How can it be that Gardenprue has not dedicated a little time to zucchini ? That is what I say. Today we are going to provide a solution. This typical summer plant that complements our vegetable garden of peppers and tomatoes and manages to create an exceptional diversity, deserves our attention. We will know your requirements, your cultivation technique and we will take advantage of this plant!
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THE GARDEN AT HOME. TODAY WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT THE CULTIVATION OF ZUCCHINI
We will avoid commenting on its origin, scientific name, description of the plant, history, etc. Yes, it is also interesting, but let’s go to garlic and get to know the crop itself.
ZUCCHINI TEMPERATURE REQUIREMENTS
It is not demanding in terms of temperature and the optimum temperature is usually between 20-25º C in vegetative growth, like many other vegetables, supporting temperatures between 10º C and 35º C maximum.
ZUCCHINI MOISTURE REQUIREMENTS
The humidity requirements fluctuate between 70-80%. In the case of a greenhouse, this percentage must be controlled to avoid the appearance of diseases .
LIGHT REQUIREMENTS
The light requirements are high . Avoid shady situations, as production and growth will be reduced.
SOIL REQUIREMENTS
It adapts quite well to any type of soil, especially loamy, deep and well drained. It is recommended that these soils have a high content of organic matter in the soil.
The zucchini hold Quitewell salinity situations in the soil. Regarding pH, recommended values are those between 5 and 7.
ZUCCHINI FERTILIZATION
In some post we have included information about the zucchini fertilizer. As time is money, I add values here.
Fresh air
- Nitrogen needs in kg / ha: 100-120
- Phosphorus needs in kg / ha: 30-40
- Potassium needs in kg / ha: 110-160
Greenhouse
- Nitrogen needs in kg / ha: 200-250
- Phosphorus needs in kg / ha: 60-80
- Potassium needs in kg / ha: 220-300
If you only have a few zucchini plants, it shouldn’t be a problem that it’s in hectares. If your planting frame is 1 × 1 m, you can have 10,000 plants in one hectare, which means 0.01 kg of nitrogen per plant in outdoor cultivation.
PLANTATION FRAME
As it is a creeping plant, the space needs are wide. Values of 1 plant / m 2 are frequent. There are also frames of 1.5m x 0.75m, 1.33m x1m, 1m x0.6m, etc.
PLANTING CALENDAR
Sowing: March-April
Harvest: 90 days
Germination time: 5-10 days
Zucchini is usually transplanted to permanent soil when the seedling has at least 2 or 3 true leaves.
TUTORED
Being creeping, the fruits are in danger of rotting or contracting diseases when in contact with the soil (which must be moist). In a greenhouse it is simpler, since through ropes it is possible to raise the fruit, like a pulley with the structure of the greenhouse. Outdoors it can be improvised using crisscrossed canes. Tying the stems to the canes with rope. Do it in different ways, but always leave the fruit off the ground.
PESTS AND DISEASES OF ZUCCHINI
It is a subject that must be discussed thoroughly. So we will conveniently update an entry dedicated exclusively to this topic.