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Zucchini is a very common culture among gardeners, since it is not very difficult to grow it, it does not require special care. The fruits of this plant are very tasty, have a delicate taste and dietary properties. You can cook a huge number of dishes from zucchini and make preparations for the winter.
What are parthenocarpic varieties
Now more and more bags with seeds of zucchini and other crops appear in agricultural stores, on which the inscription "parthenocarpic" is written. What does this mean? Until now, many gardeners do not know the meaning of this word or misunderstand it.
Often in brackets next to this incomprehensible inscription they write self-pollinated variety... But it should be said that parthenocarpic and self-pollinated varieties are not the same thing. Parthenocarpic squash is a crop that produces fruit without pollination. In this case, the zucchini themselves will not have seeds inside.
Self-pollination is a completely different process, in which pistils and stamens from the same flower are capable of pollination without the participation of insects. These zucchini grow with seeds.
Some growers write instead of "self-pollinated variety" next to the word parthenocarpic - "not requiring pollination." This formulation would be more correct. Parthenocarpic zucchini are needed in order to grow them where there are no insects or there are not enough of them for pollination. This often happens in greenhouses, but zucchini is mostly grown outdoors, so parthenocarpic varieties can be used in order not to wait long for ovaries to appear.
Parthenocarpic zucchini varieties
Zucchini varieties There are not too many parthenocarpic species. In this section, we will describe each of them.
Parthenon
This hybrid of a parthenocarpic variety has a medium vigor bush. Fruits are at maturity, medium size, dark green with glossy reflections. Their shape is straight cylindrical, without bends. The pulp under the thin skin is dense with high palatability. Mature zucchini of this variety perfectly tolerate transportation and long-term storage in a cellar.
Thanks to the parthenocarp, this variety can be grown under unfavorable conditions for insects. These are greenhouses, rainy and very hot days. Due to this, the yield of the variety does not fall due to such conditions. The value of the variety is that it is resistant to powdery mildew.
Kavili
This variety can be called the leader of the world selection. The fruits appear without the participation of bees and other insects. The variety belongs to early ripening, the period of fruit ripening from the first shoots is 43 days. The plant is a compact bush with internodes. Mature zucchini reach a length of 22 cm, their shape is cylindrical, the skin is pleasant light green. Under the skin is a white, delicate pulp that tastes good.
Zucchini varieties Kavili tolerate transportation very well and are suitable for long-term storage. The variety is resistant to powdery mildew.
In order to effectively grow this particular variety of zucchini, you need to know some rules:
- The soil for planting zucchini should be light.
- Before planting the variety, the soil is prepared in the fall. Namely, compost is introduced. Alternatively, you can use hay, sawdust of deciduous trees, green manure cut, a mixture of ash and superphosphate.
- In the spring, the earth is not dug up, but simply processed with a rake to add fluffiness.
- Planting holes are treated with a solution from azofoski and humic fertilizer. This recharge is done one week before planting.
- It is not necessary to soak the zucchini seeds before sowing.
- Sowing is done in early June. Seed consumption per 1 square meter - 3 pieces. The seed is laid to a depth of about 5 cm, and then watered abundantly.
- After planting, mulching is carried out with hay, sawdust or peat chips.
Suha F1
The variety is high-yielding. The period from the first shoots to the ripeness of the fruit is 40 - 50 days. The culture has a compact upright bush. Zucchini grow smooth, light green in color and cylindrical in shape. If there is a situation of overgrowth of zucchini, then its pulp does not coarse. The flesh of the zucchini is white, dense, but at the same time tender and juicy with excellent taste.
The variety is valuable because it is resistant to diseases that occur under humid conditions, as well as to viruses of the yellow mosaic type of zucchini and watermelon mosaic. The hybrid can be grown both under the film and in the open field. Suitable for preparing various dishes and for preparations.
Belogor F1
The hybrid is early maturing. From the moment of germination to ripening of the fruit, it takes about 45 days. The variety can be grown both by seedling method and by planting directly into the ground. Seedlings of zucchini sown in April, and transplanting in the ground in May and early June. The plant is a compact bush. Ripe cylindrical fruits weighing about 1 kg. Their coloring is greenish-white, the pulp is medium-term, pleasant to the taste.
The yield of the variety is 10 - 15 kg per 1 square meter. The value of the hybrid is in the resistance to powdery mildew, anthracnose, gray mold, bacteriosis. The variety is recommended for direct consumption and processing, for preparing caviar.
White Swan
The variety belongs to the early ripening period, the ripening period is approximately 50 days. Fruits of white color are smooth cylindrical in shape, their weight is about 800 grams. Mature zucchini tolerates transportation and storage well. Zucchini pulp is medium-dense and tender, has excellent cooking characteristics.
The value of the variety is determined by its resistance to powdery mildew.
Apollo F1
The variety is very early ripening, the period of fruit ripening from germination is about 40 days. The culture is a powerful bushy plant with many leaves. Ripe courgettes are light green in color with white specks. They reach a weight of 1 kg and a length of 40 cm. The flesh of the fruit is dense and white with good taste.
The value of the variety is its resistance to powdery mildew. Shade tolerance and resistance to low temperatures, high yield regardless of weather conditions. This variety is suitable for industrial cultivation. Zucchini of this variety are perfect for canning and cooking caviar.
Growing and Harvesting Tips
Summer in central Russia is usually quite unpredictable. For one week, the weather can be comfortable for growing zucchini, and the remaining three weeks of the month it will rain or be drought. Therefore, it is parthenocarpic varieties that are perfect for such conditions, because you will not need to worry about the pollination of zucchini.
For zucchini, those places where potatoes, cabbage or onions were fruitful last year are best suited. The soil should never be acidic. If its acidity is increased, then it is necessary to dilute such soil with dolomite flour or chalk powder.
If there are any problems with the leaves and shoots of the squash, for example, fungal or viral lesions have appeared, then the spoiled foliage is plucked and thrown out of the garden. After that, the remaining zucchini bushes are sprayed with a solution of 1 teaspoon of shower gel and the same amount of soda ash, diluted with 10 liters of water. In order for the zucchini to grow healthy and bear fruit as much as possible, they need:
- Watering.For the full development of zucchini, you need 20 liters of water per 1 square meter so that the roots that have grown over a large area can receive nutrition.
- Good soil. The soil must pass water, oxygen and heat, and for this it needs constant loosening.
- Periodic feeding.
- Removing weeds.
You also need to try to shoot mature zucchini on time. This will give an even greater yield. A ripe fruit differs from an unripe one in a dull sound, as well as in the skin, which becomes harder.
The stripped zucchini can be stored for up to five months in a dark, cool room. If too many vegetables have grown, then it is better to freeze or preserve some of them.
Zucchini is a plant that Russians love very much. And in order to have a good harvest on the table, regardless of weather conditions, it is possible to grow parthenocarpic varieties that will ripen early and with a high yield.
