Temperature for growing zucchini in the open field
Farmers are engaged in the cultivation of zucchini, because this vegetable is very useful for the body. In addition, the culture is famous for its unpretentiousness. It is only worth making sure that the temperature for zucchini in the open field has the necessary indicators, because this affects the yield and resistance of the plant.
Temperature for growing zucchini in the open field
Botanical features of culture
Zucchini are annual plants that bear a resemblance to both pumpkin and squash. Most varieties grow in bush form, but there are varieties that can be semi-bushy.
The stem of the squash is straight and powerful. Five-lobed leaves radiate from it, the colors of which are characterized by all shades of green. The fruit contains a significant amount of B vitamins and various minerals: a lot of potassium and iron.
This crop is characterized by early maturity and yields throughout the season. If you want the zucchini to bear fruit continuously, remove the formed vegetables from it regularly. The optimal conditions for him are a short sunny day. So it accelerates the growth rate.
When planting, preference is given to loamy and chernozem soils, which are fed in advance with humus or mineral components. Although this crop prefers warm weather, it bears fruit easily at a temperature of 5 ° C.
Despite the resistance to drought, in comparison with other crops in the garden, zucchini should be watered at intervals of 3-5 days.
Fetal development conditions
Like other crops, squash needs quality care. It is important to consider proper seed preparation for planting. In order for the culture to feel comfortable and give a quick harvest, it will be necessary to warm up the seed before planting.
Place the seed bag on the battery for a few days. This will kill all bacteria and prepare them for planting.
For the sprout to break through the seeds, the temperature must be around 9 ° C.
Drought tolerance is achieved through deep roots and a developed vegetative system, which is located in the upper part of the bush. If the plant does not receive the proper moisture, the roots will independently extract it from the inner layers of the soil. Watering is carried out regularly. Due to this, high yield rates are achieved.
Optimal zucchini environment
The optimum temperature for zucchini planted in the open field should be 20-27 ° C. In such conditions, it is difficult to adhere to stable indicators - and at lower levels, the plant will not die.
If you plant the plant in May, you will be harvesting until September. Zucchini freeze only at a temperature of -1 ° C and below, which allows the cultivation of this culture (in the southern regions) until October.
Crops die during a cold snap due to the structure of the main stem. It is rather loose and watery and cannot withstand frost. When the minimum temperature for zucchini is reached at 10 ° C, the roots stop supplying nutrients and moisture to the top of the bush. Sluggish patches appear over time.
If the air temperature does not return to normal, then the bush completely dies. If you want to get a large harvest, you should not store the bushes until frost. It makes more sense to cut the large-stalked fruit and store it in proper conditions.
The peduncle will allow the fruit to continue to develop even in the absence of a bush. You need to store vegetables at a stable temperature of 5-7 ° C. Ideal storage locations would be:
- basement;
- insulated balcony;
- pantry in the apartment.
Trouble with squash crops can arise not only from frost, but also from excessive heat. The maximum heat level at which these crops grow is 30-32 ° C. If the air temperature approaches 40 ° C, the bush will die.
Temperature range for planting
Plants must be planted in warm soil.
The optimal temperature regime for planting squash crops is considered to be 17-20 ° C. It is also necessary to take into account how much the soil has warmed up. Planting is allowed if the indicator of 12 ° C is reached, to a depth of 10-15 cm. To take measurements, use an ordinary thermometer.
The seeds must go through a hardening process. To do this, they are placed in a tissue bag and kept at low or high temperatures for 2-3 days. Quenching can be carried out both at 0 ° C and at 50 ° C. After that, you need to germinate the seeds and plant them in open ground.
Effects of cool weather
Cool weather negatively affects the growth of seedlings and the development of ovaries. Low temperature indicators do not allow the plant to pollinate. This requires insects, which do not exist in bad weather. Because of this, the yield will be significantly reduced.
You can pollinate the plant yourself if you don't want to lose your crop. To do this, it is enough to tear off the male flower and sprinkle it with pollen on the female pistil.
Night temperature
Plants are able to withstand temperature changes normally at a later time. At night, the process of photosynthesis slows down, the need for heat and energy decreases.
Plant development indicators will not decrease if the difference between daytime and nighttime values is about 10 ° C. The optimum temperature is 15-18 ° C. At night, it can drop to 6 ° C without the risk of death of the bush, but this applies only to adults. Seedlings are more sensitive, and such a temperature regime is destructive for them.
If the air cools down at night and falls below 9 ° C, the plant should be protected from the cold. To do this, cover the beds with special woven materials or use a dense plastic wrap. If the temperature is expected to be close to 0 ° C, it will be necessary to cover the area in several layers.
Frost protection
In some regions, even at the end of May, the temperature regime is close to 0 ° C, so gardeners must make every effort to protect their plots and plants. For these purposes, use:
- thermal accumulators. As batteries, it is advisable to use small containers (up to 5 liters), into which warm water is poured, or heaters;
- glass jars. They are placed evenly around the entire perimeter of the site. It is best to place 1 container near each bush.
A plastic wrap is laid on top of such containers and young plants. Due to the fact that the batteries are much higher than the young seedlings, it will have room for development and growth.
To reduce the risk of loss of yield, additional seeds are planted next to the emerged crop. If the seedlings die, there will be new material to replace them.
Actions in case of freezing of culture
Zucchini are afraid of low temperatures.If you notice that the cool weather has contributed to the fact that the vegetables are frozen, there is always a chance to "reanimate" them.
First you need to determine which part of the bush has suffered. If the leaves are frozen over, and the roots and stem remain intact, you need to water each bush with stimulants for growth. They are also processed with nitroammophos.
Even young seedlings can be "reanimated" if you do it right away. If you notice that it is frozen, you need to pour it with Epin (1 ampoule for 5 liters of water).
This drug is used to strengthen the immune system of plants. It helps relieve cultural stress (which often happens after hypothermia). Processing is carried out within a month with an interval of 7 days.
Growing crops is a laborious process if you live in cold regions. In this case, you need to have an idea of the basic methods that help save frozen bushes and grow a good harvest. It is also important to know what temperature will be optimal for growing zucchini.