Zucchini seedlings at home. When to plant zucchini seedlings? Video: secrets of growing and early harvest of zucchini

Zucchini is a very popular crop among vegetable growers. They are quite unpretentious, grow well in almost any soil and produce good yields. One of the few disadvantages of this vegetable is its heat-loving nature. And if in the southern regions of our country it is possible to grow zucchini in open ground, then in the northern regions you can get a harvest only in greenhouse conditions or by first growing seedlings at home. The timing and sowing of seeds in open ground will be discussed below.

Planting zucchini in 2019

Many vegetable growers plant this vegetable crop (as well as other vegetables) by checking the lunar calendar. Every year the dates for this procedure are shifted. The time for sowing seeds in open or closed ground or for seedlings should be selected in accordance with the climatic conditions of the region, as well as specific weather conditions.

And the most favorable days for sowing are considered to be the days when the Moon is waxing. During this period, nutrients in plants are directed upward, accelerating the process of photosynthesis.

Zucchini planting dates in 2019

According to the timing of planting, you should first plant zucchini seeds as seedlings, then you can start planting them in greenhouses, and only then - in open ground. By observing all these conditions, you can harvest zucchini throughout the summer season.

For seedlings

The sowing time should be chosen based on where it will be grown in the future. If summer residents want to get an earlier harvest of zucchini and plan to plant seedlings in heated or unheated areas, then sowing should be done in late February - early March. If the seedlings are planned to be planted in the future on prepared beds in the garden, then the timing of sowing seed material is shifted to the beginning or middle of April. But such sowing can be carried out until the third ten days of May.

The sowing time varies depending on when they want to get the harvest. To get an early harvest, zucchini should be sown in April, and seeds of early varieties should be used. To plant the fruits of this vegetable crop for long-term storage, it is better to sow in the last ten days of May and use late-ripening varieties.

Planting zucchini seedlings (video)

In open ground

When sowing seeds in open ground, remember that the soil should warm up to a depth of about 10 cm, and the ambient temperature should be about 16-17 o C.

When planting mature seedlings in open ground need to remember: It is better to carry out this procedure in the evening or on a cloudy day so that the seedlings can better adapt to new conditions. By the time the seedlings are transplanted into open ground, spring frosts should have already passed.

According to the lunar calendar

According to the lunar calendar, favorable days for planting seeds for seedlings:

• February - 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 23;
• March - 6, 7, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 30, 31;
• April - 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23;
• May - 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 21, 22, 23, 24.

Favorable days for planting in greenhouses and open ground:

• May - 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 21, 22, 23, 24;
• June - 3, 4, 5, 6, 7;
• July - 2, 3, 4, 31.

Unfavorable days in both cases are new moons and full moons.

General landing rules

General requirements for planting seeds and seedlings are as follows:

• choosing the right variety for a specific region;
• preparing seed material for planting;
• preparing soil and containers before planting seeds;
• further care of seedlings and plants.

Seed preparation

Experienced vegetable growers advise purchasing zucchini seeds in specialized stores from well-known manufacturing companies. In this case the seeds are already undergoing pre-sowing preparation: they are disinfected and heated (this speeds up their germination). In this case, it is enough just to soak the seeds for half an hour in water so that they swell, and then you can plant them in the prepared container.

Summer residents often collect seeds from their gardens and then use them for further planting. In this case, gardeners leave the fruits of the varieties they like most for seeds.

Such seeds must undergo preliminary preparation.

1. First they need to be immersed in salted water. Full seeds sink to the bottom, which will later sprout well, while empty ones will remain floating on the surface. Those that float up are thrown away, and all the seed material is collected from the bottom, washed under running water, dried and dipped in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for half an hour for disinfection.
2. Then they should be warmed up for better germination, so the seed material is kept in hot water at a temperature of about 55 o C for 100-120 minutes.
3. The swollen seeds are placed on saucers, wrapped in a damp cloth. When they sprout, the seed is ready for planting in the ground.

Soil requirements

The following types of soil are ideal for planting zucchini:

• sandstone;
• sandstone.

Containers should have drainage holes and a layer of peat moss should be placed at the bottom of the containers for drainage. Soil for planting seed material can be purchased at the store. Or you can cook it yourself.

For light soils, the following nutrient substrate should be prepared: mix soil from the garden, humus in equal parts, and take half of the turf soil. A glass of wood ash should be added to this mixture.

All components are added to the heavy soil, as in the previous case, adding an additional ½ part of river sand and high-moor peat.

Sowing rules

It should be remembered that from the moment of emergence of seedlings until transplantation into open ground, seedlings should remain at home for no more than a month. That's why before sowing, you should decide on the date of transplanting the seedlings to a permanent place, and based on this number, calculate the moment of sowing the seeds in containers.

It is better to use disposable cups for planting zucchini seeds, as the plant does not tolerate unnecessary transplants. No more than two seeds should be planted in each container.

If you have to remove excess seedlings, they are carefully trimmed close to the ground. You should not pull out such seedlings, because you can damage the delicate roots of a neighboring seedling.

After planting, carefully water the soil (it is better to use a spray bottle).

Lunar sowing calendar for 2019 (video)

Sowing zucchini for seedlings or in open ground is not a very complicated procedure that even a novice summer resident can cope with. When planting seed material on favorable days and observing all the rules for growing this vegetable crop, you can collect from the beds a large number of zucchini of any degree of maturity during the summer season (to the taste of the vegetable grower).

