Easy-to-care zucchini sometimes give unpleasant surprises. When growing seedlings, sometimes there are cases when the foliage of the seedlings turns yellow and begins to fall off. At times, on mature plants, the leaves suddenly curl or become spotted. What reasons lead to such consequences, what measures need to be taken urgently? The reasons are easy to remember in order to provide the right help to a weakened plant in a timely manner.

Why do the leaves of seedlings turn yellow?

Yellowing of leaves of an adult plant

How to fix the situation

Conclusion

Why do the leaves of seedlings turn yellow?

The leaves of zucchini seedlings may turn yellow for the following reasons:

• lack of light;
• lack of heat;
• malnutrition;
• thickening of plantings;
• powdery mildew disease;
• spider mite attack;
• chlorosis damage.

For normal development, zucchini requires 11 hours of daylight. Zucchini is planted in April and in this month the length of daylight hours is quite sufficient for the development of zucchini seedlings. The lack of light may be due to the darkening of the seedlings by other seedlings or the location being far from the window.

1. Lack of heat usually occurs on a poorly insulated balcony or loggia. The temperature comfortable for development is +20–25ºC during the day and +18–20ºC at night. Night temperatures in April are often significantly below optimal.
2. With a lack of nitrogen, old leaves begin to lighten and turn yellow.
3. Iron deficiency is visible by the pale or light yellow color of new young growing leaves.

In addition to these nutrients, zucchini needs:

• phosphorus;
• manganese;
• calcium;
• magnesium.

With a lack of macro- and microelements, a peculiar yellowing of the leaves and their gradual death, characteristic of each element, occurs.

Grown-up seedlings, planted densely, or planted in pots or cells of small volume, close their leaves and begin to fight for light. The weakest seedlings turn yellow and gradually die.

Powdery mildew disease begins with the appearance of light yellow specks on the inside of leaves, which quickly spread from leaf to leaf.

Yellow spots on the leaves, which cause them to dry out over time, indicate a possible attack on the seedlings by spider mites. Its presence can be determined by a light cobweb that appears on the leaves and stems of seedlings.

If, when sowing seeds, homemade and poorly prepared soil was used, which did not have enough disintegrants such as peat or sand, then after watering it may silt. Zucchini love loose soil, in which oxygen and water easily penetrate to the roots. If the soil is dense and clayey, then the plant may develop chlorosis due to lack of oxygen in the roots.

Yellowing of leaves of an adult plant

The yellowing of leaves in an adult plant may be influenced by the following reasons:

• low night temperature;
• long-term sunlight;
• improper watering;
• lack of nutrition;
• fungal diseases;
• age-related changes at the end of the season.

It is necessary to plant grown seedlings in the beds after warm weather sets in. Low temperatures around +10–12ºC can stop the growth of the plant and cause yellowing of the leaves.

Placing the beds in the hot sun will cause the zucchini leaves to curl and get sunburned. Light-loving zucchini is still not a desert plant and cannot withstand sunlight for 10–12 hours. For good growth, 4-5 hours of sunlight a day is enough for him.

Zucchini is moisture-loving, but it needs to be watered with warm water at the root. If you water it over the leaves in the morning, the remaining water in intense sun can cause burns.

Changes in leaf color due to lack of nutrition can be observed not only on seedlings, but also on adult plants. Zucchini grows very quickly and bears excellent fruit. Therefore, it requires a large amount of nutrients. Usually, before planting, the beds are filled with humus, compost, and mineral fertilizers. But leaves may turn yellow if there is a lack of microelements in the soil.

Both seedlings and adult plants may show signs of fungal diseases. Light yellow oil spots that appear first on the inside of the leaf are a sign of powdery mildew disease. Most often, plants are affected by this disease during prolonged rains.

On mature bushes at the end of summer, yellowing of leaves and vines is a completely natural phenomenon and there is no need to fight it. By this time, the growing season ends and the plant begins to die.

