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In most cases, green zucchini refers to zucchini, a type of zucchini bred in Italy and which appeared in Russia relatively recently, several decades ago. Zucchini has a number of properties and characteristics that allowed it to quickly gain popularity among gardeners and become widespread in gardens and gardens. Despite the fact that zucchini, in fact, is also a zucchini, its clearly defined characteristics actually allow it to be considered a separate crop. This statement, of course, does not apply to strict science, but it is convenient in everyday communication and description of agrotechnical techniques and growing methods for a wide range of amateur gardeners.
Description and properties
All zucchini, including zucchini and squash, are classified as a bush variety of pumpkin, which has characteristic, rather large, elongated fruits. The most common variety in recent years has been zucchini (or green squash). Compared to ordinary ones, they have a number of clearly defined features.
Differences between zucchini and regular zucchini
Despite many common properties and features, green zucchini, otherwise called zucchini, also have quite serious differences from ordinary ones:
- color. Regular zucchini is typically white or light green in color. Zucchini is generally dark green or other shades of green, and often has a striped or similar pattern;
- taste. Green zucchini has a more delicate taste, which makes it possible to eat it raw with minimal heat treatment;
- early maturity and productivity. Zucchini begins to bear fruit much earlier than ordinary zucchini - in June. In addition, due to constant fruiting, they are significantly more productive (24 times), which is one of the main advantages of the crop;
- fruit size and peel. Zucchini rarely reach 25 cm; moreover, they often simply do not have time to grow, as they early acquire excellent taste, most pronounced in fruits measuring 15-20 cm. The peel of zucchini is thin and tender, which makes it possible to eat it, which is practically impossible for zucchini, which has a thick and hard skin;
- care requirements. Successfully growing green zucchini requires a little more attention than regular zucchini. Zucchini is more in need of moisture and warmth, however, given that zucchini is one of the most unpretentious crops, zucchini is also quite undemanding when compared with the vast majority of other garden plants.
Properties and benefits of green zucchini
You can list the minerals, vitamins and other useful components contained in zucchini for quite a long time.But the specific benefits brought by vegetables for certain vital systems of the human body look much more convincing:
- digestion. The fiber contained in zucchini in large quantities has an extremely beneficial effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, allowing you to solve many problems associated with digestion;
- weight loss. Zucchini is included in the vast majority of diets aimed at reducing weight and cholesterol levels in human blood. This close attention of nutritionists is caused by the complex properties of green zucchini: minimal calorie content, lack of fat in the composition and high water content. All together allows you to prevent overeating in combination with the maximum benefits. Steamed zucchini is especially useful in this sense;
- immunity, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. A high concentration of vitamin C, as well as the content of ascorbic acid, significantly increases human immunity and its ability to resist many diseases, in particular asthma, arthritis, cancer, diabetes - the list goes on for quite a long time. This property is especially important in the autumn-winter period, when the pressure of infectious and viral diseases on the body is high. They, as well as cancer, can be successfully resisted by the presence of antioxidants in zucchini, which are extremely useful for these purposes;
- eyes. The lutein and zaxanthin contained in green zucchini have an extremely beneficial effect on the organs of vision, and are also a preventative against age-related ophthalmological diseases.
Most of the above beneficial properties of zucchini are not known to a wide range of amateur gardeners who grow green zucchini, primarily because of their wonderful taste.
But green zucchini can also cause some health problems. This applies to people with kidney and gallbladder diseases. Eating zucchini is contraindicated for them.
The best varieties of green zucchini
Currently, domestic gardeners are offered a wide selection of different varieties and hybrids of green zucchini, both domestic and foreign.
Aeronaut
Green zucchini Aeronaut It has a compact bush structure with a small number of lashes. The female type of flowering predominates. The plant has a main shoot of insignificant length. Aeronaut can be grown both in open ground and in greenhouses, achieving a yield of about 7 kg/sq. m. It belongs to the early ripening varieties; it bears the first fruits after 45 days. The shape of the fruit is cylindrical with a smooth surface. The fruit is a dark green zucchini, with a possible pattern consisting of a number of small light green dots. The fruits can reach a weight of up to 1.3 kg. The flesh of the fruit is whitish-yellow in color. The variety is universal and suitable for consumption in any form. Thanks to the combination of fairly high yields, unpretentiousness and good taste, the Aeronaut variety is one of the most widespread and popular in Russia.
