How and when to plant zucchini seeds in open ground?

It is difficult to imagine a garden without zucchini. Vegetable firmly won a place under our not always hot sun. Juicy fruits are real storage of nutrients and fiber. It is always important to know when to plant zucchini seeds: in open ground or seedlings. Since the timing is significantly different. The culture is easy to grow, but some subtleties and nuances are worth observing.

Varieties of zucchini

Thanks to breeders, the list of tasty and healthy vegetables is growing every year. Do not underestimate the choice of variety. The entire success of the event often depends on him. In addition, this affects when to plant zucchini seeds in open ground or seedlings, because they have different ripening dates. Traditionally, several groups are distinguished.

• Early ripe zucchini: they are most optimal for regions where summers are short and cool. Ripening dates vary, but in general are about 45 days. The most popular and recognized varieties: Aeronaut (has elongated fruits of a dark green color, in the first photo), Belogor F1, Waterfall F1, Tsukesha, Gribovsky, Anna, Zebra, squash, etc.
• Mid-ripening varieties (ripen in 50-60 days): Jade, Black handsome, Macaroni, etc.
• Late-ripening varieties of squash (ripening period - from 60 days): Long-fruited, Nut, etc.

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

When to plant zucchini seeds for seedlings?

You will not find exact information on this issue. You can plant zucchini even in January, but the fact is that after 25-30 days they need to be planted in open ground. Therefore, calculate the time based on when the ground thaws and warms up in your region. Basically, seedlings are planted in the garden at the end of May, therefore, sowing of seeds should be carried out in the second half of April.

Sowing seeds for seedlings

1. Separate pots are required for zucchini. It can be milk, yogurt, plastic cups or peat bags, but still it is desirable that their size be 10 by 10 cm.
2. Seeds must be wrapped in a damp cloth before planting and allowed to hatch. You can use a weak solution of "Ideal" for soaking. Knowing how and when to plant zucchini with seeds, you will get strong seedlings, and this is already half the success.
3. Fill the pots with nutritious soil, consisting of a mixture of humus, sod land and peat, you can add a little wood ash (0.5 cups per bucket), urea or ammonium nitrate for 7-8 g.
4. The soil in pots should be shed with hot water or a weak solution of potassium permanganate.
5. Seeds are planted to a depth of 2-3 cm. The temperature for emergence of seedlings should be maintained at 18-25 ° C.

Growing seedlings

Zucchini will begin to emerge in about 7-10 days. If the seed does not fly off the sprout, then sprinkle it on top with water, but do not try to tear it off with your hands. Seedling care consists in its regular watering and fertilizing with fertilizers. As a rule, such drugs as “Bud” or “Agricola” are used. Top dressing is done twice: as soon as the shoots appear and again after ten days. Watering is done as the substrate dries.

When to plant zucchini seeds in open ground?

In the event that getting an early harvest is not the main goal or you want to get zucchini later and save them for the winter, the option of planting seeds directly into the ground is suitable for you. Dates vary: early May - first decade of June. The main factor is the warm earth, it is not recommended to plant seeds in cold soil, since it is ineffective and there is a risk that the plants will be sick for a long time. In this case, it is better not to rush.

Soil preparation

Zucchini is demanding on the structure and soil fertility, therefore, knowing what soil composition you have, certain components should be added.

• For peat bogs it is recommended that several kilograms of humus or compost and a bucket of loamy soil be added to 1 m ² .
• In a sandy substrate should be added a bucket of sod land, peat, humus and sawdust.
• Dilute loams and clay soils with peat (2-3 kg each), humus, sand and sawdust.

Knowing the approximate dates of when to plant zucchini with seeds in the ground or seedlings, prepare everything in advance and dig a plot so that the ground can stand for at least a few days or a week. Choose a sunny and warm place for the vegetable. You can plant zucchini in different areas. Empirically determine where the plant will feel better.

Zucchini Care

When planting, the distance between individual plants is maintained within 1 m, and between rows - 1.5 m. This will provide them with enough living space and facilitate access for weeding and watering. Having information about when to plant zucchini seeds in open ground and seedlings, questions about caring for the plant will also not cause difficulties for you. The whole cultivation process consists in timely weeding, loosening of the soil, watering and top dressing. Soil should easily pass moisture and air, so it is necessary to prevent the appearance of a crust after rains.

To nourish zucchini with useful minerals and organics, use complex preparations and mullein infusion. Frequency - at least two times (during flowering and during fruit ripening). Such events significantly increase the level of productivity.

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

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