Zebra zucchini: description of the variety, photos, reviews.

Zucchini takes pride of place among vegetables in the beds of many gardeners. This popularity is due to the unpretentiousness of cultivation, as well as a large number of useful properties.

There are many varieties, hybrids and varieties of zucchini, but despite all this diversity and wealth of choice, there are a number of key indicators by which vegetable growers evaluate a particular type. Among the main criteria are:

good yield;
resistance to temperature fluctuations and lack of attachment to a specific temperature regime;
taste qualities;
storage conditions and periods.

One of the varieties that is ideal for all the above indicators is Zebra zucchini.

Description of zebra zucchini

The zucchini variety Zebra is a member of the zucchini family. Early ripeness is determined by the minimum number of days from the appearance of the first shoots to the receipt of fully ripened material and is 35–40 days. The zebra is compact in size. The bush is weakly branched and does not require much space or light to grow. The main shoot is short. The foliage is green in color, medium to large in size, slightly dissected in shape. The type of flowering on the bush is female; male flowers are quite rare.

The main advantage of Zebra zucchini is its productivity. The average fruiting rate is 15 kg of fruits per bush. Today, the Zebra variety occupies a leading position in terms of productivity.

Another equally important advantage of zucchini is its cold resistance. The crop can be safely grown in northern regions where summers are cold and short.

Vegetables are self-pollinating plants. But in cases of poor pollination, it is necessary to spray the flowers with sweet water to attract bees. In greenhouses it is worth carrying out artificial pollination. To do this, pollen from male flowers is transferred to female flowers using cotton wool.

Attention! Zebra zucchini is bred by seed or by seedlings, depending on the climatic characteristics of the growing area.

Description of fruits

The fruit has a regular cylindrical shape. The surface is smooth, slightly ribbed with a small seed nest. The length of the zucchini is 15–20 cm. The skin is thin but dense. Thanks to this, it tolerates transportation well. Even long trips are not scary for Zebra zucchini - they will withstand export shipments.

The pulp is juicy, white with a yellowish tint. Its taste is slightly sweet. From the photo you can see that the name Zebra zucchini was not given in vain. The fruits are colored with dark green and light green longitudinal stripes, and uneven spotting is also present.

As a rule, zucchini is picked unripe, weighing about 500–600 g. But the weight of a biologically ripe fruit is 0.8–1.2 kg. Zebra produces the first harvest within 40–45 days after sowing the seeds.

Rules of agricultural technology

To get the harvest earlier, you should plant the plants in seedlings, however, direct planting in the ground will give excellent results, but a little later.

Planting seeds

To speed up the emergence of seedlings, the seeds are soaked in a damp cloth for a while and placed in a warm place. Already after 8-10 hours, sprouts appear on the seeds.
To plant hatched seeds, it is necessary to prepare soil with a high nutrient content. If you use the seedling method, then two or three seeds are planted in each container, followed by the removal of the weakest plants.
If your task is to plant seeds in open ground, then holes are prepared at a distance of 70 cm from each other.
The holes are spilled with warm water, and after it is completely absorbed, 2-3 seeds are placed to a depth of no more than 4-5 cm. The same must be done with seedling containers.
In open ground, plantings are covered with film, this is necessary in case of return frosts. If you use the seedling method, then it is better to place the containers closer to the battery and cover them with plastic film until the sprouts appear.

Further care for zucchini in open ground

So, the zucchini has successfully sprouted and already has four true leaves. The return frosts have passed and now it is necessary to provide the plants with proper care in order to harvest the first fruits as early as possible.

In order for the ovaries to form faster, you should remove several leaves that grow from the center of the bush when it has developed sufficiently. This artificial technique will allow pollinating insects to quickly find flowers and do their productive work.

Yellow-fruited zucchini are very demanding on soil moisture, so you will have to water them once a week, based on three liters for each bush. If the weather is hot and no rain is expected, it is worth increasing watering to three times a week.

