pistils. This is either an independent process, or the wind and insects help with it. Accordingly, when the flowers of zucchini and pumpkin are located next to each other, their flowers are cross-pollinated.

Once pollen from the squash transfers to the squash, the white variety may turn yellow and its flavor may change. The fruits can be safely eaten, but varietal characteristics will not appear. Still, gardeners believe that it is not worth planting these two crops side by side.

Planting methods

There are two methods of planting: seeds and seedlings a. The first method is typical for medium and warm regions, where in mid-May the weather is stable above zero, and the soil does not cool down much even at night.

The second method is suitable for regions with cold climates, where the spring-summer season is not enough for the full development cycle of zucchini. We have to “rush” things and immediately plant ready-made seedlings, often only in greenhouses.

Which is better to plant: seeds or seedlings?

Growing seedlings makes it possible to harvest faster. And if hurry is not the main thing for you, then sowing seeds directly into the soil is much easier and less troublesome.

However, if in a cold climate you have no choice, then only the seedling growing method is suitable.

Is it possible to plant zucchini and squash next to each other?

Squash is one of the varieties of pumpkin that has a plate-shaped appearance. They are not often used for food. Most often, the vegetable is grown for preservation. Patisson prefers loamy, fertile soils. It is also demanding on heat and humidity. It is important to understand that, unlike zucchini, squash lasts longer through the growing season. It is 50 days. It is important to prevent them from outgrowing. Otherwise the crust will become hard.

At the same time, crops feel great in one bed. However, due to cross-pollination, they should not be placed nearby. As a result, when the pollen is mixed, hybrid plants are created and their unique properties will change next year when you plant new seeds from these crops.

Some gardeners plant zucchini, pumpkins and squash in the same bed. They follow each other. This allows you to organize a common drip irrigation system for them.

Pre-sowing preparation

Before planting, you need to carefully prepare not only the seeds or seedlings themselves, but also the place for planting. Particular attention is paid to predecessors and neighbors . Every little detail has to be taken into account, although the zucchini is not capricious, and it is easy to care for.

Selecting a location

The presence of sun is the main condition for the growth of zucchini. But overheating can also become dangerous for this crop. In midday heat (if there is such a thing), the vegetable needs shading. It should also be taken into account that:

• the landing site must be protected from drafts;
• acidic soils are not suitable for zucchini;
• Excess moisture will lead to disease and rotting of the roots.

Attention! Zucchini cannot be planted in soil that has recently been fertilized with chlorine-containing fertilizers!

Where to plant zucchini - in the shade or in the sun

Vegetable crops love plenty of sun. For zucchini, always choose bright places to grow.

But even such a heat-loving plant needs to be shaded during particularly hot times of the day. Otherwise, the shoots and leaves will receive severe burns, the immune system will weaken, and it will be difficult for the plant to resist diseases and pests.

What kind of soil do zucchini like?

Neutral, moist soil is ideal for zucchini . The crop will grow not only on fertile soil, but also on loamy and sandy loam. The soil should not be acidic or waterlogged.

After which you can plant

Ideal predecessors for zucchini are carrots, onions, all greens, cabbage, beets and potatoes.

You should not plant the crop where cucumbers, pumpkins, melons, squash, and watermelons grew before it. These vegetables are related to zucchini, which means they have common pest enemies and the same diseases that can remain in the soil and harm young seedlings.

Good and bad neighbors

For friendship in the zucchini garden, the following are suitable: corn, sunflower, beans, peas, radishes.

But it is better to avoid proximity to strawberries, tomatoes, cauliflower and broccoli.

Preparing the bed

It is advisable to prepare the area for planting in advance, preferably in the fall. And if in the spring, then a month before planting.

The selected bed is dug up in the fall with mineral fertilizers, following the instructions. When digging, add potassium sulfate, ammonium nitrate and superphosphate. In spring, it is best to use compost or humus for fertilizer.

What to put in the hole when planting

Fertilizing depends on the type of soil:

• For loam, compost and superphosphate are suitable.
• Sandy soil needs organic matter: compost, humus, bird droppings.
• Ash and humus are added to the black soil.

How to make a warm zucchini bed

It is recommended to plant this heat-loving vegetable in warm compost beds . The fermentation process created will raise the soil temperature. Below are two ways to create warm beds.

