Growing zucchini in the open ground is quite simple, however, to speed up the ripening of this vegetable crop and obtain a larger crop, it is often planted in greenhouses. The features of this process will be discussed in this article.
The main advantages of growing zucchini in a polycarbonate greenhouse
Polycarbonate greenhouses are in great demand among modern farmers, as they are reliable and durable protection for crops. Many of the gardeners are considering the question of whether it is possible to plant zucchini and what are the advantages of this method of cultivation.
- The main advantages are:
- the rate of ripening, early harvest allows you to sell products at more favorable prices;
- a large volume of crop yield;
- improved taste of the product;
- protection against many parasites;
- the crop is protected from the negative effects of weather conditions, possible spring frosts;
- the opportunity to grow crops from early spring to autumn.
Varieties of zucchini recommended for greenhouses
To grow zucchini in greenhouses, experts recommend paying attention to the following varieties and hybrids, which are most successfully grown due to the fact that they need a small area and they bring a plentiful harvest:
These are predominantly hybrid varieties labeled F1. They are rapidly undergoing a vegetative process, they have a high yield and they are not dependent on pollination by insects, that is, they either belong to self-pollinated or do not require pollination.
Preference is also given to bush and climbing varieties, if the height of the greenhouse allows the installation of vertical supports.
In addition to the favorites mentioned above, you can also plant in a greenhouse:
Early ripening:
Mid-season:
- Gribovsky;
- Kuand;
- Jade et al.
Late ripening:
- Walnut;
- Spaghetti Raviolo.
Self-pollinating:
- Sangrum;
- Partenon
- Suha et al.
Dates of planting seedlings in the greenhouse
Zucchini can be grown in greenhouse conditions all year round, but it is more expedient and profitable to do this at the end of winter, at the very beginning of spring, when this early vegetable is the most popular among consumers.
Based on this, it is necessary to start growing seedlings already in late February - early March, in order to get the first, spring fresh crop of vegetables in the first or second decade of April. Planting seeds should be planned 1 month before planting in the greenhouse.
Important! Zucchini seeds can be stored for up to 7 years without losing their quality.
To do this, use peat cups, seedlings with fertile soil or special nutrient soil, which is sold in stores. You can determine the readiness of planting seedlings by the presence of formed leaves.
Basic requirements for a greenhouse
Considering the parameters of the greenhouse, which are necessary for growing zucchini, you should know:
- The height of the structure should be comfortable for the person caring for the planting of a vegetable crop, that is, be at least slightly higher than his height.
- In the greenhouse there should be a wide passage in the aisles, about 50 cm, which will avoid damage to fragile bushes. The beds themselves should be 80-100 cm wide.
- The area of the greenhouse should be at least 50 m².
- Ventilation in the greenhouse is essential to avoid moisture accumulation and to provide the necessary air exchange. To do this, in the greenhouse create windows and doors from two ends.
- Heating in the greenhouse may be present, however, this is not a prerequisite. For these purposes can be used: electric boiler, wood stove, air heater. To heat greenhouses with zucchini, you can use biofuels, which include rotted manure and straw.
- It is possible to equip the greenhouse with an automatic drip irrigation system.
Features of growing zucchini
Growing zucchini is not a very troublesome matter, since this vegetable crop does not require specific growing and care conditions.
However, to obtain a high-quality and bulk crop, the following growing conditions should be monitored:
- The soil should be nutritious, containing organic and mineral components with neutral acidity. Peat, sawdust and humus can be added to loamy soil, and compost can be added to sandy manure with peat.
- Provide watering.
- Organize three times the feeding during the growing season.
- Create conditions with optimal microclimate.
How to prepare seedlings
A month before the expected date of planting seedlings in greenhouses, it is necessary to plant the seeds in prepared containers with fertile soil. Squash seeds germinate very well, however, to increase their germination ability, they can be treated with a growth stimulant or soaked in warm water for 3 hours.
Soil before planting also needs preparation, for this it is poured with warm water and left for a day. After that, the seeds are immersed in soil to a depth of 3 cm, they are buried and watered.
Irrigation is carried out regularly, since the culture loves water, however, the condition of the soil should be controlled and its excessive moisture should not be allowed.
Sowing zucchini for two years in a row on the same bed is not recommended, you should adhere to the rules of crop rotation.
When the first seedlings appear on the surface of the soil, the seedling box or peat cups are transferred to a well-lit room. In the daytime, the air temperature in it should be within + 20 ... + 22˚C, and at night - + 16 ... + 17˚C.
