Zucchini – growing and caring for plants

Zucchini are easy to cultivate. Even beginners have no problems with cultivation and care. The plants don’t really like warmth and a nutrient-rich substrate, regular water and more. It is best to choose disease-resistant varieties, then the chance of reaping a rich harvest is particularly good.

Location
If you grow vegetables such as zucchini in the garden, you usually create a bed for them. Of course, such plants also grow in every perennial or flower bed. A raised bed is also ideal. The appropriate substructure of the bed ensures good growth, which is ideal for vegetables.

• Zucchini love warmth and therefore a sunny location.
• It is important to leave enough space around. The plants need quite a bit of space.
• A zucchini plant takes up 1.5 to 2 square meters of space

Plant substrate
In terms of substrate, zucchini do not differ that much from other vegetables.

• Loose and humus-rich plant substrate
• The addition of compost is recommended

Sowing and planting

Of course you can buy zucchini plants in stores. However, many hobby gardeners enjoy growing the plants themselves from seeds. In essence, this is not complicated and it does not take long. You can sow in the house or directly in the field.

• From mid-April onwards, the seeds are sown on the windowsill.
• If you start sowing too early, the plants will get too big early. They are only planted out after the ice saints. By then they can have reached considerable proportions. The plants become a space problem. Of course, it doesn’t matter if you have enough space.
• You use pots with a minimum diameter of 9 cm and always put two seeds in a vessel.
• The seeds germinate after about a week.
• The weaker of the two germinated plants is removed later.
• So from mid-May, when late frosts are no longer to be expected, the young plants are planted at their destination.
• Plants that have been bought are also placed in the garden according to this point in time.
• Now it is also possible to sow directly in the field.
• Zucchini do well in mixed cultures. Particularly good neighbors are: nasturtiums, onions, leeks and runner beans.
• Marigolds around the plants look great. In addition, these are robust plants that manage to assert themselves next door.

Caring for the zucchini plants

Once put outdoors, zucchini don’t need much care. They are quite frugal plants. However, they are heavy consumers, so they need nutrients.

• It is ideal if you regularly provide the plants with a little compost.
• The soil should be loosened regularly. Remove weeds at the same time!
• A layer of mulch works well on the plants and the soil.
• Weed growth is curbed and the soil stays moist longer. Water cannot evaporate that quickly.
• Fruits that lie on the mulch layer are protected from moisture and rot.
• It is best to use rainwater for watering. This shouldn’t be too cold.
• The plants need water regularly. It is best not to pour it on the leaves. This is how you avoid fungal infestation.
• An even supply of water and nutrients is important. When under stress, the plants produce many more male flowers.

Interesting facts
When zucchini start to flower, many male flowers usually appear first. However, no fruits develop from this. These flowers can be recognized by the long, thin stem on which they sit. The female flowers appear only afterwards. Most male flowers can be harvested and cooked. They are considered to be particularly tasty. A few male flowers are sufficient to fertilize the female flowers.

Harvesting zucchini

The plants grow quickly and the first fruits can soon be harvested. Often it only takes 6 to 8 weeks for the first to ripen. Zucchini taste best when they are 10 to 20 cm long. If harvesting is carried out regularly, new flowers appear, from which fruits develop. If you leave the fruits on and grow, the profitability of the plant suffers.

• When harvesting, you simply cut the zucchini with a knife.
• Zucchini can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 14 days.
• Large, ripened fruits can be kept for months.
• The fruits are not suitable for freezing. They lose their consistency and become soft and watery.
• It is good to pickle zucchini like cucumber. With vinegar, herbs and spices, filled hot in jars, they will keep for a few months.

Diseases and pests

Zucchini are also threatened by diseases and pests. The sooner you discover them, the better you can get a grip on them. The most dangerous for zucchini are snails. They love the young plants. The plants are particularly threatened in damp weather. In the case of drought, the problems are limited. Otherwise there are many problems with powdery mildew.

• Snail pellets, snail fences, snail collars and collect them as soon as you discover one help against snails.
• Powdery mildew occurs mainly when it is dry. White-gray spots form on the leaves, later floury coatings. The leaves turn brown and die.
• Downy mildew is shown by yellow, gray to brown spots on the leaf, underneath you can see gray-white mold. Occurs in damp, cold weather.
• With both fungal diseases, it helps to remove the infected leaves and parts of the plant! Stop fertilizing! In the case of downy mildew, spray several times with a whole milk-water mix (1: 5). In the case of powdery mildew, spray with lecithin mix (gardening trade)!
• Mosaic virus can be recognized by mosaic-like yellow spots on the leaves. Usually fatal for the plant. Usually only occurs towards the end of the growing season, so action is not necessary.

Especially recommended varieties

• Gold Rush F1 (Gold Rush) – bright yellow variety, elongated shape, ripening time about 50 to 55 days
• Cue Ball F1 – light green variety with a round shape, the specialty is the short development time of only 35 days
• Bianco di Trieste – light green, almost white variety, particularly good aroma, ripening time around 45 to 50 days
• Mastil F! – elongated, typically dark green, slightly speckled, ripening early with a long harvest period and good disease resistance
• Mirza F1 – very resistant, good for beginners
• Tondo chiara di Toscana – round, light green speckled fruits, bushy growing and suitable for pot cultivation
• Black Forest F1 – ideal for small gardens, can climb and tendrils, dark green elongated fruits
• Radiant F1 – dark green, glossy, elongated fruits, good harvest, resistant to powdery mildew and cucumber mosaic virus
• Defender F1 – early maturing, high-yielding variety, natural resistance to lice-borne viral disease
• Dundoo, green – is said to be resistant to all diseases, dark green, shiny fruits, early harvest
• Partenon F1 – variety especially for wet and cool weather, good yields even in poor conditions, small harvests, otherwise they form firm pods
• Soleil – yellow fruits, slightly fruity taste, healthy variety

Tips

• Do not plant zucchini next to potatoes!
• Harvest male flowers just before they open.
• Do not store zucchini near tomatoes, apples or other menopausal fruits! Otherwise, zucchini will ripen and spoil very quickly!
• For a family of three to four, two zucchini plants are more than enough. Otherwise there is an abundance of fruits.
• Diseases can be prevented by strengthening the plants, for example with nettle manure.
• Do not use a lot of mineral nitrogen fertilizers!
• Neem supplements help prevent fungal infections.
• If a fungal disease occurs, take a three-year break from growing this bed for zucchini, pumpkin and cucumber! The fungus overwinters in the ground!
• As soon as the ovaries swell and the petals begin to wither after fertilization, they should be removed! These petals are the main entry points for fungal pathogens in damp weather.

Conclusion
Zucchinis are not great in taste and also not super healthy, but you can prepare them delicious, and they do not make you fat. You can eat from them until nothing works. It’s not difficult to grow. Since the last few years have been quite humid in summer, it is better to choose varieties that can handle it well and that are resistant to the three main fungal diseases. Otherwise, you just have to keep the planting distance so that the large leaves and then the fruits can dry off well after getting wet. The plants need to be adequately supplied with water and nutrients and the rest will almost take care of itself. You can wish good appetite.