First way:

1. In summer, grass clippings are collected and dried.
2. In the spring, it is watered with Baikal M-1.
3. Place the mixture into the well.
4. Cover with soil and plant seeds or seedlings.

Is it possible to plant zucchini and cucumbers in the same bed?

Zucchini
Planting zucchini and cucumbers in the same bed is not the best idea, despite the fact that they are similar to each other. Their incompatibility is due to the fact that, again, cross-pollination will occur. In addition, zucchini spreads roots underground, which does not allow cucumbers to receive normal nutrition. And one more factor - too much pollen appears on female flowers and fruit set is incorrect. As a result, crops bear less fruit and lose their appearance.

If your area is too limited, then separate the cucumbers and zucchini with beans. Legumes will prevent pollen from mixing.

But in one greenhouse, zucchini and cucumbers can get along. Both crops like moisture and warmth. However, it is recommended to choose self-pollinating varieties for co-location in order to prevent cross-pollination. Divide the crops into zones and provide separate watering.

Selecting a location

For zucchini, it is advisable to choose open, well-lit areas, not shaded by buildings, fences, large trees, but also not blown by cold winds. The soil for zucchini should be soft, airy, easily absorbing moisture, but not retaining it.

It is acceptable that in the beds where zucchini bushes are expected to grow, potatoes, legumes, tomatoes, onions, green crops, beets or carrots were previously grown, but not pumpkins.

“Relatives” of zucchini deplete the soil, drawing out from it exactly those nutrients that they need, and at the same time contribute to the attraction and accumulation of common pathogenic microorganisms and pests in the soil. Therefore, pumpkin plants can be planted in the same place only after 3 years have passed.

Also, you should not place cucumbers and pumpkins next to zucchini so that they do not cross-pollinate, as well as watermelons and melons, which have the same nutritional needs and are susceptible to the same diseases.

Is it possible to plant zucchini next to tomatoes?

As to whether it is possible to plant zucchini next to tomatoes, opinions are usually divided. These two cultures are representatives of different families. Moreover, they have different pests. Tomatoes require frequent watering and plenty of sunlight, and the soil must be loose. Tomatoes are capable of stretching upward, it all depends on the chosen variety.

Still, they will be quite crowded together. Vegetables require space and light. They will feel best in neighboring beds. The aroma from tomato stems will repel pests. It will turn out to be an advantageous neighborhood.

Predecessors and neighbors of zucchini

Alternating planting of different crops in one bed is the key to high yields. After all, every vegetable crop “pulls” the microelements it needs from the soil. If you put a “relative” in her place, the latter simply won’t have enough of them.

Zucchini belongs to the nightshade family . This is a type of pumpkin with powerful stems, large leaves, and oblong (sometimes round) fruits.

It is not recommended to plant zucchini in open ground immediately after cucumbers, pumpkins, watermelons, and melons . They belong to the same family, cross-pollination is possible.

Protecting zucchini from the wind - corn

Good predecessors are onions, carrots, legumes, and green manure . These are natural fertilizers, which include alfalfa, mustard, rapeseed, sunflower, and barley.

If the plot is small and you plan to grow several crops on it at once, you need to take care of their compatibility. The best neighbors for zucchini are lettuce, beets, onions, legumes, and white cabbage. It is better to plant sunflowers and corn between the rows and on the sides of the beds. These plants will protect the zucchini from the wind with their leaves and stems. It is recommended to plant flowers (marigolds, nasturtium, calendula) as neighbors. They repel phytophages with their smell.

Is it possible to plant zucchini and onions in the same bed?

Onions are found in every garden. Culture is extremely beneficial for health. At the same time, it is very easy to grow due to its undemanding nature. And besides, planting zucchini with it in the same bed is quite advisable.

Onions will protect them from pests and diseases. It contains a lot of phytoncides, which pests are afraid of.

When the zucchini bushes become large, they will shade the feathers of the onions. But he manages to collect enough nutrients before they grow. The only disadvantage of such a neighborhood is the tendency to be affected by powdery mildew. To avoid this, treat crops with fungicides, apply phosphorus-potassium fertilizers and place plants in accordance with the standards.