How to fix the situation

Zucchini seedlings stretch out and turn yellow if they do not have enough light. In case of insufficient lighting, it is necessary to move the seedlings closer to the window. Artificial lighting is no longer used in April, as there is not enough sunlight.

If the daytime or nighttime temperature is insufficient for the normal development of seedlings, then the seedlings must be moved to a warmer room, into a room.

What to do if the seedlings do not have enough nutrition? Feeding is carried out twice: when 2-3 true leaves appear and 10 days after the first. Fertilizers should be in liquid form and with a concentration half as much as usual.

1. The lack of nitrogen can be compensated by using an infusion of ash or nettle, granulated bird droppings or mineral fertilizers such as superphosphate.
2. The lack of macro- and microelements can be compensated by foliar feeding of seedlings with a solution of special preparations - Agricola, Effecton, Gumi, Ava.

Densely planted seedlings with yellowed foliage struggle for light. Seedlings growing in a large box must be thinned out by plucking out excess plants. But it is extremely undesirable to sow zucchini this way. Picking and transplanting delay the development of seedlings for at least two weeks.

Seedlings growing in separate containers must be arranged so that their leaves do not touch each other. If they are growing in small cells or pots, they may also suffer from crowding and lack of nutrition. In this case, the seedlings must be urgently transplanted into larger pots. The optimal container volume for zucchini seedlings is 0.5 liters. In such pots, seedlings feel good throughout the 30 days of growth.

Yellowing of the foliage may be associated with the onset of a fungal disease - powdery mildew. It begins with constantly high humidity. Zucchini requires moist soil and air to grow. But when the planting is dense, when the temperature drops and for other reasons, fungal diseases can begin to develop in such an atmosphere.

This can be prevented by simply ventilating the plantings. If the seedlings do become ill with powdery mildew, they should be immediately sprayed with a solution of copper oxychloride.

Pests can also cause damage to tender plantings. Spider mites are invisible to the human eye. Infection occurs through the soil or neighboring plants. This dangerous pest can completely destroy plantings. Therefore, the appearance of cobwebs on the leaves of seedlings, curled and yellowed leaves, and white dots should be a signal to take immediate action.

To treat ticks, you can make an infusion of garlic, onion, ash, and a solution of ammonia. Insecticides you can use:

• Fufanon;
• Iskra M;
• Aktellik;
• Fitoverm.

Plants are sprayed several times, since mites can hatch repeatedly from laid eggs. After the destruction of pests, weakened seedlings will need increased nutrition. To do this, it is worth using foliar fertilizing with complex fertilizers.

Chlorosis and yellowing of leaves can be caused by a lack of oxygen in the roots. Loosening the compacted soil will correct the situation.

Planting of finished seedlings in the ground for central Russia should occur no earlier than the beginning of June. It is at this time that the weather is suitable for the development of zucchini with comfortable night temperatures.

Direct sunlight all day long is harmful to this vegetable. And although zucchini is a light-loving crop, in strong sun its huge leaves curl and turn yellow. Therefore, the garden bed should be located in a place where the sun shines for no more than 4-5 hours.

You can water zucchini only with warm water in the holes around the root. During extreme heat, you can spray the leaves only in the evening, otherwise the sun will burn through the leaves. Foliar feeding is carried out only in cloudy weather.

Zucchini leaves curl and change color when there is a lack of nutrients. If there is not enough fertilizer in the ground, the zucchini slows down its growth and drops its flowers and ovaries. In this case, the plant needs to be fed:

• mullein infusion;
• litter;
• fermented grass;
• yeast supplements;
• mineral fertilizers;
• Kemiroy-lux.

With fungal diseases, in particular powdery mildew, the adult plant becomes covered with yellow spots, the leaves begin to curl and then dry out. If urgent measures are not taken, the entire zucchini planting will die. Sick plants, as well as seedlings, are sprayed with copper oxychloride or Bordeaux mixture.

Preventive preparation of seeds will help prevent fungal diseases:

• soaking in a solution of potassium permanganate;
• hardening;
• soaking in a solution of microfertilizers.

