Content
White-fruited varieties of zucchini are the most popular in cultivation. They are unpretentious in care, have different ripening periods, produce large yields and are universal in use. White-fruited zucchini is also an ideal choice for those who appear at their summer cottages only on weekends. The period of fruit ripening from the appearance of the first ovary is no more than 15 days, so after harvesting the crop and watering the plant well, you can safely leave it until your next visit to the site.
How to choose a variety of white-fruited squash
A significant part of the planting material on store shelves are white-fruited varieties of zucchini. If you have been gardening for a long time, then most likely you are storing seeds from previous harvests. For those who want to try themselves in the agricultural field for the first time, making a choice will not be easy.
The first thing you need to determine is in what conditions the zucchini will grow. If you have built a greenhouse or are going to plant seedlings under greenhouse film, it is better to choose planting material of self-pollinating hybrids.In addition to the fact that these plants do not require the presence of insects, they are quite hardy and strong, as they are bred from the best, already well-established varieties.
For planting in open ground, use insect-pollinated varieties of seeds of domestic selection. Be sure to decide in which side of the garden the white-fruited squash will grow. Since the crop is classified as early ripening, late vegetables - peppers or eggplants - can be planted in its place.
Rules for calibrating and preparing seeds for sowing
White-fruited zucchini is grown in two ways:
- Sowing seeds in open ground (for southern regions with early warm spring);
- Growing seedlings in greenhouse conditions.
Both methods require preliminary calibration and disinfection of planting material. But the first stage is sorting the grains. In order to identify hollow seeds, all planting material is sent to a 1% solution of table salt. Those grains that remain at the bottom of the container are suitable for sowing; it is better to get rid of the rest immediately.
Disinfection
In order for the plant to be resistant to fungal diseases, it must be hardened off. To do this, the planting material is kept in hot water for at least 6 hours. It is necessary to constantly add water, since throughout the procedure its temperature should be within 45-500C. Then the seeds are transferred to cool water and rinsed in it for 2-3 minutes.
Etching
Today there are a large number of drugs available for sale against fungal infections of white-fruited squash. These are such as Alirina-B and Fitosporin-M. The concentration of the solution for treating planting material is indicated on the packaging. Seeds must be kept at room temperature for up to 10-16 hours.
Hardening
After the white zucchini seeds have undergone the soaking procedure, they need to be hardened. To do this, for 3-4 days they are alternately placed in different temperature conditions. During the day, planting material is kept at room temperature, and at night (for 10-12 hours) it is placed in the refrigerator.
Before sowing, the seeds of white-fruited squash are kept in Zykron or Elin solutions. These fertilizers activate rapid germination and have a positive effect on the endurance of seedlings.
Pecking
White-fruited zucchini will produce large and early harvests if you speed up the time of seed hatching and stimulate the growth of the first shoot. To do this, selected and disinfected planting material is soaked for a day in water at room temperature, and then laid out on a damp cotton rag. Sprouts are considered suitable for planting if their length is at least 5-7 mm.
All these measures for preparing planting material before sowing are effective for the further growth and productivity of white-fruited eggplant.
Substrates and mixtures for seedlings
Sowing of pecked seeds for the southern regions of Russia and the non-chernozem zone is carried out at the end of April, and by the 20th of May the zucchini seedlings are transferred to a greenhouse or film greenhouse. If you decide to sow planting material directly into open ground, do it in early June, but only after you are reliably informed that the threat of frost has passed.
The mixture for seedlings is prepared in the following options:
- The turf soil is mixed with compost in a 1:1 ratio, then another part of the humus is added to the contents. To a bucket of such a substrate for sowing white-fruited squash, you need to add 100 grams of ash and 15 grams of any potash fertilizer with superphosphate;
- Turf soil is mixed with peat, humus and rotted sawdust in a ratio of 1:5:3:1, respectively. Add up to 8 grams of ammonium nitrate and 8-10 grams of superphosphate to a bucket of prepared substrate;
- Sand is mixed with peat in a 1:1 ratio.
If you do not have enough knowledge on preparing the soil for growing white-fruited squash seedlings, or do not have enough time to do this, purchase a ready-made universal substrate for replanting home flowers at a flower shop. It is quite suitable for obtaining strong and hardy seedlings.