Soil preparation

The land for planting zucchini is prepared in advance, in the fall. It is dug up to a depth of no less than 30 cm, simultaneously adding mineral fertilizers and organic matter to each m2:

• on chernozems - a mixture of 2 kg of sawdust, 30 g of superphosphate, 60 g of ash;
• on loams - 2 kg of peat, sawdust and humus, 1 tbsp. l. superphosphate and ash;
• on sandy loams - 4 kg of humus, sawdust, peat, 30 g of superphosphate and ash;
• on peat bogs - 2 kg of compost or humus, 2 tbsp. l. ash, 1 tsp. potassium sulfate and superphosphate.

Then the ground is leveled with a rake and watered with a solution of complex fertilizers “Agricola-2” or “Rossa” (1 tablespoon per 10 liters of heated water).

In addition to the autumn preparation of the soil for zucchini, the spring filling of the beds with fertilizers is also carried out, for which in the spring the soil is dug up again and 15 g of saltpeter is added to it for each m2. If the soil in the selected area is acidic, then it is limed with ash or lime (the doses of these fertilizers depend on the degree of acidity of the soil, so they need to be calculated based on this indicator).

How to care for zucchini in the garden beds: recommendations

Planting zucchini in the ground is not all. They require proper care to ensure a large and tasty harvest.

So, caring for the culture is as follows:

• When the seedlings reach five centimeters in height, it is useful to mulch the soil around the plants. To do this, you can use rotted sawdust and non-acidic peat.
• Zucchini always needs watering. The crop is very demanding of moisture. Water as the top layer of soil in the garden dries out. It is difficult to say what the frequency will be in this case, because it largely depends on the weather. On average it takes 7-10 days. Don't overdo it because this can cause the tip of the fruit to rot. It is also important to consider that the water should be warm, about 22 degrees, so that the ovaries do not rot. In this case, a week before harvesting the fruits, watering stops completely.
• If you placed several seeds in one hole, then do not forget about thinning. Your task is to leave one of the strongest plants.
• If you grow zucchini in a greenhouse or hotbed, ventilate it regularly to remove excess moisture.
• When the zucchini has 4-5 true leaves, it’s time to spud the bushes. This will allow the lateral roots to grow better.
• Periodically loosen the soil around the plantings to prevent the formation of an earthen crust.
• To get maximum yield, attract pollinating insects to your site. To do this, treat the crops with a solution of a mixture of 100 g of sugar, 2 g of boric acid and 10 liters of water. As an option, plant marigolds near the zucchini.

Zucchini care

Zucchini, although they are unpretentious plants, require systematic care.

Five components of a successful harvest:

1. regular watering;
2. loosening the soil;
3. weed removal;
4. feeding;
5. pest and disease control.

Hilling

When the fourth leaf forms on the sprouts, hilling is necessary. As a result, the plants will begin to form lateral roots. Removing weeds is important when the zucchini is still small. When large leaves grow, the weeds simply will not survive under them.

Loosening

Loosening the soil plays a big role. Air and moisture must reach the roots of the plants. If the soil tends to form a crust, it must be constantly broken up and loosened. Otherwise it will slow down the growth of plants.

It is better to remove large side leaves; this will allow the sun to reach the core, which will have a positive effect on the yield.

Watering

Watering plays an important role. Its deficiency or excess affects the harvest. The beginning of watering coincides with the appearance of sprouts. If seedlings are planted, watering begins as soon as they take root. Water the plants early in the morning or in the evening, when there is no heat. The water temperature should be +22-25 degrees.

Do not water zucchini with cold water. With such watering, young, just formed fruits will rot. The water heats up during the day and by evening it is ready for irrigation.

Water the zucchini strictly at the root, without touching the leaves. Check to see if the roots are exposed. If this happens, cover them with humus mixed with peat. Watering is carried out until the ovaries of flowers once a week, in a volume of five liters per square meter, and then, when the fruits are formed, twice with ten liters of water. Ten days before the end of harvesting, watering is stopped.

Top dressing

Zucchini also needs fertilizing. She shares:

• root;
• foliar.

Root feeding is carried out three times during the entire growth of zucchini.

1. It is carried out at the beginning of growth, before flowering. Two tablespoons of Rossa fertilizer or half a kilogram of mullein and one tablespoon of nitrophoska are dissolved in 10 liters of water. Water the plants with the mixture at the rate of a liter of mixture per bush.
2. It is carried out during the flowering period. Dilute two tablespoons of wood ash and Effekton per 10 liters of water. Water also one liter per plant.
3. It is necessary to carry out when the fruits are ripe. Dilute two tablespoons of “Effecton O” and ash in 10 liters of water. Water two liters of the mixture per plant.

