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Zucchini is a dietary product; it is not only tasty, but also very healthy. This vegetable is grown all over the world - from Latin America to Europe. Zucchini is quite unpretentious; it loves warm climates and sun. In Russia, a few decades ago, only white-fruited varieties were grown, but today there are green, black, yellow, and even striped zucchini, adapted to the local climate.
Zucchini of any variety can be picked while still green, while their skin is thin and the pulp has no seeds. Large, mature vegetables are used for canning, preparing caviar, and also for long-term storage.
How to plant zucchini
To ensure a happy harvest of vegetables, they need to be planted correctly. Most varieties of zucchini are easy to care for and can grow under any circumstances.. Of course, lack of care will have a bad effect on the crop’s yield, but at least a few fruits on the bush will still grow.
Following simple rules will help increase productivity:
- Zucchini seeds must be treated against pests and diseases, so it is better to buy material from a trusted manufacturer.
- If the seeds were collected with your own hands from last year’s harvest, they need to be warmed and disinfected before planting.
- To plant zucchini, choose a sunny area, protected from the wind.
- Zucchini loves loose and nutritious soil. Clay soils must be loosened with sand, sawdust or peat.
- The ground for zucchini needs to be dug up and fertilized with mineral fertilizer (mullein, urea).
- Zucchini is planted either by seeds or seedlings. Seedlings are sown in cups two weeks before planting in the ground.
- Zucchini grows well both in greenhouses and in beds.
- It is better to make the beds high - zucchini is afraid of rot, the plant should be well ventilated and away from groundwater.
- During the entire growing season, zucchini must be fertilized at least twice.
- For pollination, zucchini needs insects; if there are no bees on the site, it is better to choose a parthenocarpic hybrid.
- Water the zucchini every 7-10 days, pouring about a bucket of water onto each bush. Water for irrigation should be warm.
- Due to the short ripening period, it is not recommended to treat zucchini with insecticides and antimicrobials.
- You need to pick the fruits in the morning without watering them the day before. Otherwise, the zucchini may rot.
All these rules will help you reap a good harvest. Even in a small area you can grow a sufficient amount of these vegetables, because up to 17 kg of zucchini are harvested from one bush.
The most productive varieties
For most gardeners, the most interesting varieties are productive varieties, these are, first of all, hybrids. It is hybrid zucchini that is famous for its high yields, and also for its resistance to disease and cold.
For a good harvest, the size of ripe vegetables is also important - the more each zucchini weighs, the higher the yield of the entire plant.
"Aeronaut"
The hybrid variety of zucchini "Aeronaut" belongs to the zucchini subspecies. This vegetable has a dark peel, cylindrical shape, smooth surface with small light dots.
The plant is an early ripening plant - the first zucchini ripens by the 46th day after sowing the seeds. The hybrid can be planted both in a greenhouse and in a garden bed - it is not afraid of temperature fluctuations and low night temperatures.
This zucchini variety is considered one of the most popular, as it provides high productivity. The quality of the fruit is high - the peel is thin, the pulp is juicy without seeds. Zucchini tolerates transportation and storage well and is suitable for growing for sale.
The bushes of the hybrid "Aeronaut" are compact, without lashes. This allows you to grow zucchini in small summer cottages and in temporary greenhouses. The plant is not resistant to powdery mildew, so it is necessary to ensure constant loosening of the soil and ventilation of the bushes.
With good care, up to 7 kg of zucchini can be harvested from each hybrid bush, the weight of which often reaches 1300 grams.
"White"
This variety is ultra-early ripening - after all, the first zucchini can be picked already on the 35th day after sowing the seeds in the soil.
The crop is unpretentious and productive; no special conditions need to be created for this plant. It can be grown in any area, in greenhouses and greenhouses. The plant is resistant to diseases and viruses.
Zucchini grows large - weighing up to 1000 grams. They have an oval, oblong shape and a white peel. The flesh of the vegetable is tender, creamy in color. The “White” variety has high taste characteristics and low sugar content.Therefore, zucchini is suitable for preparing baby purees and dietary dishes.