Fertilizing is an important part of agricultural technology, since this type of vegetable loves organic additives. Making them won't be difficult. Place grass, mullein or chicken droppings in a bucket of water and leave the contents covered for 5-6 days. Through this result, you will get an excellent natural organic fertilizer, a real delicacy for all vegetables, including zucchini. The mixture should be diluted in the following proportion: 1 liter per bucket of warm water. Fertilizers are applied three times per season:

before the flowering period;
during flowering;
during fruit set.

The harvest is harvested as the zucchini grows; it must be said that they grow very intensively, but since the fruits do not outgrow, you don’t have to worry about their quality. If you want to get yellow fruits throughout the summer, you can plant zucchini in periods, the first one is the earliest, then the seeds are planted in early June, then the fruits will ripen by August, early September. This way, you can enjoy the tasty and healthy vegetable for a long period.

Characteristics of the variety

Zebra zucchini is rich in minerals and vitamins. It contains:

vitamins of group PP, C, A;
folic acid;
natural sugars;
a large amount of liquid.

Thanks to its rich composition, zucchini is able to remove toxins and harmful substances from the body, reduce the risk of cancer, and have a diuretic effect. The good digestibility of the vegetable prevents the occurrence of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. Zebra zucchini is optimal for diabetic, dietary and baby food.

Productivity

The total yield indicators, subject to all required agrotechnical measures, are about 10–12 kg per 1 sq. m. From one bush you can collect up to 30 zucchini per season.

Despite the small size of the bushes, it is necessary to maintain the distance between plants for full development. The norm for planting density is 70x70 cm. With this placement, the bush will be freely blown with air and illuminated by the sun. As the distance between crops decreases, fruiting decreases accordingly. In greenhouse conditions, while saving space, vegetable crops are planted according to a 40x50cm pattern.

Attention! Zebra squash is grown mainly in the Central Black Earth region. The variety is not popular in the rest of the country, despite its original color.

Area of application of fruits

The pulp of Zebra squash has a delicate structure, and zucchini is also valued for its good taste characteristics. In cooking they are used to make pancakes, caviar, and jam. Vegetables are grilled and prepared into side dishes and stuffed dishes. This is an indispensable product for lovers of healthy eating.

Zucchini is also a raw material for the canning industry. There are no categorical contraindications for eating Zebra zucchini.

Resistance to diseases and pests

The Zebra variety tolerates sudden temperature changes and cold snaps well. But it is not immune to fungal diseases. The main problems that harm zucchini are powdery mildew, downy mildew, anthracnose, and gray mold.

Signs of infectious diseases on zucchini:

the presence of round spots on the leaves;
the appearance of a white coating;
black dots on leaf blades, flowers, stems;
white spots with a gray coating;
burned areas, with a gradual increase in the affected area.

If such symptoms appear in seedlings, they must be removed. Adult bushes are treated according to the instructions with Bordeaux mixture, colloidal sulfur, and systemic fungicides.

Aphids and spider mites can cause diseases in zucchini. They feed on the sap of the plant - as a result, the development of the bush noticeably deteriorates. If measures are not taken in time, the vegetable crop may die. The most effective way to combat pests is to treat the shoots with Aktelik, Fitoverm, and Fufanon. If the Zebra zucchini is slightly damaged, you can use folk remedies.

Attention! To avoid negative consequences, preventive measures should be taken. Alternate crops when planting, collect dry leaves in a timely manner, destroy affected parts of the bush, and ventilate greenhouses.

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Zebra zucchini has a number of advantages over other zucchini:

high percentage of fruiting;
early ripeness;
cold resistance;
compactness of the bush;
possibility of cultivation in closed and open ground;
storage duration;
versatility;
low calorie;
transportability.

The disadvantage of this variety of zucchini is its low resistance to diseases.