Foliar feeding is carried out in the form of spraying plants. They are carried out when the leaves are fully formed and covered with cuticle, otherwise they can cause burns. For spraying, take 10 g of the drug “Bud” or 1 tablespoon of liquid “Rossa” per 10 liters of water. The consumption of the product should be two liters per 10 square meters. meters.

Diseases of zucchini and their pests

Zucchini is an unpretentious plant, but it is also susceptible to some diseases. Most often he is struck by:

• powdery mildew;
• black mold;
• bacteriosis;
• white rot or sclerotinia;
• anthracnose

Powdery mildew covers the leaves and all stems with a gray coating with a white coating. The leaves dry out quickly, the zucchini becomes deformed and no longer grows. The disease develops with fluctuations in temperature and humidity.

Black mold appears as round, rusty spots on leaves that cause them to dry out. Zucchini stops growing and shrinks.

Bacteriosis manifests itself in the form of oily spots on their leaves, which darken and the leaves are destroyed. The fruits themselves become covered with spots and ulcers.

White rot envelops the fruit in a white coating, making the fruit soft and slippery, then black bumps appear and the plant dries out.

Anthracnose is expressed as yellow and brown spots on the plant. When they dry, they turn into holes. The leaves begin to curl and the fruits dry out. The entire bush dies.

The most common are anthracnose and white rot. Bordeaux mixture helps with anthracnose. Prevention by maintaining normal soil moisture will help prevent white rot.

Pests of zucchini are melon aphids and slugs. For melon aphids, zucchini will have to be treated with insecticides such as Karbofos, Phosfamide, and Komandor. Slugs are collected by hand.

Fertilizers for zucchini seedlings

When transplanting seedlings, while preparing the holes, a mixture of humus and compost is added under each bush in a 1:1 ratio. This is especially important to do on heavy clay soils.

If in the spring, when preparing the beds, fertilizer was not previously applied, then the soil is enriched at the time of transplanting the seedlings. 10 g of granulated superphosphate mixed with 200 g of humus is poured into the bottom of the hole. This fertilizing accelerates fruiting and increases productivity.

The following shows two feedings:

1. During the flowering period, phosphorus-nitrogen-potassium fertilizers are applied.
2. During the fruiting period, mineral complexes with a low nitrogen content.

Important: zucchini does not tolerate chlorine, so fertilizers are always selected without this component. Otherwise, the plant may die.

Fertilizing can be done using folk remedies .

• 10 days after transplanting to a permanent place, the strengthened bushes are watered with herbal infusion. To do this, keep finely chopped nettle and dandelion greens in a container for a week, after which the resulting product is diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10 and poured a liter under the root of each plant.
• Before flowering, plants are watered with mullein infusion. To do this, 1 part of manure is diluted with 5 parts of water and infused for two weeks, after which it is diluted in a ratio of 1:10 and watered over the zucchini.
• During flowering, water with an infusion of wood ash, which is considered a source of potassium. To do this, dissolve 2 liters of ash in a bucket of water and leave for 24 hours. Water without additional dilution.

Important: all fertilizing is carried out only in cloudy weather to prevent leaf burn.

Distance between zucchini when planting

Planting seedlings in the ground

Zucchini love space; large areas should be left for them. Each bush requires at least 0.8 square meters of land. Form beds of arbitrary length, 80-90 cm wide. Spaces of one and a half meters are made between the rows of bushes.

More than 3 zucchini should not grow on one square meter at a distance of at least 60 cm from each other, otherwise you should not expect a good harvest.

Ways to grow zucchini

Zucchini is planted with seeds and seedlings. Each gardener can choose the planting method to his liking. The only difference between them is in the timing of fruit ripening; seedlings produce a harvest 2 weeks earlier.

Seedlings

Zucchini seedlings
Growing seedlings and caring for them begins with rejecting the seeds . They are filled with cold water and the floating specimens are removed. Viable seeds are poured with hot water, left for 5 hours, then placed in cold water for 5 minutes. This is necessary for hardening.

Next, the seeds are laid out on a damp cloth and left in a room with a temperature of 25°C. It is better to take non-woven fabric, since the roots get tangled in the gauze and can be broken.