Delicacy
Green variety zucchini delicacy refers to the bush type, bearing dark green fruits. It is a high-yielding mid-season variety, the first fruits of which ripen after 55 days. The shape of the leaves is slightly corrugated, they are of medium size.The fruits are of regular cylindrical shape, quite large, reaching a length of 30-35 cm with a normal weight of 1.2-2 kg.
The taste qualities of the Delicatessen variety are primarily evident during canning, although it is possible to use zucchini in other forms.
Long-fruited
The Long-fruited zucchini variety is early ripening, bearing the first fruits after 45 days. Like most green zucchini, it has a compact structure with short vines, the number of which is small. The fruits are green or pale green in color, have a ribbed cylindrical shape and are relatively small in size, reaching a weight of 0.9-1.7 kg. The Long-fruited variety is most suitable for growing in open ground.
Tsukesha
One of the popular varieties of zucchini, Tsukesha, is quite productive (12 kg of fruit per bush), suitable for growing both indoors using film coverings and in open ground.
It has the ability, rare for green zucchini, not to lose taste and not become rough even when the field is overgrown, which makes it convenient for gardeners who visit their plots only on weekends. Refers to early ripening varieties (fruiting in 45-50 days). The weight of the fetus, as a rule, does not reach 1 kg. The variety allows long-term storage; in addition, it is universal, perfect for pickling, canning and fresh consumption.
Zebra
Zucchini variety Zebra is one of the most famous varieties of green zucchini due to its original color. The plant has a compact structure, a short main shoot and a small number of lashes. This variety of green zucchini reaches a yield of 9 kg/sq. m.Zebra zucchini are suitable both for growing in open ground and under film shelters in greenhouses or hotbeds. The variety is an early ripening variety; the first harvest ripens within 38 days. The fruits have a classic cylindrical shape, a slightly ribbed surface and, most importantly, the property that sets them apart from a large number of other varieties is a characteristic pattern, which is an alternation of stripes of dark green and light green colors. Zucchini is relatively small in size, rarely exceeding a weight of 0.5 kg.
In addition to its remarkable and extremely original appearance, the variety also has a high degree of cold resistance and the ability to restore growth and fruiting when favorable conditions occur.
The enormous popularity of the Zebra variety is caused not only by its color, but also by the high yield achieved with low maintenance. In addition, the Zebra variety of green zucchini has excellent taste, being universal, perfect for consumption in any form.
Sir
A variety of green zucchini with an original color in the form of a light green mesh. It is classified as an early ripening variety, allowing harvesting already on the 35th day. Like most green zucchini, it has a compact bush shape. In addition to the original color, the fruit also has a ribbed surface and relatively small dimensions - weight - 0.5-0.6 kg, length usually does not exceed 18 cm. The fruits have a characteristic white-cream pulp.
Cavili
The green squash hybrid Kavili belongs to the ultra-early varieties, bearing fruit after 35 days. The fruits, as a rule, have a regular cylindrical shape, white-greenish color and small sizes, which rarely exceed 22-25 cm in length.The most pleasant taste is acquired by fruits measuring 16-22 cm; at this time they are best collected. They have the properties of parthenocarpic plants, that is, they bear fruit when insect activity is low in rainy and cold weather. They have a fairly long (more than 2 months) fruiting period. The hybrid green squash Kavili can be grown both in open ground and indoors in greenhouses or hotbeds.
Kuand
One of the highest yielding zucchini varieties Kuand bred for cultivation in open and closed ground. With the correct application of agricultural techniques, its yield can reach 22.6 kg/sq. m.
Kuand is a mid-season variety of green zucchini, ripening in 52-55 days. The variety is universal and can be used for food in any form: fresh, canned or after heat treatment. In addition to the listed advantages, it has low susceptibility to diseases of powdery mildew and rot.
Conclusion
The variety of green squash fruits presented allows any gardener to easily choose the option that best meets their requirements and meets their existing needs.
