Tatyana Panasenko Decided to try a new variety
Growing hybrids involves the absence of your own seeds, which is not very convenient. And then I decided to try the Iskander F1 variety of zucchini. Reviews about it were very good. There were only 5 seeds in the bag - just enough for testing, but generally not enough.
I planted them along with other seeds directly into the garden bed. Everyone has ascended! Neat bushes quickly formed and fruit set. The variety amazed me with its harvest.
Plant seedlings or seeds in open ground
| Zucchini Iskander | |
| general characteristics | Early ripening |
| Keeping quality (safety in storage) | High |
| Purpose | Suitable for fresh and processed consumption |
| Fruit weight | up to 500g |
| Disease resistance | High |
Zucchini Iskander - photo and description of the variety:
- Iskander is a hybrid of Dutch selection (lat. Cucurbita pepo L.). The bush is compact, 1.2 m in diameter, without lashes, and takes up little space. The green leaves are large, hard, dissected with pronounced spotting. The flowers are yellow-orange in color, female and male, and require pollination by insects. The variety is early ripening and produces the first harvest 30-45 days after planting.
- The fruits are cylindrical, light, with a glossy surface. The skin is thin, smooth, with pronounced speckles of a dark color. A distinctive feature of hybrid zucchini is that it does not overgrow, maintaining the tenderness of the pulp. The pulp is dense, white, juicy. The taste is excellent. The average weight of zucchini is 500-600 g, the length reaches 18-25 cm. The yield from one bush is 15-17 kg. Fruiting is long lasting. Suitable for fresh and processed consumption.
- The Iskander hybrid is resistant to anthracnose and powdery mildew. Can be grown in greenhouses, film shelters and open ground. Seeds are not formed in the pulp, maintaining its tenderness. Shows good fruit set at low temperatures.
The author notes the precocity and excellent taste of Iskander. At the same time, noting its high yield even in cold and rainy summer conditions:
Characteristics of the variety
Iskander F1 is a first generation parthenocarpic hybrid. Produces fruits without pollination, but only in the first year. The seeds in them are either absent or non-viable - it is impossible to grow crops from them. The plant of this variety is hardy and immune to diseases. Capable of setting fruit at relatively low temperatures - up to +10˚С, the crop can be grown in regions with cool, short summers. A sharp cold snap and frequent rains do not affect the fruiting of Iskander squash. Suitable for planting in open ground and growing in a greenhouse. The optimal climatic conditions for the full development and growth of the Iskander variety of zucchini are warm, sunny weather at +21–26˚С and humidity 70–80%. Despite its resistance to stress, cold temperatures below +5 ˚С are undesirable for it. Young shoots die even from short-term frosts.
Productivity
Despite the small size of the bush, one plant of the Iskander variety produces on average about 20 kg of fruit. Characterized by a long fruiting period, the harvest can be harvested before the first frost. To avoid deformation of the fruit, the bush must be tied up. Iskander zucchini should be cut 1-2 times a week; timely harvesting of fruits promotes the formation of new ovaries, which increases productivity. Keeping the fruits on the bush for a longer period of time leads to their overripening and leads to the fact that the plant devotes all its energy to providing ripened zucchini to the detriment of new ones. For long-term storage, the fruits of the plant are collected in a state of biological ripeness, preventing them from freezing.
Area of application of fruits
Iskander F1 is a universal variety of zucchini, suitable for preparing salads, juices, and hot dishes. Goes well with animal and poultry meat, cheese, other vegetables, and sauces. Young greens can be eaten fresh. The vegetable has excellent canning properties - it is used for preparations for the winter. Zucchini Iskander F1 is low-calorie, therefore recommended for dietary nutrition. 100 g of fresh product contains only 24 kcal.
Important! The vegetable can be included in children’s diets without fear – you can start introducing zucchini puree into complementary foods from the age of six months.