As soon as the whitish roots hatch, a separate container is prepared for each seed. Joint planting and picking are not recommended for zucchini, as they have very fragile roots. It is better to plant each seed in a plastic cup or peat pot. The latter option is preferable, since there is no need to remove the seedlings; they are planted together with the pot.

Before planting zucchini seedlings for open ground, you need to prepare the soil: a mixture of 1 part compost, 2 parts ash, 5 parts peat and 2 parts sawdust. It is disinfected with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Plant the seeds 2-3 cm deep. The containers are covered with bags and left on a warm and bright windowsill at an average temperature of 24°C. After 5 days, the first shoots will appear.

Seedlings in peat pots

After emergence of seedlings, the temperature should be lowered to 20 or even 15 degrees. It is best to plant seedlings on the south side of the apartment. She needs good and long-lasting lighting. If the days are gloomy, you need to additionally illuminate the plants with special lamps, otherwise the sprouts will stretch out and become thinner.

Water each plant with 100 ml of warm water as the soil dries. Pots with soil for zucchini seedlings must have a drainage system, otherwise the water will stagnate and the roots will rot.

Seedlings are fertilized twice . The first time 10 minutes after emergence. For feeding, preparations are used to stimulate plant development, for example Bud. Per liter of water you will need 2 grams. Or use a urea solution.

another 10 days, re-feeding is carried out . Nitrophoska and ash are dissolved in a liter of water (half a teaspoon of each fertilizer). Fertilizing in an amount of no more than 20 ml is applied to each plant after watering. If you do this before watering, a large amount of microelements in the fertilizer will simply burn the roots.

Zucchini in open ground

Before planting zucchini seedlings in open ground, they must be hardened off. To do this, a week before the intended transplantation, the plants begin to be left near an open window and taken out into the air. Seedlings are considered ready for planting in open ground 20-25 days after germination. It should have 2 true leaves. But the moment of transplantation also depends on weather conditions. If the plants have reached the age of 3 weeks, but it is cold outside, you should postpone replanting. But there’s no point in delaying it either. The maximum age of seedlings should not exceed 30 days.

Zucchini is planted in calm, cloudy weather, preferably in the late afternoon , so that it can settle into its new location overnight.

First, the soil in the cups is thoroughly soaked. This way the seedling will quickly and easily come out with a lump of earth and the roots will remain intact. The holes should be spacious so that the root system can freely settle there in a straightened form. A spoonful of superphosphate, ash and 100 grams of humus is added to each hole. Water with warm water. Take a plant with a lump of earth, plant it in the middle of the hole, cover it with soil up to the real leaves and lightly press it with your hands. If the temperature is expected to drop, it is better to cover the young zucchini with bottles or film.

Sowing seeds in the ground

Planting zucchini seeds directly into open ground requires less cost than growing seedlings. To begin with, the seeds are selected. You can put them in a glass of water. Hollow ones will float, seeds with embryos will sink to the bottom. Selected seeds are left for half an hour in growth stimulants (Ekosila, Zircon), laid out on a damp cloth in a room with a temperature of more than +23 degrees. After 2-3 days, thin white roots will appear. Treatment with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or a special agent, for example, Fundazol, will help prevent the appearance of fungal infections.

Many zucchini seeds are already released prepared for planting in open ground. They are in a special fertilizer capsule. Such seeds can be sown. But some distrustful farmers place them on a damp cloth to be more sure.

Planting a sprouted squash seed in the ground

It is also necessary to calculate the percentage of seed germination. To do this, place 10 seeds in a container with moistened sawdust (the percentage of this amount is easier to calculate) and leave in a warm place. After a couple of days, count the number of roots that appear. The more of them appear, the more viable and fruitful the zucchini will be.

For zucchini, dig holes and pour warm water into each to moisten the soil. 2-3 seeds into each hole . If both germinate, then the more powerful one is left and the weaker one is pinched out. Under optimal conditions, zucchini will germinate quickly, even if they are planted in the ground with their roots facing up. But it is correct to plant the seed with the sharp tip down and the blunt tip up (leaves will appear from them). You can place the seeds on their side or on their edges.

Seeds are planted in heavy soil to a depth of no more than 5 cm , in light soil - 5-6 cm . After 5-6 days, sprouts will appear. After this, the beds are immediately mulched with peat and sawdust. Mulch prevents the soil from drying out.