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The first zucchini were grown as ornamental plants - they have beautiful carved leaves, long vines with large yellow flowers. The plant itself belongs to the same species as African vines and exotic orchids. Later, people began to dry the seeds of ripe fruits and use them for food. And just a few centuries ago they thought of eating the whole fruit. Zucchini turned out to be not only very tasty, but also an extremely healthy vegetable, especially for children and people who need a diet.
To date, more than 150 have been created varieties of zucchini, they all have their own characteristics. There are colored fruits, striped, round and pear-shaped, fruits with an extraordinary taste and interesting properties. This article will describe all these varieties, but special attention will be paid to small varieties of zucchini - bush plants.
Bush zucchini
Initially, the zucchini grew in vines that trailed along the ground. Such crops are still grown, and there are many varieties of climbing plants. But Most of all, summer residents and gardeners love bush varieties - they are compact and do not take up much space.
In tight spaces and gardens bush squash considered the best solution. And yet the bushes of this vegetable are not so small - no more than one plant should be planted on one square meter of land.
This is the only way to provide the zucchini with enough heat, light, nutrients and moisture. Bushes planted at such intervals will be well ventilated, which means they will not become infected with fungus and mold.
Zucchini care
As a rule, zucchini are unpretentious plants. All they need is sun and water. But to get a good harvest, it is better to pay more attention to the plants:
- plant at the end of May, when a constant temperature is not lower than 18 degrees;
- plant seedlings to get an early and abundant harvest;
- grow in greenhouses and greenhouses if the air temperature in the region is low;
- water frequently and abundantly; it is better to use warm, settled water for this purpose;
- fertilize and dig up the ground before planting, lime the soil, loosen;
- choose areas with loose soil;
- Harvest on time, preventing fruit from overripening;
- climbing varieties tie on trellises so that the plant is ventilated and does not rot;
- choose areas on the sunny side, with deep groundwater.
This is the only way to get high yields, which will be enough not only for canning and cooking, but also for sale.
Hybrid zucchini
For that to get as many small zucchini as possible, the fruits need to be picked while they are young. Vegetables ripen very quickly - they increase in size, the peel hardens, and many large seeds appear.All this spoils not only the presentation of the vegetable, but also its taste.
Hybrid varieties are characterized by rapid ripening and the fact that zucchini does not outgrow for a long time. That is, even with irregular harvesting, the harvest of young fruits will be the same.
This is great for summer cottages whose owner cannot come every day. Hybrid zucchini you can pick on the weekend, and the fruits will be just as small and tender.
Among other things, all hybrid varieties are very productive - up to 16 kg of vegetables can be harvested from one bush. They are resistant to low temperatures, and some even to frost.. Therefore, it is possible to plant hybrid zucchini not only in the south, but also in Siberia.
Another quality of hybrids is disease resistance. Good breeding companies treat the seeds of their production against pests and most diseases characteristic of this vegetable.
"Iskander"
The most famous and most productive hybrid variety is Iskander. This plant was bred by Dutch breeders. With proper care, you can harvest about 17 kg of zucchini from one hybrid bush.
The fruits do not overripe - they retain their small size and delicate peel and pulp for a long time. Zucchini of this variety has soft green or beige color, oblong shape and smooth surface. There are practically no seeds inside the fruit, which makes its pulp very tender and tasty.
The Iskander hybrid ripens very quickly - already on the 40th day after sowing the seeds, you can harvest the first fruits - small zucchini, weighing up to 0.5 kg. The culture withstands any climate and pest attacks, and is resistant to many diseases.
"Genovese"
The zucchini that Italian breeders bred specifically for their Mediterranean climate is the Genovese hybrid.Domestic scientists have adapted the variety to the climate of central Russia - it can be grown not only in a greenhouse, but also in a garden bed.
The hybrid is very early - the first vegetables can be tasted already on the 35th day after planting in the soil. The fruits have an excellent taste and small size; they retain their delicate pulp and skin for a long time.
Among other merits, the hybrid produces high yields and firmly resists diseases of humid climates - powdery mildew and bacteriosis.
"White Bush"
Another early hybrid bred by Danish breeders is the White Bush squash. You can enjoy the first fruits already on the 40th day after planting the seeds in the ground.
Zucchini has an excellent presentation - smooth surface, regular cylindrical shape, light green color. More mature vegetables acquire a white skin color.
The zucchini pulp is tender, creamy in color, and has an unusual sweetish taste. The plant is disease resistant and tolerates the local climate well.
Yellow zucchini
Many housewives prefer white or greenish tints to ordinary zucchini. yellow fruit. Varieties that produce a golden harvest are distinguished by good keeping quality and excellent taste.
They have a slightly sweet taste and are suitable for fresh consumption, preparing salads and side dishes, and for canning. After pickling, the zucchini retains its bright yellow hue, which looks very beautiful.
"Yasmin"
Japanese breeders developed this very early hybrid variety. “Yasmin” is also a high-yielding zucchini - up to 14 kg of vegetables can be harvested from one bush.
The fruits grow large - their maturity occurs at a length of 25 cm. The most interesting thing about this zucchini is the golden color of the peel.The flesh also has a yellow tint. It has a sweetish taste due to its high content of carotene, the same beneficial substance that carrots are rich in.
The plant is resistant to high humidity and can be grown in a greenhouse or in a garden bed. Zucchini is not afraid of rot and mold. Another plus is long-term fruiting. Fresh vegetables can be collected within two months - new ovaries will appear on the plant very often.
