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Zucchini has long gained popularity due to its numerous useful properties and extreme unpretentiousness to growing conditions. The second feature of the plant, namely, its undemandingness to climatic and weather conditions, as well as to care, makes zucchini one of the most common vegetables in central Russia. The Moscow region is no exception to this rule, the gardeners of the region are actively growing the plant, while achieving excellent results both in the open field and in the conditions of film coatings of greenhouses and greenhouses.
Growing zucchini in the suburbs
Agrotechnical techniques used in the cultivation of zucchini in the Moscow region are practically no different from those used in other regions of the country. With some degree of conventionality, they can be divided into several stages.
Variety selection
Currently, breeders from various countries have developed a huge list of varieties and hybrids of marrow squash with various properties and characteristics. All varieties of zucchini can be divided into:
Domestic... Their undoubted advantages are:
- adaptation to local conditions;
- as a rule, high rates of cold resistance, allowing them not only in central Russia, which includes the Moscow region, but also in the northern regions of the country;
- high palatability of the plant, especially when using fruits for canning, since this aspect was purposefully controlled by domestic breeders.
Examples of the most popular Russian zucchini varieties are Tsukesha, Delicate marshmallow, Spaghetti and many others;
- foreign hybrids... In some cases, the developments of foreign breeders also deserve close attention. Such varieties, as a rule, are more demanding in terms of care, but at the same time they have a high yield, thin skin and excellent taste, especially when fresh. Foreign hybrids are less adapted for storage and conservation, although some of their varieties have the necessary qualities and properties. The most famous are Parthenon, Iskander, White Bush and Golda.
It should be noted that the differences between domestic and foreign varieties are not so significant to make an unambiguous choice in favor of one of the groups.
Seed preparation and planting
Zucchini is grown by two different planting methods - seed or seedlings. Seeds in both cases are prepared in about the same way.
Planting seeds for seedlings begins much earlier - around the second half of February or closer to its end. In order not to damage the root system during subsequent planting in the ground, it is better to plant seeds in special pots with a soil mixture purchased or prepared independently. Sprouts usually appear within 3-5 days. Their cultivation occurs fastest at a temperature of 18-20 degrees. After sprouting, it is required to feed, usually carried out with a mullein solution.
When the seedlings reach 25-30 days of age, it becomes suitable for planting in the ground.
In the case of planting seeds directly in open ground, it is necessary to wait for a stable soil temperature of about 12-14 degrees.
Seeds, like seedlings, are planted in a square-nested way with a cell of 0.7 * 0.7 m. A slightly tighter planting is allowed, but not much. The number of seeds dropped into the prepared holes is usually 3-4. After planting and feeding, mulching with humus is performed.
Care required by zucchini (varieties for the Moscow region)
Growing zucchini does not require a lot of time and attention. It is enough to follow a number of simple rules:
- after sprouting, very careful loosening of the topsoil no deeper than 5 cm;
- regular, but not frequent (once a week is enough) watering - about 10 liters of not cold, but better lukewarm water for every 1 sq. m;
- feeding plants, carried out with mullein solution or purchased complex fertilizers. It is enough to carry out 2-3 feeding per season.
Fulfillment of simple rules for caring for zucchini will allow you to achieve a good crop yield in the conditions of the Moscow region.
Harvesting and storage
Harvesting frequency and storage conditions are almost entirely determined by the characteristics of each individual zucchini variety, as they can vary over a very wide range. For example, zucchini should be harvested in most cases every 2-3 days, and white-fruited courgettes should be picked once a week.
An example of growing zucchini is in the following video:
The best varieties of zucchini for the Moscow region
The number of varieties and hybrids that are successfully grown by gardeners of the Moscow region is very large and amazes with the variety of varieties of zucchini presented.
Iskander F1
Zucchini hybrid Iskander F1 bred relatively recently by breeders in Holland, in Russia it appeared for the first time in the Krasnodar Territory. The main advantage of the zucchini hybrid is its high yield, achieved with proper and regular care of 17 kg per bush. Fruits of the hybrid have the usual cylindrical shape, pale green color with some bloom, visually similar to wax. The fruits of the zucchini are in most cases small in size, rarely weigh more than 0.5 kg and grow in length more than 25 cm. In addition, another advantage of the hybrid is its rather high cold resistance, which is rarely found in foreign zucchini.