Zucchini is one of the most popular vegetables that can be found in the gardening area. It is unpretentious to grow, and a large number of culinary masterpieces are prepared from its fruits. In Russia, due to climatic conditions, zucchini seedlings are planted. Already grown plants are planted in open ground so that the fruits have time to ripen before harvesting.

Growing zucchini seedlings at home is not as scary and difficult as it seems at first glance. Even novice gardeners can cope with this task. But in any case, zucchini seeds and soil for them require careful preparation, and young seedlings need care and attention. Only if the required conditions are met, it will be possible to grow strong plants that will bear fruit well.

When to plant zucchini seedlings

Planting zucchini seedlings is carried out in strict accordance with the varietal characteristics of the plants, and also depends on the climate of the region where they will be grown. They begin to plant zucchini seeds in April or May - a month before the seedlings move into open ground.

Selection and preparation of soil for seedlings

The best option for cultivating squash seedlings is nutrient soil that has a neutral pH or slightly alkaline environment. The soil mixture is prepared independently, or purchased ready-made in the store. In the latter case, the choice should be made in favor of soil for pumpkin crops.

Homemade soil is prepared from peat and turf soil with the addition of humus and sawdust (the ratio of all these ingredients is 5:2:2:1). It is recommended to mix the acidic substrate with a small amount of ash or chalk.

Preparing the soil involves disinfecting it. The easiest way is to spill boiling water on the ground - this is an excellent preventative measure against a disease such as blackleg.

The finished soil is placed in washed pots with a diameter of about 8-10 cm and a depth of about 10-15 cm. The container must have drainage holes. It is also convenient to use peat pots.

Seed processing and preparation

After the preparation of the soil and containers is completed, they deal directly with the seeds themselves. They undergo sorting, during which non-viable and empty instances are removed. To do this, seeds can be placed in salted water and see which ones float (those that float are unsuitable for planting; they are caught and thrown away).

Then the selected seeds are kept in water at a temperature of about 50 degrees for 5 hours. After such a “bath”, it is recommended to immerse them in cold water for about 5 minutes. This measure is an excellent prevention against fungus.

Planting material can also be kept in a solution of potassium permanganate for about 20 minutes. After such treatment, it needs to be washed with clean water.

In order for the seeds to wake up, they need to be heated for up to 10-12 hours on a radiator or for several days in the sun. Next, you need to start germinating the zucchini seeds - for this, the planting material is placed on a moistened cloth. You cannot use gauze, as the roots will certainly get tangled in it and may break off. Germinated seeds require immediate planting.

Typically, seeds purchased in a store have already undergone all the necessary preparation. This is indicated on the packaging with them. In this case, there is no need to prepare zucchini seeds for sowing.

Sowing seeds

Planting zucchini seeds for seedlings is done in a moistened soil mixture. To do this, pour 2/3 of the soil into the pots with warm water. Each seed is placed lying down to a depth of 2-3 cm (usually 1-2 seeds are placed in one container). You should not plant zucchini vertically - they will not be able to germinate. Next, the seeds are sprinkled with soil and again spilled with water, and the container is covered with polyethylene.

Seedling care

Growing zucchini seedlings is a responsible task. If small seedlings are not provided with proper care at home after planting, then you may not expect a good harvest.

Before the first sprouts appear, it is necessary to maintain a temperature of about 18-24 degrees in the room where the container with plantings is located. Watering during this period is carried out approximately once every 7 days, with warm water.

As soon as the first sprouts appear above the ground, the film is removed from the container, and the containers with the seedlings themselves are placed in a bright and slightly cooler room. The optimal temperature is about 15-18 degrees during the day, and at night - about 13-15. When the sprouts become mature, the temperature remains at 17-22 degrees during the daytime and up to 13-17 at night.

The lighting should be stable and sufficient, so you can place the container on the windowsill. A screen made of foil and installed around the seedlings in such a way that it reflects the light coming from the window and directs it to the bushes will help increase the amount of light.

Air humidity must be maintained within moderate limits. If the room is too dry, then place a damp cloth on the heating radiator.

If there are 2 sprouts in the pots, then the weakest one should be cut off to the very root with scissors. There is no need to pull it out, since during such removal it can damage a strong plant.

Watering is done every 10 days. Water is supplied at the root; it should not fall on the leaves. Consumption - about a liter for 8 pots.

Approximately 7 days after the appearance of green shoots, the zucchini is fertilized. Fertilizing is done with urea and superphosphate, which are diluted in quantities of 0.5 tbsp. l./l warm water. The second fertilizer is applied 10 days after the first fertilizing; this time it is prepared from nitrophoska and ash (0.5 tbsp each), diluted in 1 liter of water. Any fertilizers are applied only after preliminary watering, otherwise there is a risk of damaging the root system of the seedlings.

If the zucchini has become significantly elongated during the growth process, then the crown of the plant needs to be pinched. It is also recommended to add soil to the container, this will allow the roots to develop more actively and form additional roots on the stem that has gone under the soil layer.

About a week before planting seedlings outside, it is recommended to harden them. To do this, the container with seedlings is taken out into the fresh air during the day, first for a short time, and then left for a longer period.

Planting zucchini seedlings on the site

Planting zucchini seedlings outside is done no earlier than the sprouts have 2-4 pairs of full-fledged leaves, that is, at the age of about 25-30 days. It is not recommended to overexpose the bushes, as they will begin to turn yellow and die.

When can you plant seedlings in open ground?

Zucchini is planted in open ground from May to July. The main thing is to evaluate the varietal characteristics and timing of fruit ripening, as well as climatic conditions and choose the planting time in accordance with these factors. The air temperature should be approximately 15 degrees.

To collect fresh fruits at different times and extend the fruiting period, it is recommended to plant seedlings at different times, in parts.

