It is hard to imagine that once zucchini was grown in the botanical garden as a rare ornamental plant. Italian culinary specialists were the first to discover the indispensable properties of a valuable vegetable. Now this is a fairly common culture, and not a single gardener will allow himself to bypass it. In our article we will talk about the most popular varieties of zucchini, which have already managed to take their rightful place among experienced farmers, we will talk about those that are best grown in the suburbs.
Where does the choice begin?
The culinary properties of vegetables are the first things to look for when buying seeds. There is an extremely diverse list of different dishes from zucchini. Caviar and salads are prepared from them, they are fried, boiled and stewed. This is a profitable crop for winter harvesting. Each housewife seeks to make a supply of zucchini in frozen or canned form. It should be noted that there are no universal species, and they all have their own varietal differences. There are varieties with a long shelf life. To meet the needs of your family, you need to find some of the best varieties of zucchini. Seeds are recommended to be bought in specialized stores, as they have a guarantee for germination.
Breeding differences
From other pumpkin zucchini are characterized by cold resistance and earlier ripening. To speed up the fruiting process, some gardeners grow them in greenhouses. For these purposes, breeders create early varieties of zucchini, designed specifically for greenhouse cultivation. There are also stress resistant species that can withstand mildew, peronosporosis and anthracnose. Such crops are intended for outdoor cultivation. It is immediately worth noting that the best varieties of zucchini for open ground are zoned plants that are suitable for the climatic conditions of your area.
Seed material is divided into domestic and imported. The advantages of the first include their good adaptation, high palatability and suitability for preservation. Here are some of them: Spaghetti, Delicate marshmallows, Tsukesha.
Imported hybrids also have their advantages. They are famous for high yields, and their fruits have excellent taste and thin skin. Tender salads are prepared from zucchini, which can be eaten raw. They are unsuitable for conservation and finicky in care. The most popular are: Golda, Parthenon and White Bush. There is another feature that distinguishes these varieties of zucchini. Hybrid seeds will have to be purchased annually. Collecting and sowing them yourself is not possible, because their varietal qualities are lost over time.
Varieties for Moscow region
This region is characterized by spring frosts and the onset of late summer. Throughout the warm season, heavy rains give way to strong winds. Almost all the best varieties of zucchini for the Moscow Region, designed for extreme climatic conditions, tolerate such conditions well. An exception is only too thermophilic species, such as Lagenaria and nutmeg. Consider the most common cultures:
- Mushroom. Widely used variety, with early ripening. Fruits of a cylindrical shape at the stage of technical maturity weigh up to 850 g. It is famous for its stable crops, more than 4 kg of fruits are harvested from a bush. This is the most unpretentious plant, capable of producing good crops in any region of the country. Its seeds can be harvested and stored for several years.
- Roller. Normal white zucchini, resistant to cold, has a long shelf life. The fruit has a rather rough peel. About 8 kg of fruits can be removed from one bush for the entire summer season.
- Cavili F1. Recently, the variety is increasingly beginning to appear in the lists of many gardeners. Besides the fact that it has interesting external features (yellow spots on the leaves), its good culinary properties were also revealed. The fruits grow small, but their main value is that, overgrowing, they remain juicy and tender. Now this species is considered super-yielding.
Focusing on the description, of course, you can choose your favorite hybrid, corresponding to personal preferences. In fact, it is difficult to give an objective assessment of taste. Species differences can serve as a hint for a choice. The best varieties of zucchini for the Moscow Region can be divided into three groups: hybrids, traditional whites and zucchini. For example, fruits with strong peels are stored for a long time, but less productive. Zucchini with delicate flesh gives the gardener an abundance, but quickly deteriorates. The following is a description of the individual representatives from these groups.
Outdoor Variety Overview
The requirements for zucchini grown without shelter include: productivity, taste, shelf life and temperature needs of the plant. We provide a description of zucchini that meet these conditions.
- Iskander F1. The Dutch hybrid can be included in all lists of the best varieties of zucchini for open ground. It can be attributed to the early ripe, and to those that are capable of great returns. With proper care, one bush gives up to 15-16 kg of fruit. Compared to other hybrids, it stands out for its resistance to cold. The fruits are medium-sized, have a good presentation.
- Delicate marshmallows F1. The universal hybrid is the fruit of the work of Russian breeders. Its peculiarity is that it does not lose its taste during any heat treatment, which is why it is widely used in cooking. Zucchini has a sweet, delicate taste and an unusual color for this culture. Their skin has a yellow-green color, with whitish stripes.
- Spaghetti. This plant can be safely included in the list of the best varieties of zucchini. This is a representative of the pumpkin, revealing the diversity of this culture. The fruits are quite wide, oval. The peel is bright yellow in color with white spots. Zucchini got its name because of the peculiar structure of the pulp. At the moment of technical maturity, it reminds really of spaghetti. This is especially noticeable during cooking, when the flesh begins to delaminate into fibers. The plant itself is climbing, medium-sized. The maximum harvest time is after 60 days.
- Parthenon F1. A foreign hybrid, almost identical to Iskander, one of the best self-pollinated varieties of zucchini. With the fruit set, the plant copes on its own, without the participation of insects. Thanks to this quality, squash bushes provide farmers with generous crops even in the rainy season. The color of the fruit is deep green with characteristic small specks; the surface is glossy. Resistant to disease.
