Patisson is an annual herbaceous plant growing in a bush or semi-bush form. Has large hard leaves. Its flowers are solitary, painted yellow. The fruit is a pumpkin, the color of which depends on the variety. The form can also be plate, bell-shaped. Consider how and when to plant squash in the ground.
Preparatory work
Before planting squash, it is necessary to carry out a number of preparatory work, namely: select a site, prepare it and apply fertilizer, prepare seeds.
Site selection
Squash grow well and give an excellent crop on chernozems and loamy soils. The plot should be sunny, as the shadow negatively affects the future crop. It is desirable that a breeze blows him slightly. When choosing a site, it is recommended to give preference to those where crops such as tomato, cabbage, potatoes, carrots or legumes were previously grown. Many are interested in the question of whether it is possible to plant zucchini and squash next to each other. This is not recommended, as unexpected instances may result.
Preparation of the selected site begins in late autumn. During this period, the remaining plants are harvested and burned. The site is dug up without breaking clods. If the selected area is sod-podzolic soil, then when digging, add organic fertilizers, the amount of which depends on whether the soil is light or heavy.
After the snow melts, the soil in the selected area is leveled with a rake. Before sowing seeds or seedlings, the plot is maintained in a loose state and systematically cleared of weeds. On the day selected for sowing, the soil is again dug up, mineral fertilizers are added to it.
Fertilizer before planting
The application of certain fertilizers depends on the type of soil. Before planting squash, for each square. meter of peat soil, it is recommended to make 2 kg of dung humus and 1 bucket of sod ash. In addition, this soil needs superphosphates with calcium sulfate and wood ash. They must be paid 1 tsp each. and 2 tbsp respectively. Fertilizer “Agrokola-5” is also being introduced per 1 sq. Km. meter 3 l of solution. After adding all the above fertilizers to the soil, the bed is covered with a film. This is necessary in order to reduce the evaporation of moisture and keep heat for a long time.
For clay soils, before planting squash, another group of fertilizers is applied. So, this soil needs peat, which must be applied 3 kg per square meter. meter. It is recommended to add more wood sawdust and humus, as well as 2 tbsp. tablespoons of wood ash and 1 tbsp. a spoonful of superphosphate fertilizers.
For sandy soils, it is better to use soddy ground and peat for fertilizing, which are applied in 1 bucket per square meter. meter. In addition, it would be nice to add 3 kg per square meter. meter sawdust and humus. Other fertilizers are similar to those added to clay soil.
If the bed is located on fertile black soil, before planting squash, it is recommended to add to each square. meter 2 kg of sawdust, 1 tbsp. a spoonful of superphosphate and 2 tbsp. tablespoons of wood ash.
A separate approach should be implemented when processing virgin lands. From it it is necessary to remove all the roots and larvae of insects, and then for each square. meter to add 3 kg of humus and fertilizer, similar to those introduced into the chernozem. In conclusion, it is better to pour such soil with Agricola-5 solution.
Seed preparation
Consider how to plant squash seeds. For sowing, seeds collected three to four years ago are considered the most suitable. Before planting squash seeds, they are preheated. In order to stimulate germination, they are soaked in a solution of boric acid, which is prepared at the rate of 20 ml per 1 liter of water. The seeds remain in solution for 24 hours, after which they are washed with clean water and dried slightly. This approach increases yield by 20%.
In practice, seed hardening is often used. To do this, moistened seeds must first be in a room with a temperature of 20 ° C, and after 6 hours - in a room with zero temperature for 18 hours.
To stimulate growth, you can also use ready-made drugs, such as "Bud", "Energy". After treatment with solutions of these preparations, the seeds are thoroughly washed with clean water and aged a couple of days on a damp cloth at a temperature of + 25 ° C.
How to plant squash seeds in the ground
When the soil is warm enough, around the end of May, holes 8 cm deep located at a distance of 70 cm from each other are made on the prepared bed. This is necessary in order to prevent rotting of squash. Each seed contains several seeds that are sprinkled with earth. In order not to deform the soil layer, it is better to carry out drip irrigation. After sowing, the bed is covered with a film until seedlings appear. Of the few sprouts that ascended in the hole, the strongest is left, and the rest break out.