Zucchini doesn’t need much to grow and bear fruit: loose soil, watering, light and nutrition. This powerful and fast-growing plant suppresses weeds, retains moisture under its huge leaves, and bears fruit without interruption for several months. Its large, rough leaves are too tough for many pests. Zucchini needs a little care and attention for a comfortable life.

Conclusion

It is not difficult to remember the reasons why zucchini leaves turn yellow at different periods of the growing season. It’s not easy to fix this; it’s much easier to prevent diseases and weakening of plants by using the right agricultural techniques.

Zucchini is very loved by the residents of our country. This product is used in many dishes and helps throughout the year. However, during cultivation, many gardeners are faced with one common problem that can greatly harm the crop - a change in the color of the leaves to yellow. In this case, it is necessary to immediately begin to correct the situation.

Causes

When zucchini leaves turn yellow, this indicates that something is not normal with the plant. Ideally, the leaves should be bright green, rich in color, quite large and strong. This appearance is a guarantee that the ovaries will soon appear, and then the fruits. If the color suddenly begins to turn yellow, which, by the way, can happen even at the seedling stage, it is important to immediately determine the cause of this phenomenon. We should start with the fact that vegetables do not tolerate drops in ambient temperature very well. Therefore, any cold snap leads to the fact that the plant begins to weaken and the foliage begins to turn yellow. Based on this, we can conclude that the appearance of zucchini in open ground should occur no earlier than summer. If we are talking about a greenhouse, then planting can be done in early May.

Yellowness may be the result of improper garden planning. Zucchini loves well-lit areas, but if it stays in the sun for too long, the leaves immediately dry out and turn yellow. Therefore, the crop can only be planted in a garden bed that will be exposed to direct sunlight for no more than four or five hours (with at least twelve hours of daylight). Additionally, you can construct a canopy that will prevent the plant from burning, and expose it at noon. The leaves may turn yellow if the plantings are too dense. If the seedlings were initially planted without observing the required intervals, then the growing bushes will not have enough air and space. This is especially true for the lower leaves, which have problems with ventilation. As a result, the foliage will turn yellow, and then, if it is not removed, it will also rot.

Improper watering

An ill-conceived watering system also contributes to yellowing foliage. This happens because the plantings are irrigated during the afternoon, that is, at the most inopportune time. The combination of moisture from watering and bright sunlight causes thermal burns and spots on the squash leaves. That is why watering the crop can only be done in the morning or evening.

The water should be settled and at a comfortable temperature. It is important to prevent liquid from getting on the green parts of the plant and inflorescences, and that the bushes are not flooded with water. It should be borne in mind that sometimes the leaves begin to dry out due to the small amount of moisture in the soil. Therefore, you need to water regularly, and the need for liquid is determined by the condition of the top layer of soil. It is very important that there are no cracks on the surface or stagnation of moisture. Improper “relationships with water” can also lead to yellowing of the fruits themselves. Excessive moisture causes zucchini to rot and then change color. Therefore, during this care procedure, it is important to control the filling of the top layer with liquid in order to avoid excessive moisture.

By the way, fruits can also turn yellow if they were picked at the wrong time. If they have been left in the garden for too long, their density will deteriorate, and the traditional shade will change to pale yellow. Such fruits quickly lose their juiciness, their skin becomes coarser, and the seeds become excessively large.

Diseases and pests

Of course, a sudden change in shade can also signal emerging diseases. First of all, it is downy mildew. This fungus develops rapidly and affects not only zucchini, but also tomatoes and other vegetables. It can be determined by the condition of the leaves - oily spots of a light yellow hue are found on the inside and then on the outside. At first they are small and then quickly increase in size. The leaf itself dries up at this time. Typically, the disease develops when there is an abundance of rainfall on crops that are not properly cared for. If measures are not taken in time, all plantings will be destroyed. In case of powdery mildew, all infected bushes must be removed immediately and the soil must be dug up every autumn.