Another quality is suitability for long-term storage. The fruits can be left for the winter; they can last until spring.
"Belogor F1"
One of the most productive zucchini is the Belogor F1 hybrid. It must be grown only in open ground. The plant is excellent for small gardens and summer cottages - the bushes are very compact and do not contain side shoots. But they have many ovaries with predominantly female inflorescences.
The fruits grow large - up to 1000 grams in weight. Their skin is thin, white, without inclusions or spots. The shape of the zucchini is elongated, cylindrical. The pulp has a creamy color and delicate taste. The fruits contain a large proportion of dry matter, and such vegetables are suitable for any purpose.
Zucchini "Belogor F1" can be stewed, canned, used for salads, pickled, etc. They are also useful for allergy sufferers and those on a diet - they are low in sugar and fiber.
The first vegetables can be removed from the bush already on the 37th day after planting in the ground. From each square meter of soil you can get up to 15.5 kg of fresh zucchini without making any special effort.
"Waterfall"
An early hybrid variety that produces the first fruits on the 43rd day after planting the seeds in the soil. The plant is bushy, with one central vine. The variety is suitable for growing for sale - it gives a good yield (about 40 tons per hectare), is unpretentious in care, and is hardened against powdery mildew and viruses.
The fruits are medium in size - their weight reaches 600 grams. The shape of the zucchini is cylindrical, the color of the peel is dark green. The pulp is white, seedless, tender and sweet.
Zucchini is great for canning and preparing various dishes.
"Cavili"
One of the best hybrids is “Cavili”. Refers to early crops with a long fruiting period - the harvest can be harvested up to 60 days.
The bushes of this variety are compact and have many ovaries. In bad climatic conditions (rains, strong winds, low temperatures), when there are no pollinating insects, the plant can do without pollination - the parthenocarpic properties of this zucchini are activated.
Usually the fruits are picked young, when their length does not exceed 20 cm, but more mature zucchini have excellent taste. The fruits are light green in color, have a very regular shape and thin skin.
The hybrid is intended for growing zucchini for commercial purposes - the vegetable has a good presentation, easily tolerates transportation and long-term storage.
The plant loves fertile soils and is resistant to powdery mildew.
"Lenutsa"
The Lenutsa hybrid, developed by domestic breeders, bears fruit better in warm regions of the country. The plant is bushy, with one central shoot, early - the first vegetables can be eaten on the 40th day after planting the seeds.
The fruits are smooth, with small ribs, and have a white tint. The mass of zucchini reaches 600 grams. The fruits contain a lot of sugar and vitamin C. They are used for preparing a wide variety of dishes, including canning.
The plant is resistant to powdery mildew and bacteriosis and can be grown in greenhouses and open ground.
The yield of the hybrid reaches 40 tons per hectare of land.
"Negro"
The hybrid belongs to the zucchini subspecies - it has a dark green, almost black, peel. The variety is intended for cultivation in open ground, tolerates low temperatures well, and is resistant to powdery mildew.
The fruits grow large - up to 1100 grams, their surface is smooth, almost black, and their shape is elongated, cylindrical. The zucchini pulp is also unusual - it has a green tint, is juicy and tasty. Can be eaten in any form.
The bushes are small, distinguished by a small number of leaves, but have many female flowers. The variety tolerates transportation well and retains its presentation for a long time.
"Ronde"
The unusual zucchini of the Ronde hybrid have an amazing appearance. Ripe fruits are more similar in shape to pumpkins - just as round. The color of the zucchini is mixed - green with gray and white.
The hybrid belongs to the zucchini subspecies - it has a delicate peel and can be stored fresh for a long time.
The culture belongs to the bush type plants, has large bright green leaves and many ovaries. Zucchini variety "Ronde" is distinguished by long-term fruiting - fresh vegetables can be picked for about two months.