Selecting a location and preparing the bed

A place well lit by the sun, but at the same time protected from the wind, is ideal for zucchini. Groundwater should be low. The best soil for zucchini is one that contains a lot of humus and is fertile. Plants will also grow on depleted soils, but you won’t be able to expect abundant fruiting from them.

Good predecessors for zucchini are potatoes, onions, tomatoes, eggplants, cabbage, and various green manure herbs. But after cucumbers and pumpkins, this vegetable will not grow well and bear fruit. Even being close to them, the plant will have problems with growth and development.

It is not worth growing zucchini in the same place all the time. These plants quickly deplete the soil.

The preparation of the bed is as follows: 14 days before planting the seedlings, the soil is dug up to the depth of a spade bayonet (about 25 cm). Then you need to apply fertilizer. This can be a self-prepared mixture of compost or humus, sawdust, ash (2 cups), superphosphate (2 tbsp), potassium sulfate (1 tbsp), urea (1 tbsp). This amount of substances is applied per 1 m2 of soil. You can fertilize the soil in autumn or spring.

How to properly plant seedlings in open ground

Zucchini seedlings are planted in open ground according to a certain scheme - usually it is given on the package with the seeds. It must be remembered that there should be 1-1.5 m of free space between the rows of plants. In general, more than 3 bushes cannot be planted per 1 m2, otherwise they will be cramped.

Planting takes place in cloudy weather. A small amount of ash and humus is placed in each prepared hole, and the holes themselves are spilled with water. The plant, along with a lump of earth, is removed from the container or placed in a hole directly in a peat pot to the level of the cotyledon leaves. Next, the hole is filled with soil, which is lightly compacted and mulched.

If there is a threat of frost, plantings must be covered with polyethylene or plastic bottles.

Caring for zucchini on the site

Zucchini is not capricious, and it is easy to care for them in open ground. It is only important to carry out the basic procedures - watering, fertilizing, weeding and loosening the soil.

Watering

It is necessary to water the zucchini at the root with water heated in the sun (22-25 degrees). The procedure is performed in the evening. During hot periods, you can water the bushes daily. Until the ovaries form, about 10-12 liters of water are spent on 1 bush. Grown zucchini with large leaves are irrigated once every few days, depending on weather conditions. The main thing is not to over-water the plantings. The frequency of watering increases from the moment the fruit appears.

Weeding and loosening

The airier the soil, the better it allows warm air to pass through, which is important for the proper development of zucchini. To prevent a hard earthen crust around the plants, the soil is regularly loosened. The process is combined with weeding and weed removal and is done about 2-3 times throughout the entire season. Hilling is carried out no earlier than the plants have formed 5 leaves.

Feeding

Zucchini loves fertilizers made from weeds. They are collected, placed in a barrel, filled with water and, stirring occasionally, infused for a week. Next, the mixture is filtered and diluted with water (1:8). Zucchini is watered with this infusion 14 days after planting the seedlings. Feeding is repeated after 7 days. The herbal infusion can be alternated with the addition of manure diluted in water (1:10) and infused for several days in the sun. Fertilizers are applied the third time when the ovaries appear. Only this time, ash (1 glass) and superphosphate (1 tbsp) are added to the herbal infusion (10 l).

Expert opinion

Maria Vlasova

Gardener

Zucchini is an unpretentious plant, characterized by good germination and excellent fruiting performance. Even novice summer residents can grow it, but it is imperative to follow all the rules for caring for it.

In the 16th century, another type of pumpkin was brought to Europe - zucchini. They were used at first as an ornamental plant, and only three centuries later they learned about the benefits of this vegetable, after which they began to eat it. The beneficial properties of zucchini can be judged by their composition, which includes vitamins C, E, PP, H, B, A, minerals such as iron, phosphorus, magnesium, sodium, potassium and beta-carotene, which helps strengthen the body. In addition, 100 grams of this vegetable contains only 20 to 30 kilocalories, so it is used as a dietary product. Today, a tasty and healthy plant is grown in almost every summer cottage. Growing zucchini in open ground is not very difficult, however, in order to get a good harvest, you need to know some of the nuances of planting and caring for zucchini. You can learn how to plant zucchini correctly, when to plant zucchini in 2018 according to the Lunar calendar and how to care for a healthy vegetable from our article.

Most often, zucchini seeds are planted immediately in open ground, after the soil has warmed up. But in northern regions with short summers or to obtain an early harvest, the vegetable is grown in seedlings.

Many gardeners focus on the lunar calendar when planting plants. Zucchini is planted on the waxing moon, so in 2019 the favorable days for planting are as follows:

1. March - you can sow seeds for seedlings in the southern regions from 8th to 19th. At the beginning and end of the month, the Moon wanes, so it is not advisable to plant healthy vegetables.
2. April is the month for sowing seeds for seedlings in central Russia. This month the Moon waxes from the 6th to the 18th in 2019. Best dates for landing: 7, 12, 18 .
3. May is the month when zucchini can be planted in open ground, and those grown as seedlings can be planted in a greenhouse or garden bed (if frost has passed). Favorable days: 8, 15, 17, 18. The moon wanes at the beginning and end of May, so it is better to refrain from planting zucchini at this time.
4. June - at the beginning of summer, seeds are sown in the ground in regions where the soil warms up only at the beginning of the month. At the same time, they are planting seedlings in the ground. In 2019 in June The moon begins to wax on the 4th and ends on June 16th. The best days for sowing: 5, 12, 14, 16.

• March: 6 and 21;
• April: 5 and 19;
• May: 5 and 19;
• June: 3 and 17.