Resistance to diseases and pests
The hybrid variety Iskander F1 has high resistance to viral and fungal diseases characteristic of zucchini: anthracnose, cucumber mosaic, powdery mildew, white rot. Prevention measures are:
- compliance with crop rotation rules;
- watering with warm water;
- hilling and loosening;
- use of foliar fertilizers;
- reducing the number of waterings;
- removal of weeds and dead plants;
- spraying with soap solution.
Insects harm Iskander squash in the same way as other varieties. The main pests are melon aphids, whiteflies, spider mites and sprout flies. They easily occur in dense plantings due to irregular weeding. To repel insects, plants are dusted with ash or tobacco dust. Zucchini is treated with insecticides: “Karbofos”, “Fufonon”, “Konfidor”, “Fosbetsid”. Affected plants are removed and burned.
In order to protect the plant from slugs, you should mulch the bed with straw. It will also protect the fruits from rotting in case of excess moisture during heavy rains.
Diseases and pests
| Ascochyta blight Affects all parts of zucchini. Ways to fight:
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| Bacteriosis The fruits spoil and the yield decreases. Ways to fight:
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| Fusarium wilt All parts of the plant are affected, the root being affected first. Ways to fight:
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Recommendations for caring for Iskander zucchini
After the plants have taken root, you definitely need to look through the beds and weed where necessary. Weak, ungerminated sprouts are removed along with the weeds.
Regular loosening of the soil is mandatory
to provide air to the root system. Until the growing season, regular watering is required.
After the growth and development of the plant has begun, it is worth watering periodically.
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Be sure to take into account weather conditions, which are different in all regions of our large country.
Important!
The most common mistake is watering the plant under the root during hot periods. In this case, it is worth making a small furrow along the planted zucchini and filling it with moisture.
Why don't they bear fruit?
- The seeds were collected independently from hybrid varieties . Seeds from hybrid plants do not inherit the genetic characteristics of the parent, so they can be barren flowers
- Thickened plantings. If you plant zucchini too often, then during the growth period they begin to compete for nutrition and moisture, which leads to complete depletion of the crop and the absence of ovaries.
- Diseases and pests can cause damage to the crop. If you neglect the treatment of seeds, soil and plants, this leads to a decrease in immunity and, as a result, a lack of harvest.
Advantages and disadvantages
Productivity is the main characteristic of the zucchini variety, because of which gardeners and gardeners choose it. The fertility of the Iskander hybrid is 500 centners per hectare higher than that of the popular species Gribovsky 37. The more often the fruits are harvested, the more ovaries are formed.
The plant maintains productivity in drought and light frosts. With slight temperature changes, the crop does not shed its ovaries. The fruiting period is very long, until the first frost. Insulation will help extend the period.
Zucchini variety Iskander has a high germination rate. The seeds hatch quickly without soaking or treatment with stimulants. If agricultural practices are followed, plants do not need to be sprayed with fungicides. The culture develops quickly and does not get sick in cold weather or cloudy weather.
High price is the main disadvantage of the Iskander zucchini variety. The cost of a hybrid is often 15-20% higher than that of its analogues. In order not to scare away gardeners, the manufacturer equalizes the amount by reducing the seed in the pack. There are only 5 seeds in the package.
Iskander zucchini has a simple taste, without any frills. This is rarely indicated in the description of the variety. In shape and color, the fruits look like ordinary (standard) hybrids. The light green skin and white-cream flesh will not become a bright detail of the dish.
Reviews from gardeners
Mikhail, Voronezh
Zucchini, unlike cucumber, is not a fancy plant, although they are from the same family. Perhaps because zucchini is a more powerful vegetable. It enjoys well-deserved love among gardeners. The harvest is generous, the calorie content is low, and there are countless dishes that have been invented.
It so happened that in the spring of 2016, my wife bought additional seeds to add to the existing ones. So we ended up with a bag of Iskander F1 zucchini. In the photo, as always, there are “heroes”. But what about?! Advertising does its job.
Source: otzovik.com
Stalker, Lugansk
Every gardener wants to get full results at minimal cost. An option to get a lot of tasty and healthy zucchini is to plant an early hybrid Iskander F1.
