Zucchini Squash Tapir

Cucurbita pepo - Tapir

Zucchini is an annual vegetable that belongs to the species Cucurbita pepo and originates from Central America. However, zucchini comes from Europe - it was bred in Italy. There is a wide variety of zucchini cultivars that differ not only in size, but also in shape, color, and flesh taste. They form long fleshy shoots, similar to vines, on which yellow flowers bloom from June onwards. After flowering, elongated fruits develop that can display various shades of green, yellow or white.

Zucchini is rich in minerals. The fruits contain vitamin B, C and potassium, which helps the body eliminate excess water and salt. They have a high water content of approximately 90% and also fiber. Zucchini is a low-calorie food suitable for weight-loss diets.

How to Grow Zucchini

• Plants require a sunny location. Regular watering, preferably with settled rainwater. It is advisable to plant into black mulching non-woven fabric, which helps warm the soil and prevents weed growth. If we grow zucchini without mulching fabric, we mulch with organic material to maintain soil warmth beneath them.

• Plants can be pre-grown, but can also be sown directly in the bed.

  We sow seeds at the site after May 15th, when the risk of ground frost is no longer present. Soak seeds in lukewarm water for a day before sowing. We plant in rows, at a distance of 50 to 100 centimeters individually.

  We can pre-grow seeds indoors by a window, in a greenhouse or in a cold frame. Substrate designed for sowing is suitable. Pots must be at least 10 cm large, as plants require plenty of space. Plant 1 seed per pot. We transplant outside only in the second half of May, and transplanting should be preceded by gradual hardening off.

• They require a warm, sheltered location and permeable growing substrate well-supplied with nutrients. They can also be grown on compost.

• Organic fertilizers or plant extracts rich in potassium are most suitable for fertilization. During the growing season, once every 21 days we enrich the growing substrate with organic fertilizer or a plant extract rich in potassium.

• Zucchini are relatively resistant to diseases. During hot and dry weather, downy mildew may occur. Plants grow poorly and a grayish coating appears on the leaves. Prevention involves regular watering and maintaining slightly moist soil. If mildew appears, affected leaves must be removed. Resistance to mildew can be increased with fungicides. If white coatings appear on plants, they have been affected by powdery mildew. It is advisable to use fungicides containing sulfur, which will reliably eliminate the fungal disease.

  Flowers and young fruits are often attacked by slugs. The most effective method is their collection and subsequent elimination. Aphids can spread viral mosaic among plants, which manifests as distorted and stunted growth, twisted leaves and yellow spots on leaves and fruits. Affected plants must be eliminated immediately. It is also necessary to eliminate aphids with special insecticides.

• We begin harvesting when fruits reach a length of 7 or more centimeters (maximum 20 centimeters). We pick zucchini from the plant with a stem several centimeters long, thanks to which they will stay fresh for a few days longer.