Zucchini zucchini variety Tsukesha
Domestic breeders who created this variety of zucchini showed both a good sense of humor, as the name implies, and high professional qualities. Their level is confirmed by several advantages of a zucchini at once:
- high yield of zucchini, which reaches 12 kg of fruits from each bush, sometimes exceeding this indicator;
- the versatility of the variety according to the method of use. Zucchini Zucchini Zucchini great for both fresh salads and for canning or cooking by heat treatment;
- the ability of zucchini to be stored for a long time at low temperatures. For example, zucchini can stay in the refrigerator for several months without losing its taste and other qualities;
- the versatility of the zucchini variety according to the type of soil. Zucchini Tsukesu can be grown outdoors and in greenhouses or greenhouses.
Parthenon F1
The work of Dutch (like the Iskander hybrid) breeders. It appeared in domestic conditions relatively recently, but thanks to a number of advantages it quickly gained popularity and fame among Russian gardeners. The main ones are the following:
- the hybrid is parthenocarpic, therefore it does not depend on insect pollination and continues to form fruit ovaries without problems in cold and rainy weather;
- has a high yield;
- has sufficient resistance to diseases most common in the Russian area;
- the fruits of the hybrid have high taste characteristics, confirmed by many domestic gardeners.
Delicate marshmallow F1
The hybrid of a zucchini, developed by Russian breeders, Gentle marshmallow, has several qualities that distinguish it from other zucchini:
- delicate sweetish taste, inherent only in this hybrid of zucchini;
- characteristic and original two-tone color, slightly reminiscent of the Zebra variety, but still significantly different from it;
- the versatility of the hybrid by the cooking method. Showing excellent fresh taste properties, it does not lose them during heat treatment or canning.
The name of the zucchini hybrid once again emphasizes the main advantage - an excellent and rare taste.
White Bush F1
The White Bush F1 zucchini hybrid was bred by Danish breeders working at approximately the same latitude as the middle zone of Russia, in particular, the Moscow region. Therefore, it does not seem at all surprising that the hybrid is perfect for the conditions of the region. Its main qualities are as follows:
- in terms of ripening - an early ripening variety of zucchini;
- by the type of eating - universal. Can be used as food after heat treatment and in canned form;
- fruit color, shape and size - white cylindrical fruits, length - up to 20 cm, weight - 0.6-0.9 kg;
- yield - about 12 kg / sq. m.
In addition to the above qualities, most of which can be attributed to undoubted advantages, the zucchini hybrid also has a long fruiting period (more than 2 months), resistance to major diseases and excellent taste.
Golda F1
The Gold F1 zucchini hybrid belongs to the mid-early zucchini, the first fruits of which can be harvested in 45-50 days. The plant has a powerful bush structure and rather large fruits with an elongated cylindrical shape with a slightly ribbed surface. The sizes of ripe zucchini fruits are quite large: weight - more than 1.5 kg, length - up to 40-50 cm.Zucchini zucchini greens of small sizes can be used for food and processing: 0.2-0.4 kg in weight and up to 20 cm in length.
Zucchini hybrid Golda F1 has a high degree of resistance to almost all diseases. In addition, it has high taste, which it manifests in almost any form: in various dishes, canned or salted, as well as in the super popular squash caviar.
Zucchini variety Zolotinka
Variety Zolotinka It stands out not only for its striking bright appearance associated with the golden color of the fruit. In addition, zucchini has several other undoubted advantages, which include:
- early ripening of fruits;
- a fairly high yield of the variety, combined with a relative unpretentiousness to growing and care conditions;
- universally use in any type of soil: both indoor and outdoor.
One bush of zucchini Zucchini Zolotinka produces, as a rule, about 15 fruits with an average weight of about 0.5 kg.
Spaghetti variety
The Spaghetti variety, bred by domestic breeders, stands out even among the exuberant variety of zucchini varieties. This variety acquired its name due to the striking similarity of the fruit pulp to acquire, during heat treatment, an appearance extremely similar to ready-made ordinary spaghetti. This is due to the fact that the pulp breaks down into fibers that are relatively long and have a characteristic white or pale yellow color. Such unique properties are possessed only by fruits after the final stage of ripening.
In addition to the outstanding appearance of the finished product, Spaghetti zucchini also has the ability to long-term storage within 8-10 months without loss of taste.
Conclusion
The conditions of the Moscow region are quite suitable for the successful cultivation of zucchini, which is popular in Russia. And the variety of varieties and hybrids available on the market makes it easy for every gardener to find the right type of plant for him.
