Characteristics of zucchini germination
Weather conditions have a huge impact on the germination of zucchini. Due to the fact that this culture is thermophilic, it is not able to sprout at low temperatures. Planting planting material should be carried out after the soil warms up to a minimum depth of 15 cm.
Characteristics of zucchini germination
Seed preparation
If you want the seedlings to form at the same time and be healthy, you will need to prepare the seeds for sowing. For these purposes, the following solutions are used:
- 15 ml of nitroammophoska are dissolved in 5 l of water;
- potassium permanganate is poured into 2 liters of water to form a dark red tint;
- sodium humate or the drug "Ideal" (10 ml) is dissolved in 1 liter of water;
- pour 2 tbsp into 2 liters of water. l. wood ash.
Selected seeds should be placed in gauze or a cloth bag. The package with the planting material is soaked in the prepared solution for 2-3 hours. After that, the seeds are dried and placed in a dry environment (on a battery or boiler). Periodically, the gauze or cloth is moistened with warm water. This will allow the seeds to germinate.
If you have doubts about their quality, it is important to carry out a pre-sowing check. The planting material is dipped in warm water. Seeds that are empty inside will float immediately. They must be thrown away. The remaining materials should be kept in water for about 2 days. If shoots form on them, then they are suitable for planting.
In some cases (when planting in cold regions), hardening of the planting material is required. For this, the selected and processed seeds are taken out for several days on the street or balcony.
Periodically, they need to be brought into the room so that they move away from hypothermia. Such manipulations will allow the seeds to be more resistant to frost and temperature changes.
Planting
Seedlings are planted from the end of April
For the timely germination of planting material, planting should be carried out in late April or early May. During this period, frosts are still possible, which will harden the zucchini even more. Some gardeners prefer to plant in June to harvest in the fall.
In the case of spring planting, the beds should be covered with plastic wrap, which will not allow the seedlings to freeze. After 2-3 weeks, when the temperature has become stable, the shelters can be removed.
For sowing, you need to create holes, the diameter of which will be 4 cm. 2-3 seeds are planted in each hole. The first shoots are expected 6-7 days after planting the material in open ground. If the air temperature is cold, the sprouting time may increase by 3-6 days.
If the planting is carried out correctly, then the fruits will form large (weighing up to 300 g). Individual zucchini can weigh up to 1 kg. It is customary to pick the first fruits when they reach a size of 15 cm. Such zucchini have a delicate rind, which is easy to separate from the pulp.
Germination time
When the zucchini sprout is influenced by the sowing method and the air temperature. If seeds were planted in open ground, then sprouts appear in a week.If the sowing was carried out in a greenhouse or greenhouse, then squash crops sprout in 5 days.
When planting seeds with humus or peat, sprouts appear after 4 days. This is due to the fact that during the decomposition of organic matter, the temperature of the soil rises. If you pre-soak the seeds in water and only then plant, zucchini will sprout 4-5 days after planting.
If no shoots have formed after a week, then the soil temperature is still low. We need to wait a little more time. If after that the situation has not changed for the better, you have used unsuitable planting material.
Remember how many years these seeds were stored. Their shelf life does not exceed 3 years. After a specified time, they lose the ability to form shoots.
The effect of temperature on seed germination is very large. If the air has not warmed up above 7 ° C, you should not expect quick results. 12 ° C is the minimum temperature at which zucchini seeds germinate. At a temperature range of 20-30 ° C, the culture grows and bears fruit.
Care of young seedlings
There are 4 stages of vegetable care:
- high-quality and regular watering. It is preferable to use warm water, because cold slows down the growth process. Watering interval should be 4-5 days. Better to heat the water in the sun until it reaches 23-25 ° C. You need to water the plants only at the root so that the leaves do not dry out. During the flowering of zucchini, you need to pour 5 liters of water under each bush. In the growth phase, 10 liters of water are poured in;
- hilling holes. This allows air to flow to the roots. Hilling should be done only for young plants. It is difficult to get to an adult bush, and there is always a risk of damaging it. In such cases, it is sufficient to remove large weeds;
- top dressing. It is advisable to use both organic and mineral components. It is better to alternate them. The fertilization interval is once every 3 weeks. For zucchini, urea is considered the best fertilizer. It is necessary to dilute 100 ml of the drug in 10 liters of water and pour 1 liter under each bush. It is preferable to apply organic matter before planting (from autumn). During the winter, such substances are absorbed and create an ideal environment for the development of seeds in the soil;
- weekly loosening of the inter-row space. This procedure is suitable for both young and adult plants.
It is important to harvest the ripe crop on time. The optimal cleaning time is 2-3 days. During this time, an agricultural crop is able to form up to 5 fruits per 1 bush. Try to pick fruits that have not yet had time to form seeds.
Reasons for the absence of sprouts
There are several reasons why the zucchini did not sprout or germinated poorly:
- poor quality and unsuitable for sowing seeds were used;
- the soil was not previously prepared for planting or it was done, but incorrectly;
- improper processing of planting material with special substances or its complete absence.
A common reason why zucchini won't sprout is incorrect planting dates. It is likely that the soil is frozen after you have planted the seeds. The reason may lie in the absence of a film at the first stages of seedling formation.
In order for the sprouts to appear together and on time, you need to choose the right place for planting. You cannot sow such crops in the same place, because they are capable of depleting the soil. You need to choose sunny and maximum windless areas.