How to plant zucchini

Having decided when to plant zucchini seedlings or in the ground, you should prepare planting material. It is recommended to treat zucchini seeds before sowing in one of the following ways:

1. Hardening. Keep in the bottom drawer of the refrigerator for 14 hours, then keep for another 10 hours at room temperature.
2. Soak. Soak and hold for a day in warm water, and then place in a damp cloth for three days and keep at a temperature within +23 degrees.
3. Warming up. Warm up in the sun for 7 days.
4. Treatment with solutions. Soak for a day in a solution of Epin or Zircon. You can use a solution of 1 tbsp. l. ash and a liter of warm water.

Planting zucchini seedlings

If it was intended to get a harvest as quickly as possible, then vegetables can be grown in seedlings. But you should know that zucchini grown through seedlings are not stored for a long time.

Planting zucchini seeds should be done 20-30 days before planting them in a garden bed or greenhouse.

The soil for sowing seeds is chosen to be slightly alkaline or neutral. You can buy it in a specialty store or mix it from the following components:

• turf soil - 2 parts;
• humus - 2 parts;
• peat – 5 parts;
• sawdust – 1 part.

Peat pots or disposable cups are filled with prepared moist soil, after which pre-treated seeds are buried into it to a depth of about 2 cm.

In order for the seeds to germinate better, cover the tops of the pots with film and place them in a place with a temperature of +22 degrees. When the seeds hatch and sprouts appear, the seedlings are placed in a well-lit place with a temperature of about +15...+18 degrees. A glazed balcony or loggia is perfect for this if the temperature on them does not drop below +13 degrees even at night. In such cool conditions, zucchini seedlings should be grown for 7 days, after which they can be transferred to a warmer room and grown at a temperature of +20...+22 degrees.

Caring for zucchini seedlings includes:

1. Good lighting. Otherwise, the seedlings will stretch out.
2. Regular watering. The soil in the pots should not dry out, so it should be regularly watered with water at room temperature.
3. Feeding. 10 days after the emergence of seedlings, the first fertilizing of zucchini seedlings with organic matter is carried out. To do this, you can use store-bought fertilizer or mullein solution diluted 1:10 (50 ml per plant). After another week, the seedlings are fertilized with mineral fertilizers, which should not contain chlorine. Nitrophoska fertilizer is suitable (per 1 liter of water - 1 tsp). For each plant – ½ cup.

Attention! Zucchini does not tolerate picking well, so it is recommended to plant them in separate pots!

Sowing zucchini seeds in the ground

Treated zucchini seeds are planted on a previously prepared bed:

1. In the fall, during digging, a handful of ash, 50 grams of superphosphate and 10 kg of compost are added to each square meter.
2. In the spring, the bed is leveled and holes about 10 cm deep are made in it.
3. The zucchini planting pattern is 70x50 cm. It is recommended to plant no more than three plants per 1 square meter.
4. The soil from each hole is mixed with a tablespoon of humus and ash.

Place two or three zucchini seeds into the prepared hole and sprinkle them with soil in a layer of 5-7 cm. If the soil in the area is heavy, then the layer should be about 3-5 cm.

When the zucchini sprouts and grows a little, you will need to leave the strongest plant in the hole and pinch out the rest. It is better not to tear out weak seedlings, but to pinch them, otherwise the roots of the remaining plant may be damaged.

Planting zucchini seedlings in the ground

The timing of planting zucchini depends on weather conditions in the region. As soon as the threat of the last frost has passed and the soil has warmed up, seedlings can be planted.

A place for plants is chosen with low groundwater and protected from the wind. A relative of the pumpkin loves the sun, so it is recommended to make the bed on the south or southwest side of the site.

Where can you plant zucchini?? A garden bed can be made in the place where root vegetables, garlic, onions, green manure, cabbage, herbs, tomatoes, and peas grew. Remember that zucchini should not be planted after zucchini, pumpkin, squash and cucumbers. Crop rotation must be observed.

The bed for planting seedlings is prepared in the same way as for sowing zucchini seeds. Plants are spaced from each other at a distance of 1 to 1.5 meters. Each bush is buried down to the cotyledon leaves and watered abundantly.

If there is a possibility of cold weather, it is recommended to cover the plants with non-woven material or build a greenhouse and stretch polyethylene.

How to care for zucchini

Caring for zucchini in open ground is not very difficult, which is why even novice gardeners grow them on their plots.

Culture care consists of the following procedures:

1. Watering zucchini. The frequency of watering depends on weather conditions. If the weather is cloudy and cool, then watering is carried out once every 2-3 days. In hot weather, water the plants daily. For this purpose, warm, settled water from a barrel is used. Water is poured under the roots, and to prevent the fruits from rotting, pieces of slate, cardboard or boards are placed under them.
2. Weeding and loosening. The vegetable bed should be weeded regularly and the soil loosened. This is best done after watering or rain.
3. Feeding zucchini. This vegetable crop loves organic fertilizers, which are recommended to be applied three times per season. You can alternate feeding with slurry and herbal infusion. The slurry is infused for 3 days, first diluted with water (1:10). The green infusion is prepared from herbs (mown lawn grass or pulled out weeds) poured into a barrel or bucket with water and steeped for 7 days. The herbal liquid is diluted 1:8 before use. The first feeding is carried out two weeks after planting in the ground, the second – after three weeks, and the third – when the ovaries appear. During the third feeding, mineral fertilizers are added to the organic matter (per 10 liters - 1 glass of wood ash and 1 tablespoon of double superphosphate).
4. Pollination. Sometimes during flowering there are few bees on the site, so you have to pollinate the plants yourself. To do this, a flower without an ovary (male) is picked, the petals are removed from it and the pestle is moved over the stamens of female flowers. Two or three flowers with ovaries can be pollinated by one male flower.
5. Treatment of zucchini from diseases and pests. To protect plants from pests or diseases, it is recommended to carry out preventive measures. To do this, it is necessary to observe crop rotation, and a week after planting the zucchini in the ground, treat it with special preparations. Karbofos is used against pests, and a 1% solution of copper oxychloride or Bordeaux mixture helps well against fungal diseases.