- Black handsome. Zucchini with an early ripening period, from the first sprouts to harvest takes about 1.5 months. Grows in the form of a neat little bush with abundant growth of green mass. Fruits are dark green, with a glossy surface. Usually they are the same in size, have a rounded, elongated shape, the mass of the average fruit is 1.5 kg. Zucchini has a long fruiting period.
- Zolotinka. Another representative of the varieties of zucchini for open ground. Differs in high unpretentiousness to leaving and climatic conditions. The plant quickly adapts to different types of soil. The fruits ripen early, about 14-16 pieces, weighing 0.6 kg, are removed from one bush. For an undemanding plant, this figure is significantly good. It is worth paying attention to the external signs of culture. Against the background of her brothers, she stands out with the catchy yellow color of the fruit.
For greenhouses
Zucchini species are best adapted to greenhouse conditions . However, you can plant a variety of varieties, and even several at the same time. Consider the fruitful varieties of zucchini suitable for indoor cultivation.
- Zebra. The name speaks for itself. Fruits with pronounced stripes have a cylindrical shape and a ribbed surface. The period from the first shoots to fruit ripening is about 38-40 days. The pulp is yellow, juicy. The fruits are transportable and are well preserved for a long time. Bushes are slightly branched, resistant to powdery mildew. High-yielding variety, not subject to decay.
- Tsukesh. Bush, belonging to the best varieties of zucchini squash. It has a stable immunity to major diseases, has good taste. The bush is compact, without the presence of side lashes. The skin is green with numerous white lines, thin, smooth. The inside of the zucchini fruit is crispy, tender. It can be consumed fresh. This is an early ripening variety with large fruits, sometimes reaching 1 kg in weight.
- Aeronaut. Early zucchini is grown in many regions of the country. Compact, low bush with side shoots. Fruits are dark green with bright spots. The pulp is white, very juicy. Vegetables can be removed after 1.5 months from the appearance of sprouts. They are small, in a state of technical maturity, the average zucchini weighs a little more than 1 kg. Aeronaut susceptible to powdery mildew and viral diseases. Transported perfectly.
The same varieties can be grown in open ground.
Seed preparation
When you have in your hands the seeds of the best varieties of zucchini you have chosen, they will need to be prepared for planting. Planting material is soaked for half an hour in a growth stimulator or a weak solution of potassium permanganate. After processing, it is laid out in a shallow container, on the bottom of which wet tissue is previously spread. Seeds are also covered with a damp cloth and placed in a warm place. The main thing is to provide the planting material with a moist environment. After the seeds swell (and this will happen in a couple of days) they need to be hardened. For this purpose, the container with the contents is placed on the lower shelf in the refrigerator.
Landing methods
Planting crops is carried out either on a permanent place in the ground, or in special glasses for growing seedlings. An important role here is played by a variety of zucchini. For example, hybrid seeds are expensive, and when planted in the ground, pests can undermine them. Planting material harvested from its own fruits can be embedded directly into the soil. With this approach, it is always necessary to sow seeds with a margin. Each method has its advantages. Seedling - requires more attention, but gives early crops, seed - helps harden the culture and protects the root system from damage.
Soil requirements
Perhaps you will prefer a variety of zucchini with an average ripening period, then you do not need to sow seeds in the ground. In this case, it is worth working hard and germinating planting material in the room. For growing seedlings, it is better to buy a special mixture in a garden store. It is scattered on peat cups and seeds are planted (2 pcs.).
If you have chosen for yourself the best variety of zucchini for outdoor cultivation, then the soil is prepared as follows: in the autumn, organic matter is added under the dig; immediately before planting, add one tablespoon of Effekton or a mixture of humus to ash in the pit.
Care
For some beginner gardeners it is not always clear: why does unpretentious culture need such diligent care. Indeed, if you plant a regular variety of zucchini and not make much effort, they will still yield a crop. In fact, the secret lies in the fact that with a competent approach, you can increase the yield several times. After each additional feeding, the bushes are filled with power and become capable of multiple returns. To extend the fruiting period of the crop, you need to follow some simple recommendations.
- Be sure to observe crop rotation. Pumpkin crops cannot be planted in the same place. Their beneficial predecessors are legumes, potatoes, cabbage, tomatoes, and onions.
- Zucchini love black soil or well-seasoned loamy soil. They can be planted on a pile of compost.
- Young bushes need to be covered with film at night and at lower temperatures.
- Regularly control weeds and loosen the soil.
- Before planting, additionally fertilize the soil with mineral fertilizers. During fruiting, carry out complex dressing.
- Do not water the plants with too cold water. Humidification should be moderate, depending on the amount of precipitation.
- Do not let the fruit outgrow. They need to be plucked in a state of milk maturity. Otherwise, they will draw nutrients from the bush and he will have the strength to set new fruits.
- Zucchini greatly deplete the soil, which means that after harvesting, it is necessary to make the necessary amount of fertilizer.
Reviews
Judging by the reviews, there are a lot of good varieties of zucchini. These include the cultures described in our article. Zucchini Aeronaut speaks with great praise. Many housewives prefer multi-colored fruits. Of these, you can not only prepare gourmet dishes, but also grow them for sale. Typical white zucchini still remains popular. Many summer residents are engaged in the cultivation of hybrids, as they give good harvests, regardless of the weather.
Conclusion
Based on the description of the varieties of zucchini, we can conclude that the breeders made a significant breakthrough in this area. Scientists strive to develop annually zoned plants that meet certain climatic conditions and taste preferences of lovers of these irreplaceable vegetables. In addition, some new varieties have good aesthetic qualities. Thanks to this, they will serve as an excellent component for table decoration.