Source: otzovik.com
Features of planting and care
Iskander zucchini seeds can be planted as seedlings in a greenhouse or directly in open ground. They need to be soaked for a day in the preparation – seed growth stimulator “Ecogel”, “Epin-extra”, “Zircon”. Then wrap in a damp cloth. After the first shoots appear, place in the soil. Seeds or seedlings are planted in open ground in April-May when it is warmed up to + 12 °C. Before planting, peat, manure, humus, and ash are added to the soil. If groundwater is close, the beds for the Iskander F1 variety must be increased. It should also be taken into account that tall tops will shade low-growing plants, so zucchini should be planted to the north of them and to the south - in relation to trees, buildings, bushes and fences.
When sowing seedlings, you can get an extra-early harvest - 3-4 weeks ahead of schedule. But these fruits will be completely unsuitable for long-term storage, unlike seeds sown directly into the soil.
To grow the Iskander variety, you should choose a well-lit, sunny, wind-protected area with light sandy loam or loamy soil of low acidity. If the soil is heavy, sand and sawdust should be added to it; the acidity is reduced by adding dolomite flour. An area of 1 square meter should be allocated for one zucchini bush. m, planting pattern - 150 x 70 cm. After rooting the plant, the soil should be loosened regularly and watered abundantly once every 3-4 days. Insufficient watering leads to the appearance of bitterness in the fruits of the vegetable.
The Iskander zucchini bush should be fed with potassium and complex chlorine-free fertilizers 2–3 times during the growing season. Pumpkin crops are undesirable predecessors due to the consumption of the same nutrients from the soil, as well as the risk of damage by common diseases and pests.
Important! It is good to plant zucchini after legumes, root vegetables, leafy vegetables and herbs.
Zucchini "Spaghetti Family": photo and description of the variety
Zucchini "Spaghetti Family" is the originator of the agro variety. Approved for use in the third - Central region. It ripens in the middle period, is a spaghetti-type plant, semi-climbing, with medium leaf blades, often green in color, with a strong dissection. The shape of the zucchini is elliptical, when young it has a whitish color, when ripe it is light green, with noticeable spotting, very short with a large diameter. The density of the pulp of the variety is high, it is very juicy, fibrous with a low sugar content. The weight of the zucchini is 1.6 kg. Tasters rate the taste as good. Inside the fruit are medium-sized, milky-white, elliptical-shaped seeds. Productivity reaches 975 centners per hectare.
Note! The number of varieties and hybrids of zucchini for different regions of Russia and countries with similar climatic conditions significantly exceeds the figure of 200. And it is impossible to describe them even for one region
We have listed the best varieties and hybrids of zucchini, according to reviews from gardeners, and those varieties and hybrids that I grow in my garden.
Negro
Early ripening high-yielding variety. The fruits are elongated-cylindrical and black-green in color. The pulp is green, juicy, very tasty. Zucchini variety Negritenok is resistant to powdery mildew. The bush is compact and produces many female flowers. The purpose is universal.
| Purpose | Productivity (kg per 1 sq.m.) | Fruit weight (kg) | Ripening (days from emergence) | Peculiarities |
| up to 10 kg | 0,7-0,9 | 38-43 | Powdery mildew resistance | |
Gribovsky 37
This mid-early variety of zucchini is unpretentious to growing conditions and resistant to many diseases. The fruits are cylindrical, white or light green. The pulp is white, medium density. For good growth and abundant fruiting, plants require proper care. The fruits of zucchini variety Gribovsky 37 can be eaten fresh and used for preservation.
| Purpose | Productivity (kg per 1 sq.m.) | Fruit weight (kg) | Ripening (days from emergence) | Peculiarities |
| up to 8.5 | 0,7-1,3 | 45-50 | Resistance to low temperatures | |
How to sow?
Iskander's seeds are milky in color and elongated. The core is hidden under a hard shell. If dark or yellow spots appear on the shell, then such material is discarded.
Additionally, the seeds are kept in water to determine their quality. Only those that have sunk to the bottom of the container are suitable for sowing.