Diseases and pests

Zebra zucchini are quite resistant to low temperatures, but they are not protected from various diseases. Most often, the plant is damaged by powdery mildew, gray rot and anthracnose. Such problems can be recognized by spots and holes on the leaves. But they can also damage the fruits themselves: infection appears in the form of a gray or white coating. If these symptoms were noticed on seedlings, they will have to be destroyed. If the disease has spread to a large bush, it must be treated with colloidal sulfur or Bordeaux mixture.

Anthracnose
The bush may suddenly stop growing due to insects. Most often, aphids or spider mites can be seen on zucchini, drinking the juice from the plant. As soon as bugs are noticed on the back of the leaves or stem, the vegetable must be treated. The insecticides Aktelik, Fitoverm and Fufanon are suitable for this.

In order not to lose the entire Zebra harvest, it is necessary to inspect the plants frequently. Particular care should be taken to check the lower part of the leaves, stems and the side of the fruit that touches the ground. Yellowed and damaged elements of the bush must be removed. Also, do not forget about preventive measures: change the place for planting a certain vegetable every year and do not pour too much water.

Features of planting and care

No special conditions are required when growing Zebra zucchini. But in order to achieve rapid growth and abundant fruiting, judging by the reviews of gardeners, Zebra zucchini must be properly cultivated.

Zucchini of this variety is grown in open or closed ground.
Various climatic features force you to pay attention to the time and method of planting. In the Urals and Siberia, it is recommended to plant Zebra zucchini in the form of seedlings or in greenhouses. In the Moscow region, sowing should be done after the end of spring frosts. In the southern regions, planting in open ground begins at the end of April.
Vegetables are planted on black soil and sandy loam soils, moderately fertilized. If the soil is poor, then it should be fertilized with any organic fertilizers in the fall.
The predecessors of zucchini on the site should be potatoes, onions, cabbage, beets, and annual herbs.
Abundant watering is needed at the time of flowering and formation of ovaries. Moisten the plant about once a week with warm water.
It is important to avoid getting moisture on the leaves.
A week before harvesting the first harvest, you should stop watering - this will make Zebra squash more tasty.
After moistening, it is necessary to loosen the soil and remove weeds.
It is advisable to carry out water procedures in the morning and evening.
For greenhouse zucchini, a high level of air humidity should be maintained. Important! Abundant watering provokes excessive accumulation of moisture in vegetables, thereby reducing shelf life.
Zebra zucchini requires feeding twice a season. The first feeding is when the plant has 4-5 leaves, the second is during flowering.
Zucchini responds well to mullein infusions, bird droppings, wood ash solutions, compost, and superphosphate.
If there are a lot of leaves on the zucchini bush and they interfere with pollination, then they should be removed. This will ensure that bees have access to the flowers. Yellow foliage is also removed.
The most suitable temperature for growing Zebra zucchini is considered to be +22–24°C.
It is recommended to harvest every 2-3 days.

Growing zucchini with seeds and seedlings

There are two ways to grow zucchini: sowing seeds directly into the ground in a permanent place and sowing seeds for seedlings. The plant is a heat-loving crop, so the timing of sowing and planting seedlings in the OG is different in each region, but more on that later.

When sowing seeds in open ground, it is necessary to prepare the seed material. To do this, seeds are lightly germinated on gauze or cotton wool. You can do without this and sow them directly into the ground. However, it is best to germinate. This method gives the summer resident confidence that all the sown seeds will sprout. Read also the article: → “Five ways to grow zucchini.”

When growing seedlings, you need to prepare deep containers; 0.5 liter cups are best. The seeds are sown into the ground to a depth of 1.5-2 cm. After five days, shoots appear. As soon as the first true leaf blooms, the seedlings can be transferred to a permanent place in the ground.

Growing zucchini can be either seedlings or non-seedlings.

When sowing seeds in beds, it is necessary to distribute them correctly. For sowing, prepare holes 2-3 cm deep; 2 unsprouted or 1 sprouted seeds are placed in each hole. To increase productivity and to protect the plant from diseases, it is necessary to change the planting location of zucchini annually.