As soon as leaves appear on the seedlings, it can be transplanted to the greenhouse. This occurs approximately 25 days after landing.
Transplanting
Zucchini seedlings can be planted in unheated greenhouses at the end of April, if planting was done earlier and the seedlings are ready for transplanting earlier than the specified time, then the soil needs to be heated. To do this, you can spread the rotted manure mixed with straw in the beds and sprinkle it with a soil layer of 20-25 cm.
From above, plant zucchini seedlings. Before planting, the soil is watered with warm water. Bushes are planted in rows, with an interval of 70–80 cm and a distance between rows of 80–100 cm or the square-nested method. Seedlings are immersed in the soil until the first leaves.
Pollination
As a rule, experienced gardeners recommend choosing either self-pollinated varieties of zucchini, or those that do not need pollination, since the natural access of insects to the greenhouse is limited. If another variety was selected for planting, then a difficult situation may arise, since male flowers on zucchini bushes appear 10 days later than female flowers and the pollination process may not occur.
To prevent this, you can use the advice and plant seedlings in two stages, with an interval of 10 days, and then manually pollinate buds that have opened at the same time. There is also a method of luring insect pollinators into a greenhouse through the use of baits during ventilation.
Care Rules
Caring for the crop in greenhouse conditions consists mainly in observing:
- temperature condition;
- watering organizations;
- fertilizer application;
- ensuring ventilation of the greenhouse and preserving humidity within 65%;
- loosening the soil after irrigation and mulching it to preserve moisture;
- weed removal;
- formation of bushes, removal of the lower leaves on thickened bushes with more than 15 leaves to stimulate growth and improve aeration;
- garter on the trellis, in the case of growing tall bushes.
Video: Zucchini Early Harvest Secrets
Temperature mode
Zucchini loves heat, but not hot, and therefore, in the daytime in a greenhouse, the air should be warmed up to + 23˚C, at night this figure can drop to + 17˚C, while the soil temperature should be + 20 ... + 25˚C.
Exceeding these indicators can lead to dropping ovaries from the bush, and insufficient heat will have a slowing effect on the development of the plant. If the air temperature rises sharply with the arrival of heat, then the plant needs to provide more moisture, and therefore increase the amount of watering.
Did you know? Young fruits of zucchini have a more intense and taste than the old ones, and some varieties of these vegetables can even be eaten raw in salads.
How to water
On average, watering the zucchini in the greenhouse is necessary once a week, however, it is necessary to monitor the state of the upper soil layer. If small cracks appear on it, then the plant requires moisture.
For irrigation use water at room temperature and, if necessary, provide its heating. The rate of water consumption per 1 bush is a bucket of water. The frequency of watering is increased in sunny and hot weather, as well as when the first ovary appears on the bushes. During this period, the frequency of irrigation can be 2-3 times a week. Watering is stopped a week before the expected date of the start of the harvest of ripened fruits.
How to feed
The first fertilizer application occurs at the stage of soil preparation before sowing seeds.
Then to increase its fertility, you can use:
- superphosphates;
- urea
- potassium sulfate;
- ash.
Important! Nitrogen fertilizers provoke the growth of green mass, and also delay the formation of flowers and ovaries on the bushes, so their use is not recommended.
Further, fertilizer is produced during flowering and fruiting:
- complex fertilizers during the appearance of flowers on the bushes will help ensure a good harvest. To do this, they are bred in water and irrigated with a solution of bushes, performing root dressing, you can also add 1 glass of ash for each bush;
- when the bush begins to bear fruit, 3 fertilizers are applied. It is advisable to use organic substances for this purpose: infusion from bird droppings or mullein, superphosphates.
Harvesting and storage
Harvesting greenhouse zucchini must adhere to certain rules:
- collection is done every other day to prevent overripening of the fruits and growth retardation of others;
- the length of ripe fruits should reach 20 cm;
- mature zucchini has a dull sound when tapped on it;
- in order to prevent injury to the bush, it is necessary to cut the fruits with a knife from the bush.
The last crop in the greenhouse is harvested in August. To successfully store zucchini, you need to put unwashed fruits in boxes and send them to a cool room.
Growing zucchini in a greenhouse is a simple process, because the culture is unpretentious in care and does not require special conditions for planting. Vegetables love watering, are growing rapidly and are often grown in greenhouse conditions for sale as the first spring vegetables.