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Growing zucchini is a rewarding activity for gardeners. The vegetable is quite unpretentious to the conditions, has a good taste and nutritional value. High-yielding varieties provide fruits throughout the season without interruption. But in winter such delicious zucchini is sometimes unavailable. You can eat homemade preparations, but you want to enjoy fresh fruits.
Every experienced vegetable grower knows that not all Zucchini varieties suitable for long term storage. Good keeping quality is a particular advantage of some varieties suitable for long-term storage. How to preserve nutritious fruits until the next harvest? Some factors need to be taken into account:
- the ability of the variety for long-term storage (resting);
- conditions under which zucchini will be stored in winter;
- fruit structure;
- preparation for storage.
Zucchini varieties with thick skin and small seeds are suitable for storage. Modern breeders are trying to breed such species in order to make it possible to preserve fresh fruits for as long as possible.
Let's get acquainted with long-lived zucchini
Among the varieties that are recommended to be grown for storage purposes are zucchini, decorative colorful zucchini and regular ones.
"Aeronaut"
An early variety of zucchini. It takes about 45 days to reach maturity. It has cylindrical fruits and a beautiful dark green color. A mature zucchini weighs up to one and a half kilograms. Stores well for 4 months, which provides a vitamin supplement to the table until late autumn. The peel of the variety is not very dense, so it cannot withstand longer storage. The yield is about 7 kg per 1 sq. m of soil. Disease resistance ensures a large number of edible zucchini.
"Pear-shaped"
Also an early variety that can maintain its freshness for a long time. The fruits have an original pear shape weighing up to 1.3 kg. The pulp is a beautiful dark orange color, remains tender for a long time, and retains its nutritional and taste qualities. The skin is dense, which makes it possible for a long time store zucchini of this variety. The seeds are sown at the end of May, and the harvest can be harvested after 50 days.
Bush with thick vines and large leaves. Zucchini of this variety are demanding on watering and lighting. If the conditions are met, the harvest will be very high.
"Yellowfruited"
Zucchini of this variety are small - up to 1 kg. They have a regular cylindrical shape and a beautiful yellow color. They differ from the fruits of other zucchini in their high carotene content. The variety is very productive. With good care it gives from 1 sq. m up to 18 kg of zucchini. Demanding about watering and nutrition. Properly harvested crops can be stored for more than three months. The bush includes thick vines, but few leaves.
"Aral F1"
Hybrid variety of early ripening. Is different:
- high yield;
- excellent keeping quality;
- resistance to frost and viruses.
The fruits are small, weighing up to 800 g.With regular collection of ripe zucchini (2 times a week), you can harvest up to 22 kg per 1 sq.m.
"Festival"
A very beautiful variety, suitable for storage. The fruits are round, striped, with delicate pulp. It is considered the record holder for shelf life among zucchini. Does not lose its qualities for 10 months after harvesting.
"Golden Cup"
Bush type squash, is successfully stored until February, without losing any taste. On one bush, 5-6 zucchini ripen at once.
"Arlica F1"
Mid-early variety. It is distinguished by high yield, long fruiting period, and excellent keeping quality. The fruits are small, weighing up to 800 g, and ripen in 60 days. They are stored very well if the rules are followed.
"Negro"
A high-yielding, early-ripening variety with an unusual color. Zucchini is cylindrical, black-green in color with tasty green flesh. Can be stored for more than 2 months.
"Genovese"
An early variety of zucchini of Italian selection. 60 days pass before the fruits are harvested. Is different:
- high productivity;
- excellent taste;
- ability for long-term storage.
The berries are cylindrical, weighing up to 1.7 kg.
"Watermelon"
A variety of zucchini bred by crossing with watermelon. It has a very thick skin, tasty pulp, and large seeds. Stored until new harvest. The fruits are large and heavy.
We begin the preparation process
The most important condition is to remember that preparing zucchini for long-term storage begins from the moment the seeds are sowed.
- To grow vegetables for storage, you should sow the seeds directly into the ground. The optimal time is the end of May or the beginning of June. In this case, the fruits are less susceptible to root rot. The soil is prepared, the seeds are germinated and planted, observing the planting pattern and depth.
- Choose plants without diseases and pests. Zucchini should be picked when the skin is thicker. Unripe or young fruits are only suitable for consumption. But it’s also not worth keeping them on the bush. It is necessary to harvest before frost, otherwise the skin will lose its protective properties.
- Cut the fruits of zucchini with a small stem (about 5 cm). It must dry out so that infection does not penetrate through it. It is not worth cutting the leg short - the thickness of the protective plug may not be sufficient. The condition of the stem is used to monitor the storage of fruits. As soon as signs of spoilage or rotting are noticed, the zucchini must be removed.
- Before preparing for storage, the zucchini skins are cleared of soil and the fruits are slightly air-dried.Important! It is strictly forbidden to wash zucchini before storing. It is also not recommended to put fruits in a bag. Vegetables should be stored open. The exception is the method of saving zucchini in the apartment.
- Lay out the zucchini in one layer trying to prevent the fruits from touching.
- Basic requirements for good shelf life: ventilated cool room. The optimal temperature is 4-10°C above zero. Humidity is maintained at 80%. It is good to store zucchini in the dark. Many gardeners use the cellar for this purpose, but some successfully store vegetables under the bed.
- The choice of variety is very important. It is necessary to set aside for storage those varieties that have good keeping quality. Otherwise, the zucchini will rot.
- Be sure to adhere to shelf life. You should not store zucchini in the cellar for a very long time. Fruits may begin to deteriorate from the inside, which will lead to loss of taste and nutritional qualities. You'll have to throw away healthy vegetables.
By following simple rules, you can enjoy healthy fruits for a very long time.
Choosing a storage location
The most suitable would be a cellar or basement. It is necessary to provide the zucchini with the absence of light, the necessary temperature and humidity. To monitor the indicators, you will have to hang a thermometer in the room. It is necessary to regularly ventilate the basement. There are ways to increase or decrease the room temperature and regulate the humidity level. If conditions are not adjusted, vegetables can quickly deteriorate. Shelves are suitable for displaying zucchini.
They can be covered with straw. If the shelves are occupied or missing, then home craftsmen hang zucchini from the ceiling in a fine mesh.
Be sure to check the cellar for pests that can destroy the entire harvest. Pay the same attention to mold. Try to ensure good ventilation.
If you don’t have a basement, you can find a suitable place for storage at home, in a country house or in an apartment. The main thing is that there are no heating devices nearby. A room with high humidity is also not suitable. Zucchini can be folded into a spacious box and placed near the door.
If it is impossible to create such conditions, place the fruits under the bed. Pack each zucchini in paper and try not to let the vegetables touch each other.
Varieties of zucchini suitable for storage can be placed in different conditions. Another place for storage is the refrigerator. However, its capabilities are limited. The optimal period during which the fruits will not have time to deteriorate is 3 weeks. You need to put the zucchini in a bag with holes for ventilation and place it in the vegetable compartment.
This does not apply to record holders for storage duration - "Festival" and "Watermelon". There is no point in keeping other varieties. The fruits lose their taste, become hard or, conversely, very soft. Nutritional value decreases. In this case it is better to use frozen, dried or canned zucchini.