Anthracnose is also possible, most often when grown in a greenhouse. At first, vaguely shaped spots appear on the leaves, which then become dirty yellow, as if the bush was burned by the sun's rays. After this, the leaves dry out, and the disease reaches the zucchini itself. They also turn yellow and then the process of rotting begins. The crop also begins to change color when it is affected by chlorosis, which is a consequence of the lack of sufficient loosening of the soil. Air does not reach the root system, the entire plant weakens, and the leaves acquire a yellow tint.

Among the pests, this crop is most often attacked by spider mites. A thin cobweb appears on the underside of the leaves, and the pest itself takes up residence in it. After this, the leaf becomes stained, turns yellow and finally falls off.

Nutritional deficiencies

Another common cause of yellowing foliage is considered to be insufficient addition of useful elements to the soil. First, the lower leaves turn yellow, and then the problem spreads throughout the entire bush. Moreover, the leaf changes color first at the edges, and then it becomes deformed and falls off. This situation occurs when there is a lack of nitrogen or moisture in the soil, as a result of which the transport of useful elements becomes difficult and the chlorophyll content decreases. Everything leads to the fact that the sun burns the foliage, which turns yellow and then dries out. In this case, you need to apply nitrogen fertilizers, sold in special stores.

In addition, it is important to normalize the condition of the soil - zucchini cannot grow in overly acidic soil. The leaves will quickly turn yellow, and the bushes themselves will wither. This issue will have to be resolved before the stage of planting seedlings - it will be necessary to add lime, as well as humus and ash. In general, the soil for zucchini should be nutritious. A suitable mixture can be purchased at the store or combined with your own hands from peat, river sand and turf. All ingredients must be taken in equal proportions and mixed. It is recommended to regularly feed the sprouts with mineral fertilizers.

What can be processed?

If the cause of the yellow color is powdery mildew, then you need to do the following: spray the bushes several times with copper oxychloride and Bordeaux mixture. In addition, at the stage of still preparing the seeds, they should be soaked in warm water for prevention. Don't forget about regular ventilation. You can save zucchini from yellowing due to anthracnose by removing damaged bushes and spraying them with Bordeaux mixture or colloidal sulfur. Don’t forget about prevention – eliminating residues in the soil and treating the greenhouse.

Spider mites can be controlled in several ways. First, 200 grams of laundry soap are grated. They are mixed with a kilogram of wood ash and diluted in 10 liters of water. Treatment with this solution is carried out every two days until the pest completely disappears. Secondly, you can use potato tops if they have not been affected by late blight. The greens are cut into small pieces and filled with water, completely covering the green mass. You will have to insist for a week or 10 days, and the lid must be closed. This product can be used every day. Thirdly, pharmaceutical chamomile and a few other ingredients will come to the rescue. A kilogram of wood ash and four heads of garlic are poured into 10 liters of chamomile decoction, the preparation of which requires 200 grams of dry powder.

This solution is infused for a week; it will have to be stirred regularly. Then you will have to process the zucchini three times, which should fit within a week's period. It is believed that this method is the most effective.

In the case when the leaves turn yellow while still growing, you should check whether the entire leaf blade is damaged. If yes, then the sprout will have to be thrown out, but if not, then the situation can still be corrected. In young zucchini, this problem usually appears due to a lack of nitrogen in the soil. Therefore, it is necessary to buy fertile soil and periodically apply fertilizers. Feeding should begin about two weeks after the sprouts appear. Don’t forget about regularly spraying the soil with a spray bottle. Sometimes even transplanting into a container with a larger diameter can solve the problem.

It is important to monitor the amount of watering to prevent excessive moisture. After prolonged rains, it would be good to inspect the plant for any unpleasant consequences. Pests can be repelled by periodically spraying the plantings with herbal infusions, which include chamomile, potato tops and nettle. It is useful to treat zucchini with solutions of copper sulfate, boric acid, urea with the addition of potassium permanganate.

As soon as, closer to autumn, all the leaves begin to change color and dry out, this may indicate that it is time to harvest. The procedure should end with tidying up the tops on the site.