Features of growing zucchini in a greenhouse

To get an early harvest, many gardeners grow vegetables in greenhouses, where they are planted 3 weeks earlier than in open ground. At this time, the air temperature in the greenhouse should be at least +14 degrees at night, and within +23 degrees during the day.

Plants are planted in holes with a distance of about 80 cm from each other. The width of the hole should be about 50 cm and the depth - 30 cm. The soil is fertilized based on each hole:

• superphosphate – 50 grams;
• potassium sulfate – 30 grams;
• peat compost – 500 grams.

Caring for zucchini in a greenhouse involves regular watering and mandatory ventilation. When the plants grow strongly, it is recommended to tear off two to four lower leaves so that high humidity does not form between the bushes. Otherwise, the ovaries will fall off.

What is wrong with zucchini?

Zucchini can be affected by pests and diseases even though all preventive measures have been taken. In the table below you can study the signs of plant damage, as well as how to treat zucchini from pests and diseases.

Harvest

Approximately 1.5-2 months after sowing, it will be possible to pick the first ripened fruits. It is better to pick them unripe, before the seeds inside the fruit become large and hard. But if the zucchini is supposed to be stored until winter, then they are picked already ripe, with a thick crust.

Small-sized young fruits can be cut using a knife or pruning shears at the base. Zucchini intended for storage should be cut so that it has an even cut and long stalks remain. It is not recommended to pick them, as frayed ends can cause rot and damage to the entire fruit during storage.

How to store zucchini

Ripe fruits are stored well for 5 months in a room with an air temperature of 0 to +2 degrees. Young unripe zucchini does not last long and begins to wither and even rot after 2 weeks.

The storage room for zucchini must have good ventilation, so a cellar is not suitable. The cellar usually has high humidity, where the fruits will rot.

You can store zucchini in the vegetable section of the refrigerator and even in your apartment. To store in a cool room, the fruits are laid out in a box so that they do not touch each other. In an apartment, you can place a box of vegetables near the balcony or place the fruits under the bed.

To keep zucchini longer, it is recommended to dip its stem in melted paraffin.

If stored properly, zucchini can be used for cooking until the next harvest. However, it should be borne in mind that after about 6 months their flesh will become bitter and the seeds will begin to germinate. Therefore, storing pitching for too long is not recommended.

Did you know that the well-known zucchini, grown on every continent except Antarctica, actually comes from Mexico. It is interesting that at first in Europe it was customary to eat only the seeds of this vegetable. It became so popular thanks to the Italians, who proved its indispensability for the most exquisite dishes. It is not for nothing that today one of the best glamorous delicacies of French cuisine (Provence) is considered stuffed zucchini flowers.

You can get a full harvest of your favorite and at the same time unpretentious vegetable if you take into account as accurately as possible some of the features of planting zucchini seeds in the spring for seedlings and in open ground.

The optimal timing for planting zucchini in open ground or as seedlings varies depending on where you live and according to its climatic conditions. So, in the middle zone (Moscow region), zucchini should be sown in open ground in the second half of May, and for seedlings - in the second half of April. In the Urals and Siberia, in open ground - in early June, for seedlings - in early May. In the south, planting dates can be shifted back by an average of 1 month, that is, to the second half of March for the seedling method and April-May for direct sowing in the ground.

Advice! When choosing the timing of planting zucchini, first of all you need to pay attention to weather conditions: as soon as the threat of return spring frosts has passed, then sowing can be done. Either it is worth considering the use of covering material, or the creation of warm beds.

Like all pumpkin plants, the root system of zucchini seedlings is very vulnerable, so you should not overly keep the seedlings in planting containers and grow them in huge sizes; they then take root poorly due to damage to the micro-roots during planting. Therefore, seedlings that are 20-30 days old should be planted in open ground.

According to the lunar calendar in 2019

The lunar calendar will always come to your aid if you want to know exactly when to plant.

So, in 2019, favorable days for planting zucchini seedlings or directly in open ground are:

• in February - 15-17, 23-25;
• in March - 15-19, 23-25, 27-30;
• in April - 6-9, 11-13, 20, 21, 24-26, 29-30;
• in May - 3, 4, 8-10, 17-18, 21-23, 26-28, 31;
• in June - 5, 6, 13-15, 18-20.

If you don’t manage to plant zucchini exactly on the above dates, then don’t worry! The main thing is that the planting day is not among the unfavorable:

• in February - 4, 5, 19;
• in March - 6, 7, 21;
• in April - 5, 19;
• in May - 5, 19;
• in June - 3, 4, 17.

According to the lunar calendar from the magazine “1000 tips for a summer resident.”

Preparing seeds for planting

There are several ways to prepare zucchini seeds for planting.

For example, they can be warmed up by keeping them in a sunny window for 7 days or leaving the bag on a radiator overnight.

By the way! All pumpkin plants respond well to heat, and their development mechanisms are launched faster. .