"Golda"
Another early ripening hybrid is “Golda”. These zucchini have a bright orange skin and creamy flesh. The hybrid tastes sweetish and contains a lot of sugar and carotene.
The fruits are very large - their weight reaches 3 kg and their length is 0.5 meters. With such sizes, the high taste characteristics are not lost - the zucchini remains just as tender and juicy.
For salads and fresh consumption, it is still better to pick young fruits before their length reaches 30 cm.
The plant produces good yields (which is not surprising given the size of the fruit), is well transported and is stored for a long time. All this allows you to grow the variety for sale, and not just for your own use.
"Gold Rush"
The Dutch version of yellow-fruited zucchini is the hybrid "Gold Rush". The plant is early ripening - the first vegetables can be eaten already on the 40th day after planting the seeds.
Zucchini grows small, their weight reaches only 150-180 grams. But externally the fruits are very attractive - they have a smooth peel with an orange color. Their flesh is cream-colored, slightly sweet and very tasty.
"Yellowfruited"
The pride of domestic breeders is the “Yellowfruited” zucchini.Zucchini grows large - young vegetables reach a weight of 0.7 kg, but even overripe 2-kg zucchini remains just as tasty and tender.
The peel of the vegetable is glossy, smooth, and has a bright orange color. A distinctive feature of the variety is its long fruiting period - fresh zucchini can be picked throughout the season, the plant bears fruit for about three months.
Round zucchini
Round-shaped zucchini are very interesting - they can have different colors and different sizes. Such fruits can decorate any summer cottage, because their appearance is quite exotic.
The taste of such zucchini is no worse than ordinary, cylindrical fruits. A The round shape allows you to use vegetables in various culinary experiments - for baking, stuffing, marinades.
One of the uses of round zucchini is in arts and crafts. Here the fruits are used to make various vases, vessels and other souvenirs.
Almost all varieties of round zucchini are perfectly adapted to the Russian climate - they can be planted both in a greenhouse and in open ground. Such crops do not require any special care - they only need watering and fertilizers.
"Ball"
Zucchini of the “Ball” variety can easily be confused with a regular pumpkin - they are round and striped. The skin is green in color and the flesh is creamy in color.
The taste qualities of round zucchini are very high - they are tender and juicy fruits with pulp without large seeds. The “ball” grows up to 0.5 kg, retaining all its taste.
Most often, young fruits are used in cooking; they are picked when the weight reaches only 100 grams. These “balls” are easy to stuff, and you can even marinate them whole – this dish looks very presentable.
"F1 Festival"
The hybrid is one of the most unusual varieties - it is often used as a decorative species, decorating summer cottages and country houses.
The fruits grow small - up to 0.6 kg. They have a round shape, similar to a decorative pumpkin. The color of the zucchini is very bright and variegated - there are alternating stripes of yellow, green, black and white.
Zucchini isn't just something to look at - it's quite tasty. They are marinated, baked and stuffed.
"Orange F1"
Another very interesting variety is round zucchini “Orange F1”. The fruits look like tiny pumpkins - they are bright orange in color and round in shape. The weight of such zucchini rarely reaches 200 grams - they are quite small.
Exotic-looking zucchini is quite suitable for consumption; in addition, it is very healthy and rich in microelements and carotene.
The fruits can be salted, pickled, stewed, baked and stuffed.
The best domestic varieties
Which varieties can be called the best? For some, the color and shape of the zucchini are important, others are interested in the timing of its ripening, while others want to spend less time gardening and choose the most unpretentious crops. But probably For every owner, the most important thing is the yield of zucchini, because there should be enough vegetables for the entire hot period and preservation.
The persistence of plants is also very important, especially in the domestic climate. Zucchini should tolerate heat, cold, drought, and high humidity well.. The plant must resist disease and not attract insects and other pests.
"Anchor"
One of these universal varieties is the “Anchor” zucchini. This variety can be planted simply in the ground, and zucchini is an early ripening plant and produces its first fruits already on the 40th day after planting the seeds.
The fruits have a soft green hue, a smooth surface and a cylindrical shape. The weight of a mature zucchini reaches 1 kg, and its shape becomes slightly rounded.
The fruits of this variety tolerate not only transportation, but also long-term storage - all useful substances and microelements will remain in them for a month.
The pulp is very tasty and aromatic, rich in vitamins. “Anchor” zucchini can be stewed, fried, pickled, baked and canned - the variety is universal and tasty in any form.
It is necessary to pay great attention to caring for the plant - the variety does not tolerate diseases very well, it needs timely watering and regular loosening of the soil. But with proper care, you can easily get up to 7 kg of zucchini from each bush.
"Zebra"
Zebra squash is an extremely early variety - the first vegetables appear already on the 35th day after planting the seeds. But this is not all the achievements of the variety. In addition, zucchini has an interesting color - they are decorated with light green and dark green stripes.
The variety is also high-yielding; predominantly female flowers appear on the plant and bear fruit. Zebra bushes are very compact; they can be grown in greenhouses, hotbeds, and garden beds.
Another advantage is resistance to cold, which allows this variety of zucchini to be planted in any region of Russia.
How to get small zucchini
All zucchini can be picked young; they have the same taste and composition as technically mature vegetables. Small zucchini can be stuffed, baked and pickled whole. They look beautiful in jars and on a plate.
There are varieties of zucchini that have medium-sized fruits, which, even when overripe, rarely reach 25 cm in length. The smallest zucchini can be found among the round varieties, among them there are fruits weighing up to 180 grams.