Yellowed leaves must be removed immediately - removed from the bushes and even burned. This greenery cannot be used for compost or other needs, and it is better not to leave it in the garden. When the damaged parts are eliminated, you can begin processing the bushes. The product itself is prepared immediately before the procedure. It is better to spray in the morning, before the bright sun appears in the sky, and on days when the wind is not too strong. If damaged young shoots and mature bushes are grown in the same greenhouse, then all plants need to be treated at the same time.

For information on what to do if zucchini begins to turn yellow and rot, see the following video.

Zucchini is an unpretentious garden plant that is loved by many gardeners. Every gardener, at least once in his life, has encountered the problem of yellowing leaves of a vegetable. This unpleasant moment can occur at different stages of zucchini growth. If zucchini leaves turn yellow in the fall, then this is a natural process, since during growth the plant gives up all its nutrients to the ripening of the fruit and the time has come for aging. If the leaves begin to turn yellow during seedlings or in the middle of growth, then it is necessary to sound the alarm and take all measures to save the vegetable.

Why do zucchini leaves turn yellow and how to deal with it?

Zucchini leaves can turn yellow both at a young age and when the fruit is forming. The reasons can be very diverse:

All of the above reasons lead to a decrease or complete absence of yield. When insect pests and diseases appear, it is necessary to take emergency measures to prevent them from infecting nearby growing plants.

How to avoid yellowing of leaves?

To grow a good harvest, you need to follow simple rules of care. When sowing seeds or planting seedlings in open ground, you must remember that:

Yellowing of foliage is the most common problem faced by many gardeners. Often these are: improper watering, untimely feeding and fungal diseases. If you follow simple rules of care, zucchini will grow strong and healthy, and the harvest will be generous and fortified.

12-07-2013:: 01:15 Larisa

Rotting of young ovaries

The most common occurrence in zucchini is rotting of young ovaries. This is a bacterial rot that attacks small squash fruits. Rotten ovaries should simply be torn off without sparing them, but not abandoned on the site, but preferably destroyed.

And then spray the zucchini with copper oxychloride. The first reason may be the planting site. It is not advisable to plant zucchini in the same bed every year. They also cannot be planted after cucumbers, melons, watermelons and pumpkins.

Zucchini is generally not a capricious plant, but it does not like the proximity of its relatives. The second reason is waterlogging of the soil. If the weather is rainy, there is nowhere to go. But you can fight this too.

The bush can be ventilated by tearing off the lower leaves. It is necessary to ensure that the flowers and ovaries are exposed to the sun.

You can also place something under the fruit, such as straw or cuttings of boards, so that the zucchini does not touch the ground. Zucchini is watered less often than cucumbers, but more water is poured so that the ground gets wet to a depth of 30-40 cm. You need to pour water at the root and try so that water does not get on the leaves.

It is better to water once a week, but a lot, and do not forget to loosen the soil. The third reason is watering with cold water. Massive rotting, and even a halt in plant growth, may occur. If you follow these simple rules, then the next ovaries should be healthy, without rot.

Timely harvesting of ripened zucchini has a great influence on increasing the yield. That is, the more often you collect, the more new ovaries are formed. This has been verified.

Curling and yellowing of leaves

If the zucchini leaves turn yellow and curl, then the first thing you want to do is water. But there is no need to do this, because the reason is different.

And there may be several of them. From personal experience I can say that zucchini leaves often curl due to the heat (just very dry air). Monitor your plants in both rainy and hot weather.

They will give you the answers. One of the other possible causes of leaf curl is lack of nutrition. The plant needs to be fed (but even if the plant is not sick, it still needs to be fed once a season). I feed "Kemera Lux".

You can add ash and humus. But the leaves can turn yellow from a lack of nitrogen. Then you can use manure, but I don’t like it - it produces a lot of weeds. It is better to feed with urea (nitrogen). It is especially unpleasant when spider mites appear.