A more standard way to treat zucchini seeds before planting is to soak(literally for 2-3 hours in water) and subsequent germination in a napkin or fabric bag. As a rule, the seeds will hatch and the first shoots will appear within 2-3 days. Everything is ready, the seeds with roots can be planted in open ground or as seedlings in a pot.

Important! It should be soaked in well-settled water. Zucchini, like all pumpkins, does not tolerate chlorine.

On the other hand, many gardeners prefer not to carry out any preparatory procedures, but to immediately plant zucchini seeds in the ground, no matter for seedlings or directly into a garden bed.

By the way! In garden stores you can find already processed squash seeds. Naturally, they need to be planted dry in the ground.

Growing zucchini seedlings

Soil and containers for planting

Zucchini seedlings can be grown in small cups (at least 0.2, and preferably 0.5), or in larger ones. If you plant seeds in 5 liter bottles, you will receive a harvest 1-2 weeks earlier than when growing seedlings in small containers, because the root system develops better in such conditions, and the seedling is accepted faster after planting in open ground.

As for preparing the soil mixture for growing zucchini seedlings, the choice is yours. In general, both ready-made soil for vegetable seedlings and prepared soil yourself from several ingredients are suitable.

Several recipes for a suitable soil mixture:

• peat, compost, turf soil and sawdust in a ratio of 6:2:2:1;
• leaf soil, humus, peat and sawdust - 2:2:1:1;
• earth, sand and peat - 2:2:1;
• peat and sand - 1 to 1.

Video: secrets of growing and early harvest of zucchini

Sowing seeds for seedlings

Step-by-step instructions for planting zucchini seeds for seedlings:

Video: sowing zucchini seeds for seedlings

Interesting! Pay attention to the method of planting and growing zucchini seedlings presented in the video below. It's a little confusing, but quite original.

Video: growing zucchini seedlings without soil

Caring for zucchini seedlings

After planting, containers with seedlings need to be placed on the sunniest windowsill in the house, where the air temperature is in the range of +18-23 degrees. As a rule, the first friendly shoots appear after 3-7 days (if you sprouted, then earlier, and if not, then later).

If the daylight hours are still short or you do not have a south-facing window, then it is advisable to illuminate the seedlings using special phytolamps or the most common ones - LED ones.

The main care for young zucchini seedlings is watering as the soil dries, as well as fertilizing (if necessary).

If you see that the plant is not developing quickly enough, although the basic conditions are met (daylight and temperature), then the seedlings should be fed. For this purpose, a complex fertilizer such as nitroammophoska (liquid solution - 10-15 grams per 10 liters of water) or any analogue is suitable.

You can determine the readiness of seedlings for planting in the garden by the appearance of 2 true leaves. This should take from 20 to 30 days.

A week before planting, you must harden the seedlings, gradually taking them into a greenhouse or loggia (on day 1 - for 1 hour, on day 2 - for 2 hours, on day 3 - for 4 hours, and so on). This is necessary because any seedlings grown at home in a warm environment must adapt to more severe external conditions.

Advice! It wouldn’t hurt to feed the zucchini seedlings with potassium 3-4 days before planting.

Planting seedlings in open ground

The main thing that needs to be done when planting zucchini seedlings in open ground is to properly prepare the hole.

The hole should be dug large enough. This is done so that you can fill the remaining space with high-quality humus, and put a small layer of earth on top. Now all that remains is to make a small depression, carefully remove the zucchini seedling, place it together with a lump of earth in this hole and sprinkle it with earth. The final touch is to pour plenty of water (about 6 liters of water per 1 seedling, but it is advisable to water in 2 doses). Sprinkle with dry soil again.

Advice! After planting, the planting site should be mulched with sawdust or some other materials. Mulch will prevent the soil from drying out quickly and protect the still immature roots of the seedling from the summer heat.

Additionally, to cover a young seedling, you can take a 5 liter bottle, with the bottom cut out and wrapped with masking tape, and place it on the zucchini. This will protect it from the wind and possible return frosts (in this case, the lid on the eggplant should be closed).

Video: how to plant zucchini

Sowing zucchini seeds in open ground

Place for beds and soil

It is advisable to choose a sunny place for planting zucchini, but so that, for example, at lunch it is covered with shadow from a fence or trees. It is also advisable to find an area protected from the wind.

Remember! Pumpkin (zucchini) plants should not be planted together with other pumpkins.

When choosing a place for planting, it is also worth considering that you cannot plant zucchini in one place. It will be good if you plant these pumpkins in the place where the following vegetables used to grow: potatoes, onions, beets, carrots and cabbage, as well as legumes.

A week before planting, it is advisable to water the bed with Baikal M-1 solution so that the soil is saturated with microbes.

To prepare a bed for zucchini, do the following:

1. Loosen the top layer of soil (for example, with a cultivator).
2. Add manure to the garden bed. Pumpkin plants love fresh manure, which warms them. Especially if the spring is cold and the earth has not warmed up enough. As an alternative, you can naturally use compost.
3. Sprinkle a small layer of soil on top.

Zucchini can also be planted in warm beds by placing arches and stretching oilcloth over them.

A flower bed for growing zucchini (although this method is suitable for both zucchini and squash) can be made as follows:

Video: how to make a flower bed for growing zucchini

Video: the result of growing zucchini in such a flowerbed

An equally interesting and environmentally friendly way of growing zucchini is to plant them on nettles, which you can see in more detail in the following video:

Sowing in the ground

Step-by-step instructions for sowing zucchini seeds in open ground:

Video: how to properly prepare a bed and plant zucchini seeds directly into open ground

Caring for zucchini in open ground

The basis of caring for zucchini includes regular watering and fertilizing as needed.

