Content:
The optimal period for planting zucchini for seedlings is considered to be the interval from mid-March to mid-May, planting is carried out based on the regional characteristics of the climate. You can plant seedlings on an open bed after about five weeks. A suitable period for planting seedlings in the ground begins at the end of May and lasts until mid-June. At this time, the plants will be able to take root well on the site. But the main thing to be guided by is the climatic features of the region.
Zucchini for seedlings: when to plant
It is not recommended to plant planting material later than the established date, since the remaining time of the calendar summer season is not enough for the full development of the plant.
Within the territory of the middle zone of our country, sowing work is carried out during the following calendar periods:
- to harvest an early harvest, zucchini are sown from the twenties of April to mid-May;
- vegetables that will be preserved and stored are sown from mid to late July.
Seedlings of zucchini
To correctly determine the timing of planting seedlings of zucchini in a particular Russian region, you need to familiarize yourself with the weather forecast, which will be established in the next month, in particular, with the air temperature indicator.
Seed preparation
Before germinating seed material, it must be hardened. To do this, non-germinated seeds should be kept in the refrigerator for 12 hours, after which the same amount of time should be kept at room temperature. Carrying out hardening measures will provide the planting material with greater resistance to the effects of negative factors.
First of all, the planting seeds are treated against bacteria and spores. They should be poured with boiling water for 5 hours. After that, soak in cold water for 5 minutes. Then pickle in a mixture of aloe and Kalanchoe juice in equal proportions.
To improve the quality characteristics of the planting material, the seeds should be germinated. At the bottom of a shallow plate, cotton wool is laid, on which it is necessary to place the grains, then cover with the same material and moisten with water.
The choice of container for seedlings
It is recommended to plant each zucchini grain in a separate pot. The best option is considered to be planting in a peat glass, which is then placed in the soil along with the plant.
The recommended diameter of the planting container is 8 centimeters, the height is 10 centimeters.
You can also plant seeds in a cardboard box or a small paper cup. For disembarkation, you can use inexpensive materials available in household supplies.
Planting seeds
How to properly prepare the soil
You can grow squash seedlings at home in ordinary fertile soil, purchased in a store or prepared yourself. To do this, peat in the amount of 6 parts should be combined with 2 parts of compost, the same amount of turf with the addition of a part of rotted sawdust material to the resulting mixture.
To enrich the soil with useful mineral compounds, half a glass of ash, superphosphate in the amount of 15 g, 10 g of potassium sulfate, 5 g of urea fertilizer or nitrate are added to the volume of one bucket.
Features of planting zucchini for seedlings
For the correct cultivation of zucchini for seedlings, it is necessary to know the timing and features of planting the culture.
The glasses should be filled with enriched soil, and then poured with a bright solution of potassium permanganate or boiling water. Sprouted zucchini seedlings are planted to a depth of 2 cm, no need to deepen more. The planted seeds are covered with soil.
Before the crops sprout, they must be covered with cellophane film, the optimum temperature inside the "greenhouse" is 20aboutC. When sprouts appear, the temperature should be reduced by about 2aboutC, planting material should be kept under such conditions for four days. The average temperature before landing on an open bed should be 19aboutFROM.
Another way is to grow seedlings in boxes covered with sawdust. The bottom part is covered with a film material, on which a 10-cm layer of steamed sawdust is laid. The surface of the soil is lined with furrows at a distance of 4 cm, the bottom of each of which is covered with a small amount of compost.
The plant is unpretentious in care
Seed material is sown at intervals of 3 cm. Planting is picked when cotyledon leaves appear on the shoots. An hour before transplanting the plant from the greenhouse into the ground, it must be watered. The roots should be removed from the substrate carefully, avoiding deformation.
How to care for seedlings
When caring for planting material, complex agronomic measures are not required. Plantings grown on a windowsill on the south side do not need additional lighting. Plants placed on the north side must be provided with additional lighting.
Landings on the east and west sides should be provided with 12 hours of daylight. It is necessary to control the condition of the air entering through the window, since cold air masses can contribute to the death of young growth.
Watering
Watering of the planting material is carried out as the soil dries up. You should not allow sudden changes in water temperature that can negatively affect the state of young shoots.
How to fertilize zucchini
The first fertilization of squash seedlings is carried out 10 days after the shoots appear. To fertilize one planting, it is necessary to prepare a weakly concentrated mullein solution (50 ml). You can also dissolve one teaspoon of urea in a liter of water or dilute a 2-gram dose of "Bud" in the same amount of water.
Landing in open ground is carried out when 2 sheets appear.
How to choose a seat
The area for planting zucchini should be sunny and calm. Before them, it is recommended to grow potatoes, cabbage of any variety, something from legumes, garlic. Avoid areas where squash, cucumbers and pumpkins grew.
How to prepare the ground
The land is prepared long before the planting material is planted. In autumn, the soil should be fertilized with a mullein, 35 g of superphosphate and 20 g of potassium dressing should be added. The quantity of each component is indicated per 1m2.
Land preparation
The dug earth is left for wintering. After the snow melts, the soil is loosened, 20 g of ammonium nitrate is introduced into 1m2, then the earth should be dug up. Sandy soil is enriched with sawdust and dry clay, clay soil - with compost and river sand.
How to plant seedlings on an open ridge
A week before transplanting into open ground, the seedlings must undergo a hardening procedure, which consists in keeping the pots in the sun throughout the day and placing them in a warm room at night.
Zucchini plantings grow rapidly, this necessitates planting them at a sufficient distance from each other.
Before planting, each well is filled with a tablespoon of organic matter mixed with earth. You can use the purchased ready-made substrate. Also, a liter dose of Agricola is added to each pit.
A good time to transplant zucchini is the morning of a cloudy day. On a hot day, it is better to plant seedlings in the evening. Peat glasses with seedlings are planted in the soil with a deepening to the first leaves.
The soil should be compacted around the rooted planting. When it gets cold, the seedlings are covered with a woven or film material, in the morning they should be removed.
Once a week, zucchini is fertilized with poultry droppings, the proportions of the components of which are 3 liters of manure per 10 liter bucket of water.
Large leaves should be cut off. Harvest - as the fruit ripens.
Observing the rules of cultivation and the timing of planting zucchini for seedlings, you can collect a rich harvest of delicious zucchini.
