Zucchini can be described in two words - simplicity and unpretentiousness. Agricultural technology of such a vegetable does not cause much trouble, but few people know that the productivity of this plant can be doubled. In the conditions of a limited land plot, improving the quality of the crop and the number of fruits taken from one bush is an important fact.
The technology for growing zucchini on a warm bed is not new, but not all gardeners are familiar with it. This article will tell you how to get a double crop from one bush with minimal labor and what kind of zucchini grown on a warm bed.
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How to create an underground heat source
The climate of central Russia in recent years often shows various temperature records. In such conditions, it is quite difficult for heat-loving plants to gain the necessary green mass and a good percentage of ovaries. In turn, summer residents have to make more efforts to get a decent harvest.
Arrangement technology warm beds able to provide any plant with comfortable conditions for the development of the root system and protect young seedlings from return frosts. Such plantings do not require ventilation and additional shelter, since the roots of the plants are always warm.
Zucchini is very responsive to heat and nutrient soil, therefore, to accelerate the growing season, they need to arrange a seat in advance. Soil preparation for planting can begin as soon as the snow melts. The choice of location, first of all, should be determined by good lighting. It is the sun's rays that can wake an underground source of thermal energy, which will be laid in the spring.
To create a warm bed you will need organic material in the form of old foliage, unspoiled compost or old newspapers. On a site selected for zucchini, it is necessary to dig a trench 50 cm deep. At the bottom of the pit along the entire length, you need to lay all of the above organics. The second tier of the ridge should consist of a peat-sand mixture, which can be enriched with wood ash. The aerial part of the “layer cake” should consist of compost earth.
After all the layers are laid, the resulting thermos should be abundantly moistened with a warm solution of mullein. It is this ingredient in combination with the sun's rays that will start the process of heat generation from organic matter. To speed up heating, the area can be covered with a film for several days.
Accelerated Seed Awakening Method
In order to obtain one hundred percent germination, zucchini seeds need to be soaked in a stimulating solution of Epin or Ovary. In a humid and warm environment, the root should appear on the third day. If this did not happen, then one should doubt the quality of the seed and, before it is too late, replace it.
Hatching seeds can immediately be planted in prepared open ground. Do not deepen the seeds too much, as this may affect the germination rate. The optimum seed planting depth is no more than 3-4 cm. For reliability, two fruit can be lowered into the hole. After germination, the weaker plant will need to be removed.
Starting to plant zucchini, you should familiarize yourself with lunar sowing calendar. This must be done in order to eliminate adverse days.In the middle lane and Moscow region, zucchini planting begins in the second half of May, however, if there is a warm bed, such work can begin on May holidays.
How to increase the number of fruits and accelerate their ripening
Hybrid F1 species are distinguished by an increased number of female inflorescences, in addition, they are able to form ovaries without pollination. Together, these facts are the reason for the high productivity of such species.For open ground, bee pollinated varieties that have bisexual flowers are most often used. To get the maximum possible number of ovaries on such plants, it is necessary to provide flowers with unhindered access of insects. Often, huge leaves of the plant act as an umbrella, as a result of which the bees simply do not notice the inflorescences. In order for pollination to occur as efficiently as possible, the bush needs to be thinned out. Removing excess foliage will allow the zucchini to retain strength for the formation of fruits.
In the formation of young fruits, partial rotting of ovaries. This phenomenon may be caused by excessive humidity. Therefore, with a large number of cloudy and rainy days, watering should be reduced.
On cool days, a decrease in insect activity can also be observed, in which case manual pollination can be carried out. To do this, a torn male flower must be attached to several female inflorescences.
Extra nutrition of zucchini
For the entire growing season, you need to carry out three dressings. The first fertilizer application is carried out before flowering. During this period, vegetable marrows require organic additives and complex fertilizers containing nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. Under each bush should be made at least a liter of nutrient mixture.
The following feeding is carried out during plentiful flowering. During this period, zucchini needs potassium nitrate and superphosphate. Also, the plant can be shed with a solution of ash. A similar dressing should be carried out at the time of active fruiting, but the dose should be doubled.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that the timely removal of finished fruits has no less influence on the volume of the crop. However, in order for the zucchini to be stored for a long time, it must mature well. The ripeness of the fruit gardeners are usually checked by the density of the peel. If the integrity of the peel can be broken with a fingernail, then such a vegetable is considered young and it will not work until winter. In turn, hard-coated fruits, despite their softness, are quite difficult to peel.