Zucchini is very demanding of moisture; they need to be watered as the soil dries, preferably at the root, and not by sprinkling (leave this method for fertilizing and spraying). As a rule, one watering every 7-12 days is enough, with a water consumption of approximately 1 bucket per 1 sq. meter of bed. But still, first of all, you should focus on weather conditions.

Important! Zucchini does not like cold weather and cool rains, because... their ovaries are prone to rotting, so they should be watered with slightly warm water, for example, after placing a watering can with water in the sun. In addition, almost all summer residents have a barrel or an old bathtub in their garden that is used as a container, so collect water from there.

When it comes to harvesting, watering should be stopped or reduced to a minimum. This is done to reduce the likelihood of them rotting.

If you grow zucchini in a greenhouse or greenhouse, then after watering do not forget to ventilate the room well; these pumpkins do not like high humidity.

Don’t also forget about loosening and weeding the plantings as needed.

The appearance of 4-5 true leaves on zucchini is a signal to hill up the plantings to stimulate the growth of lateral roots.

Why don't they tie

As a rule, zucchini plants do not set fruit for one simple reason - there is no one to pollinate them. Moreover, if the weather is cloudy, the bees do not like this, and besides, there are few of them at all.

But you can carry out artificial pollination, then the zucchini is guaranteed to set fruit. First you need to figure out where the male flower is and where the female one is.

When zucchini just begins to bloom, the male flowers appear first; they do not have any ovaries, unlike the female ones.

To artificially pollinate a zucchini, you must first cut off the male flower, peel it so that only pollen remains on the flower, open the female flower and touch the pistil of the female flower, and then, as it were, anoint it with pollen.

By the way! With one male flower you can pollinate 2-3 female ones.

Video: why zucchini won’t set

If only male flowers appear on a zucchini, but not a single female one, this means that the plant either lacks watering (for example, in hot weather) or light if you planted it in excessive shade. But more often than not, its problem is the lack of microelements, which means feeding is needed.

But it often happens that zucchini rots at the stage of small ovaries, what are the reasons and what to do about it, read on.

How to attract pollinating insects

If you do not have self-pollinating zucchini, then in order to get a high yield, you should take care of attracting pollinating insects to your site. There are several ways to attract them.

For example, during the flowering period, some gardeners recommend spraying squash beds with a solution of boric acid (1/2 teaspoon) and sugar (1/2 cup) in a bucket of water.

Another option: place containers with honey solution near the zucchini (1 tablespoon per 0.5 liters of water).

A more aesthetic way to attract pollinating insects to squash beds is. This will not only attract pollinators, but also decorate your garden bed. Moreover, these flowers will protect the roots of zucchini from nematodes.

To attract pollinating insects to the garden, you can also feed the squash plantings with an infusion of yeast and sugar. You will need 30 grams of yeast, 100 grams of sugar, which you need to fill with 3 liters of water, and then place in a sunny place until the first signs of fermentation begin. Next, pour the resulting infusion into a bucket and add 10 liters of water, and then pour over the zucchini.

Why do the ovaries rot?

One of the most popular reasons for rotting zucchini ovaries is cold and rainy weather. In such conditions, the ovaries are not pollinated, there is no ventilation, bees do not fly in such weather, and even self-pollinating hybrids cannot develop normally.

The second most popular cause of rotting is the thickening of the zucchini plantings or the bush itself. Therefore, it is necessary not only to plant at the correct distance, but also to trim the leaves to allow light and air access to the ovaries.

Another reason that is often forgotten is the situation when the flower does not fall off the ovary, it begins to rot, and then the ovary itself rots. Therefore, it is necessary to regularly inspect the ovaries of zucchini and manually remove the flowers when the fruit has already begun to grow.

An equally common reason is a lack of micro- and macroelements, in other words, zucchini requires additional feeding.

Top dressing

Lack of calcium often causes fruit rot. You can compensate for the deficiency of this element by feeding zucchini with calcium nitrate (calculated at 1 teaspoon per 10 liters of water). You can water this solution either under the root (1 liter per 1 plant over previously watered soil) or over the leaf. The second method is more effective and economical.

A very important trace element is boron. It is especially important to feed zucchini with boron at the beginning of flowering. For example, you can use Bor-Active or a similar product (for example, “Bud” or “Ovary”). Again, you can do both root and foliar feeding.

Iodine deficiency often also causes zucchini to rot. To replenish iodine, you can use the following recipe: take 30-35 drops of the product and dissolve it in 10 liters of water, and then perform foliar or root feeding.

Potassium is responsible for the formation of fruits, so zucchini should be fed with potassium fertilizer. For example, potassium humate is perfect for this.

Thus, if you replenish the above macro- and microelements in a timely manner, you will have an excellent harvest of zucchini even in rainy and cool weather.

Advice! It is advisable to grow self-pollinating zucchini hybrids, in which case you will not have to resort to artificial pollination, and in general they are better adapted to adverse weather conditions.

Harvesting zucchini for storage

The moment of harvesting zucchini, as a rule, occurs approximately 2 months from the date of sowing in open ground or 1-2 weeks earlier when grown through seedlings.

Even a novice summer resident can treat himself to such a delicate and dietary vegetable as zucchini if ​​he pays the utmost attention to our tips and recommendations on planting zucchini seedlings and seeds in open ground in the spring. So go to the store for seed material!