The manufacturer usually indicates on the packaging what manipulations were performed with the seed. Seeds can be treated with an antiseptic and a growth biostimulator. In this case, they only need to be germinated. They ripen in a damp cloth for 3 days.
They are left at room temperature during the day and put in the refrigerator at night. The seeds immediately get used to temperature changes. It will be easier for them to adapt to open garden beds.
Gardeners recommend re-treating the seed with a 1% solution of potassium permanganate or keeping them in an ash solution. You can awaken the seeds with melt water or Epin solution. Take 2.5 ml of the drug per 5 liters of water. These events will awaken the seeds and launch metabolic processes in the core:
- sowing is carried out in soft, loose soil. Make wide holes. The manufacturer must indicate the sowing scheme. For Iskander variety zucchini, the diameter of the hole is 60 cm. A distance of 60-70 cm is left between the beds;
- in the center, use a scoop to make a hole 5-6 cm deep;
- put 2-3 seeds in it. If seedlings appear from all the seeds, then it is necessary to transplant the seedlings into separate beds;
- After sowing, the seeds ripen under the film. The soil is ventilated daily;
- Water the holes as needed. If the soil is wet, then additional watering can cause waterlogging.
The first watering can be done after 3-5 days. Use irrigation from a spray bottle. Instead of water, you can prepare a solution of humates or the Zdraven preparation. The following use of these products is permissible only before the appearance of inflorescences. The temperature of the irrigation liquid is 20 C.
The first shoots from germinated seeds appear after 7-10 days, from non-germinated material after 10-14 days.
The film is removed, but if by this time the air has not warmed up to 20-25 C, it often rains, and there may be frosts at night, then it is better to provide a film tunnel for the seeds. You can sow seeds in the greenhouse at any time. The main thing is to maintain a certain microclimate for them.
Preparing and germinating seeds
If you want to get guaranteed quality fruits of the Iskander variety, then it is best to purchase seeds from sellers with a proven reputation: farms or specialized stores. In this case, seed calibration is not performed.
After 24-48 hours, the seeds hatch and roots appear. By this time, the bed should already be prepared, since a delay will lead to rapid growth and tangling of the roots.
To grow in seedlings, gardeners use the “snail” planting method:
- Take a backing for the laminate with a width equal to the width of toilet paper and a length of 60-80 cm;
- A double layer of toilet paper is placed on it, which is soaked in a solution of a growth stimulator;
- Seeds are placed on toilet paper at a distance of 0.5 cm from the edge of the strip with the sharp end inward. A gap of 5-7 cm is left between the seeds;
- A double layer of toilet paper is placed on top again, which should become wet from the first layer. If this does not happen, this layer is also thoroughly moistened with the stimulating liquid;
- Then the entire structure is carefully, without squeezing, rolled into a roll, secured with an elastic band and placed in a transparent polyethylene bucket so that the seeds are at the top of the roll;
- You can place several of these “snails” in a bucket, then you don’t need to secure them with anything. And if you cover the bucket with a lid and place it on the window, a greenhouse effect is created, and after 3-4 days there will be ready-made seedlings in the bucket without much labor.
Seedling method
Planting seeds in disposable cups is carried out in the second ten days of April. The containers are filled with loose nutritious soil. Garden soil should be mixed with sand, compost or last year's manure in a ratio of 5:1:1.
Indentations (2-3 cm) are made in the cups, then seeds are placed in them. They are sprinkled with soil and watered with warm, settled water. One plant consumes 0.5 liters of water.
Features of caring for seedlings
Caring for crops is as follows:
- Until the seeds germinate, the crops are covered and left in a warm, sunny place, ensuring a stable temperature within 20-25 °C. After the sprouts hatch through the soil, the temperature is lowered to 15-20 °C during the day and to 12-15 °C at night. In such conditions, the sprouts are kept for 5 days. Then the temperature is raised to 18-23 °C during the daytime, and at night it is lowered to 14-17 °C. This temperature regime is maintained until the plants are transplanted into the garden bed.
- The sprouts should be watered regularly and only with warm, settled water. For 7-8 plants, 1 liter of water is consumed, the frequency of watering is once every 5 days.