Growing seedlings
Seedlings are sown in planting containers or special peat pots, and then covered with plastic wrap for 7-10 days. When sowing, take into account the fact that white-fruited squash does not tolerate replanting very well, so try not to plant more than 2 hatched seeds in one container. In the future, as they grow, observe which of the seedlings is stronger and stronger, and leave it for seedlings.
Pots with seedlings must be placed in a well-lit place and kept at a temperature of at least 200C. Watering white-fruited squash seedlings is carried out regularly, as the top layer of soil dries out.
Feeding seedlings
While the seedlings are growing, they need to be fed several times. The first fertilizers are introduced into the substrate a week after sowing the planting material, the second - another week later. As a rule, this is quite enough to provide zucchini seedlings with rapid germination and make them strong.
Fertilizers are prepared in such a way that 100 ml of solution is poured into each planting container for the first time, and 200 ml for the second time.
Here are several options for preparing fertilizers that have proven themselves when growing seedlings of white-fruited zucchini:
- For 1 liter of settled water, take 1 teaspoon of wood ash and nitrophoska. Everything is thoroughly stirred and filtered;
- 10 grams are diluted in a bucket of water potassium sulfate and ammonium nitrate and 30 grams of superphosphate;
- In a bucket of water, mix a solution of mullein or bird droppings with the addition of 30 grams of superphosphate.
In addition, experienced gardeners recommend using fermented weeds. This mixture can be prepared at home by dissolving 1 part herbal starter in 4 parts settled water. From 100 to 150 ml of solution is poured into each planting container.
As soon as white-fruited squash seedlings gave 4-5 leaves and became strong enough, it is transferred to a greenhouse or open ground. Seedlings are planted only in warm soil with an optimal air temperature of at least 200WITH.
During the first week, water thoroughly and, if possible, cover the seedlings with film so that the young plants take root.Almost all varieties of white-fruited zucchini are early ripening and have fast ripening periods and a fairly long growing season.
The best varieties
Beloplodny
The variety is early ripening and high-yielding. It is grown in greenhouses, greenhouses and open ground. Since Beloplodny is a bush variety, it is quite compact. One square meter can accommodate up to 2 plants. The seedlings are transferred to the ground when the threat of frost disappears. The plant is well adapted to viral and fungal diseases, but the best yields are obtained if the zucchini grows in light, slightly alkaline or neutral soil.
A distinctive feature of cultivation is that the Beloplodny variety likes to grow in areas with active crop rotation. By planting it after potatoes or tomatoes, you can achieve not only rapid germination, but also excellent taste. The fruit is evenly cylindrical in shape, the average size is up to 20 cm, and the weight during the ripening period can reach 300-350 g. Resistant to powdery mildew and fusarium. The planting density per 1 hectare is up to 20 thousand plants.
Aral F1
An early white-fruited hybrid with a ripening period of 35-40 days. Designed for growing in film greenhouses and open ground. Moreover, in open ground conditions, with short breaks, it can produce several harvests. The fruits are small - during the ripening period they do not grow more than 15-17 cm. The weight of one white-fruited zucchini is from 250 to 400 grams.
Distinctive features - the hybrid is insect-pollinated, therefore, when grown in greenhouses, it requires regular opening of sections for pollination. Up to 15-20 kg of zucchini are harvested from one bush per season. The planting density per 1 hectare is up to 15 thousand plants. Resistant to powdery mildew, yellow and watermelon mosaic.
F1 itself
High-yielding early-ripening hybrid of a white-fruited variety. Designed for cultivation in open ground, greenhouses and greenhouses. The first fruits can be harvested already 30-35 days after the seed hatches. The variety is insect-pollinated and produces large yields in the second rotation - early and mid-summer. It is highly resistant to temperature changes, high humidity and dry weather, and tolerates high air temperatures well.
On average, up to 16 kg of zucchini is harvested from one bush during the growing season. The fruit grows up to 18-20 cm in length and has an average weight of up to 500 grams. Immune to viral diseases, watermelon and yellow mosaic. No more than 14 thousand plants are planted on one hectare.
Conclusion
The number of varieties of white-fruited zucchini is increasing every season. And this is quite justified - breeders pay attention to the fact that these zucchini have a delicate, slightly sweet taste, are universal in use and do not require special care. And the high yield makes it possible to harvest them for the winter in large quantities.
For more information about growing white-fruited zucchini, watch the video:
