How and when to plant zucchini seeds in the open ground?

It is difficult to imagine a vegetable garden without zucchini. Vegetable has firmly won a place under our not always hot sun. Juicy fruits are real stores of useful substances and fiber. It is always important to know about when to plant zucchini seeds: in open ground or in seedlings. Since the timing is significantly different. Culture is simple in cultivation, however, some subtleties and nuances must be respected.

Varieties of courgettes

Thanks to breeders, the list of types of delicious and healthy vegetables is growing every year. Do not underestimate the issue of choosing a variety. It often depends on the success of the event. In addition, it affects when planting zucchini seeds in the open ground or in seedlings, because the maturation period for them is different. Traditionally, several groups are singled out.

• Early-ripening zucchini: they are most optimal for regions where the summer is short and cool. The maturation period varies, but in general it is about 45 days. The most popular and recognized varieties are: Aeronaut (has an elongated fruit of dark green color, in the first photo), Belogor F1, Waterfall F1, Tsukesh, Gribovsky, Anna, Zebra, skvorushka, etc.
• Medium-ripening varieties (ripen in 50-60 days): Nephrite, Black handsome, Macaroni, etc.
• Late-ripening varieties of zucchini (maturity - from 60 days): Long-fruited, Walnut, etc.

If you want not only to get an early harvest, but also to keep it during the winter, experts recommend planting varieties with different maturation periods. Choose two or three that you like best. Zucchini will grow in stages, and you will provide yourself with fresh fruits for an extended period of time.

When to plant zucchini seeds on seedlings?

On this issue you will not find the exact information. Plant zucchini can be at least in January, but the fact is that after 25-30 days they must be planted in the open ground. Therefore, count the time based on when the land thaws and warms up in your region. Mostly in the garden seedlings are planted at the end of May, therefore, seed sowing should be carried out in the second half of April.

Seeding for seedlings

1. Under the zucchini requires separate pots. These can be milk packages, yogurt, plastic cups or peat, but it is nevertheless desirable that their size be 10 by 10 cm.
2. Seeds before planting should be wrapped in a damp cloth and let it get through. You can use a weak solution of "Ideal" for soaking. Knowing about how and when to plant zucchini seeds, you will get a strong seedling, and this is already half the success.
3. Pots filled with nutrient soil consisting of a mixture of humus, turf and peat, you can add a little wood ash (0.5 glasses per bucket), urea or ammonium nitrate for 7-8 g.
4. Land in the pots as it should be poured hot water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
5. Seeds are closed to a depth of 2-3 cm. The temperature for emergence should be maintained at 18-25 ° C.

Growing seedlings

Zucchini will begin to rise after about 7-10 days. If the seed does not fly from the sprout, then sprinkle it slightly on top of the water, but do not try to tear it away. Care of seedlings is in its regular watering and fertilizing with fertilizers. Typically, use drugs such as "bud" or "Agricola". Top dressing is done twice: once the shoots appear and again after ten days. Watering is performed as the substrate dries up.

When to plant zucchini seeds in the open ground?

In the event that getting the early harvest is not the main goal or you want to get zucchini later and keep them for the winter, you will be approached with the option of planting the seeds immediately into the ground. Terms vary: the beginning of May - the first decade of June. The main factor is warming up the land, planting seeds in cold soil is not recommended, since it is inefficient and there is a risk that the plants will be ill for a long time. In this case, it's better not to hurry.

Soil preparation

To the structure and fertility of the soil zucchini is demanding, therefore, knowing what kind of soil you have, it is necessary to make certain components.

• For peat bogs, adding a few kilograms of humus or compost, a bucket of loamy soil, is recommended for 1 m ² .
• In sandy substrates should be added on a bucket of turf ground, peat, humus and sawdust.
• Loam and clay soils dilute with peat (2-3 kg each), humus, sand and wood sawdust.

Knowing the approximate timeframe for planting zucchini seeds in the soil or seedlings, prepare everything in advance and dig a site so that the land can stand for at least a few days or a week. Place a vegetable for the sun and warm. You can plant zucchini in different areas. Experimentally determine where the plant will feel better.

Care for courgettes

When planting, the distance between individual plants is maintained within 1 m, and between rows - 1.5 m. This will provide them with sufficient living space and will facilitate access for weeding and watering. Knowing the information about when to plant the seeds of zucchini in the open ground and seedlings, the issues of plant care will not cause you any problems either. The whole process of cultivation is the timely weeding, loosening of the soil, watering and feeding. The soil must easily pass moisture and air, so it is necessary to prevent the appearance of the crust after rain.

To make up zucchini useful minerals and organic matter, use complex preparations and mullein infusion. Periodicity - at least two times (during flowering and during fruit ripening). Such measures significantly increase the level of yield.

Experts also advise during the most active flowering early in the morning to spray zucchini with a weak solution of honey in order to attract pollinators. To prevent the appearance of pests, pollination with wood ash will help, as well as the timely removal of dry or damaged leaves.

Knowing everything about zucchini (growing from seeds, when planting and how to care), you will always have fresh vegetables on your table, not only in summer, but in autumn, and even in winter. Culture has a high quality. For storage, select smooth, ripe, undamaged fruit.