- As soon as the first shoots appear, which happens after about a week, the crops are fed with a urea solution (0.5 tsp of the substance per 1 liter of water). 200 ml of working solution is used per plant. A week later, another feeding is done using nitrophoska (1 teaspoon of the substance is dissolved in 1 liter of water). A glass of liquid fertilizer is poured under one seedling.
If these conditions are provided, a person will be able to obtain strong and healthy seedlings for further cultivation in open ground.
Transplanting to a garden bed
The plant can be replanted when the third leaf appears
Plants are transplanted into the garden bed at the stage of the appearance of the third leaf. This procedure is performed at the end of May or at the beginning of June. For planting, it is better to use a steam bed or heap.
In a fertilized and loosened area, the holes are placed at a distance of 60 cm from each other, watered with warm water and the sprouted seedlings are lowered into them to a depth of 2-3 cm. Then the plants are sprinkled with earth, pressed lightly and watered again.
To plant seedlings on the site earlier (in early or mid-April), you should build a shelter from a metal frame and film in advance. At night, the crops are covered with material.
Harm and benefit
Iskander zucchini has a rich chemical composition; it contains vitamins B, A, H, C, as well as microelements. This low-calorie product, when consumed regularly, can cleanse the body, remove salts, and reduce cholesterol levels. It also has a beneficial effect on the functioning of the heart. If everything is in moderation, then Iskander zucchini will not cause any harm.
Cavili F1
Zucchini Cavili F1 is an ultra-early hybrid: the first fruits appear at the end of June. Fruiting lasts several months, until the end of September. When unfavorable weather conditions occur, Kavili F1 continues to bear fruit, because it begins to exhibit parthenocarpic properties: fruit formation occurs without pollination.
The plant is bushy, compact. The leaves are small or medium in size, heavily dissected. There are whitish spots throughout the leaf blade.
The fruits are light green in color, with a thin peel, and a regular cylindrical shape. At the stage of technical maturity, their length reaches 20-22 cm.
The pulp of the fruit is white, tender and juicy. Suitable for food not only after heat treatment, but also fresh. Even overripe specimens retain their high taste qualities.
Kavili F1 is easy to care for and resistant to powdery mildew.
| Purpose | Productivity (kg per 1 sq.m.) | Fruit weight (kg) | Ripening (days from emergence) | Peculiarities |
| 7-9 | 0,3-0,35 | 40-45 | Resistant to powdery mildew | |
Black handsome
Black beauty is an early-ripening variety of zucchini and begins to bear fruit in June. Due to the long fruiting period, harvesting occurs over several months and ends only in September.
The plant is bushy, compact, densely leafy. The leaves are large, heavily dissected, covered with white spots.
The fruits have an elongated cylindrical shape, slightly ribbed at the base. Their length varies from 17 to 22 cm.
The surface of the fruit is dark green (almost black), shiny, without spots. The peel is dense and elastic. The pulp is also dense, but tender and juicy, light green in color. The taste is very pleasant, delicate, especially in young zucchini. They are often added to salads fresh, without heat treatment.
The fruits of the Black Beauty are characterized by good keeping quality and transportability.
The variety is resistant to serious diseases such as powdery mildew and anthracnose.
| Purpose | Productivity (kg per 1 sq.m.) | Fruit weight (kg) | Ripening (days from emergence) | Peculiarities |
| Up to 10 kg | 0,8-1,7 | 45-50 | Resistant to powdery mildew and anthracnose | |
Belogor F1
Early maturing hybrid for universal use. It grows as a compact bush and is characterized by high productivity. The fruits are cylindrical, greenish-white in color with a smooth surface. The pulp is white and unsweetened. These zucchini are best suited for preparing vegetable stews, soups and other dishes.
| Purpose | Productivity (kg per 1 sq.m.) | Fruit weight (kg) | Ripening (days from emergence) | Peculiarities |
| 15-17 | 0,5-1 | 34-57 | Requirements for heat, light and moisture | |