The fruits are mainly used for pickling - their pulp is excellent for these purposes. Harvest zucchini young until it reaches 10 cm in diameter.
"Sangroom"
This hybrid is loved for its unusual taste. The fruits of this plant can be eaten raw or pickled; their taste is not inferior to cucumbers. Sangrum zucchini also produces the most delicious caviar, because sugar predominates in the fruit.
The early crop grows as bushes of medium height and spreading. It is one of the most productive varieties - up to 70 tons of crop can be harvested from a hectare of land. This happens due to the long fruiting period - after all, zucchini of this variety can be harvested within two months. The plant easily tolerates climatic disasters: drought, heavy rain, cold snap, wind.It is resistant to powdery mildew and other diseases.
The fruits grow medium-sized, have a greenish color and an even cylindrical shape. Even overgrown zucchini is distinguished by its tender, seedless pulp and thin skin.
The hybrid is one of the earliest crops; with good and regular watering, the plant will bear fruit throughout the summer.
"Sosnovsky"
One of the earliest zucchini - the Sosnovsky hybrid - begins to bear fruit already on the 33rd day after sowing the seeds in the soil. It grows in bushes and has fairly large fruits, weighing up to 1600 grams. The shape of the zucchini is cylindrical, the color of the peel is white, and they have slight ribbing.
The fruit pulp is yellow in color, juicy and has a high sugar content. This makes zucchini very tasty both fresh and after heat treatment.
The crop is grown by seeds or seedlings; the hybrid is intended for open ground. The plant produces many ovaries - a flower forms in the axil of each leaf. If the fruits are picked on time, a new ovary will form in their place.
"Pear-shaped"
A variety very similar to pumpkin - “Pear-shaped” has unusual fruits that are shaped like a pear.
The plant is an early plant; the first zucchini appears on the 38th day after planting the seeds in the ground. It grows in vines and has many ovaries. From each bush you can remove up to 8 kg of vegetables.
Zucchini in a mature state have a yellow or orange color, smooth and dense skin. The weight of the fruit reaches 1600 grams. The pulp of the zucchini is very tasty, orange in color, and has a strong aroma. These vegetables are delicious in any form; they are added to salads, baked, pickled, and even made into jam.
"Pharaoh"
An excellent hybrid intended for the northern regions of the country is the Pharaoh squash. This variety is highly resistant to low temperatures; the plant can withstand up to 5 degrees below zero without even shedding its flowers and ovaries.
This does not prevent the hybrid from being early - the first fruits can be harvested already on the 53rd day after planting the seeds in the garden. Ripe fruits are dark in color and oblong in shape. Their weight can reach 2400 grams, and their length is 0.7 meters. But such zucchini are suitable only as animal feed.
To eat the fruits, they must be picked before technical maturity, until the size of the zucchini exceeds 25 cm. The pulp of such zucchini is bright yellow and has a pleasant taste.
The fruits are often used raw and added to salads and snacks, but these vegetables can also be fried and canned. Another feature of the fruits is their high adsorbing properties, which are very useful for restoring intestinal function after poisoning and disorders.
Under industrial growing conditions (in fields), the variety’s yield reaches 50 tons per hectare.
"Long-fruited Dutch"
Despite this name, the hybrid has nothing in common with Holland and the breeders there - the crop was created in Russia and is intended for cultivation in the climatic conditions of the middle zone and the North.
Zucchini grows quite large - their weight often exceeds 2300 grams. They are distinguished by high taste qualities and can be consumed both raw and pickled.
The plant is very resistant to various diseases and has a long fruiting period - fresh fruits can be picked from the garden for almost two months.
What varieties of large zucchini are best to choose?
Large zucchini does not differ in any special properties or taste; their most important advantage is their large weight. This allows you to get high yields from each bush, which is especially convenient when the area of the garden plot does not allow planting many plants of several types.
Large zucchini are good for making caviar, using them for pickling or canning. But for stuffing or eating fresh, young vegetables with delicate pulp and thin skin are more suitable.