On the eve of the new gardening season, the issue of choosing the right time for planting vegetable crops becomes relevant. To determine favorable dates, vegetable growers turn to the lunar calendar. Many years of experience confirm that plants sown in accordance with the recommendations are distinguished by their strength, health and productivity. Healthy and unpretentious zucchini is one of the favorite garden crops. To get a good harvest from them, you should find out in a timely manner when to plant zucchini seedlings in 2018 according to the lunar calendar.

Time to sow zucchini

An astrological forecast is important for the vegetative development and fruiting of plants. The presence of the Moon in different phases affects the biochemical processes occurring in all living organisms.

1. During the new moon, nutrients concentrate in the underground part of the plant: the root grows faster than the shoots.
2. The waxing Moon activates the processes of photosynthesis, the vegetative part is rapidly developing. This period is optimal for planting.
3. The new moon is marked by the accumulation of energy in flowers and fruits, which helps to increase productivity.
4. When the Moon wanes, the processes inside the plant slow down again.

The path of the night star along the zodiacal circle also affects the nature of agricultural work.

• For planting and propagating plants, female signs are considered favorable - Capricorn, Taurus, Pisces, Cancer, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio.
• It is better to postpone sowing time when one of the male signs is dominant - Aquarius, Leo. Twin.

Interesting!

The prevailing elements differ in the nature of their influence: the power of Air and Fire suppresses the growth of vegetables, and the energy of Earth and Water, on the contrary, pulls them upward.

Not only the sowing time, but also the implementation of important agricultural activities should be checked with the lunar calendar. The full and waning Moon signals the need for weeding and pinching zucchini, as well as applying organic fertilizers. The growth of the disk of the earth's satellite indicates the timing of feeding plants with inorganic matter.

Following the recommendations of astrologers increases the chances of healthy plant growth and abundant fruiting. Confusion in dates can lead to low seed germination and inhibited and painful development of vegetable crops. To help gardeners, a calendar is presented with favorable and unlucky days for planting zucchini seedlings in 2018.

Favorable days

The astrological calendar suggests several dates that are favorable for sowing zucchini. A specific day should be chosen taking into account the geographical location of the region, weather and climatic conditions. It is necessary to take into account the type of planting: in open or closed ground.

• for early – 45 days;
• for mid-season – 50 days;
• for later – 60 days.

In accordance with the phases of the moon in 2018, it is advisable to sow zucchini seedlings on the indicated days:

It is recommended to plant zucchini seedlings in open ground in most of Russia no earlier than May 29. The optimal dates for transferring seedlings are June 2, 3, 10, 11, and 12.

Unfavorable days

It is better to refrain from sowing zucchini seeds for seedlings on days coinciding with the full moon and new moon.

Seed selection

Before sowing, it is necessary to select suitable seeds. These can be seeds from homemade zucchini from the last harvest or bagged sets purchased in the store.

Gardeners should decide in advance which variety of zucchini to give preference to:

• Hybrid forms;
• Zucchini;
• Ordinary crops.

Hybrids are characterized by high yield and resistance to diseases. Seeds for planting them must be purchased annually. Zucchini has excellent taste. In a cool place they can retain their nutritional qualities for up to 1 month. Regular zucchini's thin skin and tender flesh do not allow for long-term storage. The seeds of these crops can be collected for further sowing.

When purchasing packaged seeds, pay primary attention to the reputation of the supplier and detailed characteristics of the plant.

1. Priority is given to products from well-known agricultural companies.
2. Preference is given to varieties with good endurance and immunity.
3. For variety and insurance, buy several different varieties.

A mandatory step in preparing seed material for sowing is checking germination. To determine the suitability of the grains, they are dipped in a container of cold water. The sunken seeds have excellent germination, while the floating seeds have already lost it.

The efficiency of germination will increase if you treat the seed material with a solution of wood ash (20 g per 1 liter of water). Soaking in the infusion for several hours will allow the grains to absorb nutrients and microelements necessary for growth.

It is also advisable to carry out disinfection. To do this, the seeds are dipped in weak potassium permanganate for 20 minutes. Next, the seed material is laid out on a damp cloth and left in a warm room for 24-48 hours. The germination process will go faster if you create a “greenhouse effect” using plastic film.

When green sprouts appear, the seeds are sown in pre-prepared peat cups. A peat container will make it easier to move seedlings into open ground in the future.

Features of sowing zucchini

Practice shows that it is better to sow in several stages and take into account the timing of planting zucchini seedlings with an interval of 10-14 days. In this case, the zucchini will ripen gradually throughout the summer.

Depending on the natural area, zucchini is planted directly in the garden or preliminary forcing of seedlings is carried out in a greenhouse. In the southern regions of Russia and Ukraine, it is customary to plant zucchini seeds in open ground. In the Moscow region, in the Leningrad region, in the middle zone, in the Urals and Siberia, zucchini is grown in 2 stages: first seedlings, indoors, then vegetable crops outdoors.

The sprouted seed is placed in a depression (up to 2 cm) in a peat cup or soil. Sprinkle earth on top and moisten. The optimal soil composition is a peat-sand mixture. It is recommended to add organic matter to feed the plant. At the bottom of the cup, be sure to make a drainage layer of pebbles, polystyrene foam or broken bricks. You can add moss. Drainage will not allow moisture to stagnate, and thereby protect the roots from rot.

Note!

Growing seedlings in cups is more preferable, since it provides convenience when transplanting seedlings into open ground and eliminates damage to the root system.

For successful seedling growth, the air temperature in the environment should not fall below +20 +22 C. It is also important to adhere to the rules of watering, avoiding drying out and excessive moisture of the soil. When the seedlings are strong enough and the air outside has warmed up well, the zucchini is transplanted into the beds. A shoot is considered ready for planting if it has at least two formed leaves.