Growing seedlings
They begin to grow it 30 days before the planned planting in the garden. This is carried out in greenhouses or greenhouses. Consider how to plant squash seedlings. For this, germinated seeds are sown in a box with sawdust, soil mixture and river sand. Seeds should be at a depth of no more than 3 cm. After the appearance of cotyledon leaves, sprouts dive into pots with a soil mixture: sawdust, peat and garden earth. Ammonium sulfate, potassium sulfate, superphosphate and lime are also added to this.
Watering seedlings should be moderate. 5 days before the planned planting on the prepared bed, the seedlings are tempered. To do this, remove the shelter or open the doors of the greenhouse for ventilation. Before direct planting, the sprouts are watered with a mullein solution, which is prepared in a ratio of 1:10. Instead of mullein, you can use a urea solution, the preparation of which is carried out at the rate of 10 g per 10 l of water. Seedlings are considered ready for planting after the appearance of three real leaves of a shortened submucosal knee.
When to plant squash in open ground? 25-35-day-old seedlings are planted at the end of frosts - from May 25 to June 5, in film shelters - earlier for two weeks.
How to plant squash seeds in open ground: temperature
Squash seeds germinate at a temperature of 16 degrees, so before you plant them on the bed, you need to make sure that the weather is already warm. At night, the temperature decreases, so at this time of the day it is recommended to cover the area with seeds with a film. In addition to protection against freezing, the film will preserve the humidity, which is so necessary for growing this plant.
The highest growth of squash and fruiting occur during the establishment of temperatures above +20 degrees. If the plant has already grown enough and a long cold snap sets in, then the root and stem can rot. Leaves turn yellow, stain and eventually die. This leads to a significant decrease in the number of ovaries, and sometimes to the death of the whole plant as a whole. When to plant squash in open ground with seeds? Seeds are sown from April 10 to 25.
Care: watering and loosening
After planting a seedling or after the seeds have sprouted (how to plant squash seeds in open ground, indicated above), the plant needs watering. To get a good harvest, watering should be carried out throughout the season. To do this, it is recommended to use only warm water to avoid freezing of the plant. Watering must be carried out at the root, make sure that during this process the water gets less on the flowers and leaves.
In addition to watering throughout the season, it is recommended to loosen the soil. This must be done superficially, being careful not to harm the root system. Too often, loosening the soil around the squash is undesirable, as this can lead to its drying out. To preserve moisture, mulching is carried out using a fertile ground layer, peat and humus. To preserve moisture between the rows, they can be covered with sawdust or mowed grass. Using the latter option, you need to make sure that weed seeds do not get caught in the grass.
Plant nutrition
Throughout the season, it is recommended to carry out three dressings. The first should be carried out after the appearance of four sheets. During this period, hilling is carried out, contributing to the formation of additional roots, and mineral fertilizers are introduced. With weak plant growth, nutrients are introduced. If the development process proceeds normally, then the nutrient is not introduced, but only potash and phosphate.
The second feeding of the plant is carried out during its flowering. At this time, organic fertilizers are applied, such as slurry in a ratio of 1: 4 or chicken droppings in a ratio of 1:10. Mullein can also be used. For 10 plants, 1 bucket of solution is consumed. So that after such feeding, the leaves do not get a burn, it is watered with clean water from above.
If there was a long cold snap, after which warm weather settled, you can make one more top dressing. The solution should contain potassium salt, urea, manganese, boric acid and ammonium molybdenum acid. The most suitable for this process is evening time.
Harvesting
Harvesting is done when the fruit reaches technical maturity. The most suitable specimen for use is for which the seeds have not yet ripened. It can be determined by the delicate and thin skin. If it is coarsened, then the fetus is removed after the plant dries. For conservation, squash is removed when their diameter reaches 7 cm, no more.
Plant ailments
One of the causes of the disease is cold water, a sharp change in air and soil temperature. If this happens, the plant may get root rot and powdery mildew. With high humidity, squash can affect white rot and antricorosis. When these diseases appear, the plant needs to be thinned and treated with appropriate preparations.
Little secrets when growing
Since the fruiting of squash is carried out continuously, it is recommended to harvest every fourth day. This will contribute to the rapid formation of subsequent flowering and the formation of new fruits.
If an excessive amount of nitrogen is present in the soil, the mass of the fetus can develop to the detriment of the entire crop. To prevent this, the three lower leaves of the plant are removed. After a few days, the operation must be repeated again.
To prevent fruit decay, during their formation, the soil must be mulched with dry grass.