First, light dots (pricks) appear on the leaves, clearly visible on the upper side, and then spots form. Later the leaves turn yellow and fall off. Then flowers, ovaries and fruits may fall off.

The plant dies. Control measures: destruction of weeds, deep autumn digging of the earth, burning of plant residues and garbage. And at the first signs of the disease and then after 10-12 days, spray diseased plants with: Topaz, Topsin-m, Sulfarid, Bayleton, 3.5% copper sulfate solution. You can spray with garlic infusion, chamomile decoction or ash solution (1 kg of ash stir in 10 liters of water).

Leave the solution for 7 days, stirring occasionally. Before spraying the plants, add soap to help the solution stick to the leaves better.

Results

These simple methods will help you avoid many problems when growing such a healthy and dietary product. I will be glad if my advice is useful to you. Sincerely, summer resident and gardener Larisa.

Zucchini and eggplant, as well as squash, belong to the pumpkin family. They are extremely useful and are widely used for preparing various dishes and preserves. In the southern regions, pumpkin plants are planted with seeds in greenhouses and then transferred to open ground. In more severe conditions, it is advisable to grow seedlings at home and then replant full-fledged plants. Our article is devoted to the correct planting of pumpkin seedlings. Selection and preparation of seeds for seedlings You can prepare the seeds of zucchini, eggplant and pumpkin yourself or purchase the variety you like in the store. It is important to pay attention to the shelf life, because for pumpkins and zucchini it is on average 6 years, and for eggplants it is 3-4 years. This is subject to proper storage in a dry and well-ventilated place. For germination, it is worth selecting the largest seeds; the probability of obtaining a rich pumpkin harvest is higher. To avoid contamination of planting material, it should be treated with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. You can also soak the grains in water or a growth stimulant (for example, Epine). This way they will germinate faster. Treatment lasts 12 hours. Preparing soil for seedlings of eggplants, zucchini, pumpkins For seedlings of zucchini, eggplant and pumpkin, the best soil mixture is: humus, turf and peat in a ratio of 2:1:1. As a fertilizer, you can add diluted mullein or wood ash. You can use plastic cups (don’t forget to disinfect them first) or peat pots as containers. Size 10x10 or 15x15. The boxes are filled with earth. Remember to water the substrate generously and plant only in moist soil. How to plant seedlings Seeds are planted to a depth of 1.5 - 2 cm, one per cup. Boxes with future seedlings are covered with film and kept at a temperature of 23-25° until the first shoots appear. As soon as you notice them, you can remove the film and move the zucchini and eggplants to a cooler place (15-20° during the day, 12-14° at night). If the temperature regime is not observed, the seedlings may become excessively elongated. Do not water the seedlings too much, do it as needed and constantly monitor the soil moisture. We offer a detailed video that reflects all stages of growing seedlings at home: Advice: if you want pumpkin crops to successfully take root in open ground, then 2 weeks before planting, start hardening them - take them out to the balcony, gradually increasing the time they stay there. For seedlings to grow, they need 20-25 days (you should start germinating from seeds in early April). Full-fledged plants (with a stocky stem and 3 leaves) are planted in open ground in the first half of May. You may also be interested in the following articles:

The pepper seedlings turned yellow. Why do peppers turn yellow? What to do?

Barsko 2 years ago Naya 2 years ago

If the pepper seedlings turn yellow, it means it is missing something. For example, nutrients. If the upper leaves turn yellow, then there is a lack of iron, manganese, boron and zinc; if the lower leaves turn yellow, there is a lack of phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, magnesium.

In this case, it is necessary to fertilize the plant with a complex with the addition of microelements. Also, the leaves may turn yellow due to improper or excessive watering. Water the peppers only with warm water. It is recommended to hide from direct sunlight and ventilate periodically.

Most likely, this is due to waterlogging of the soil. If the seedlings have dried out and turned yellow, then it is due to insufficient watering, this especially often happens when growing seedlings in peat pots, the walls of which dry out quickly, and the plant needs more watering.

We plant zucchini in a “snail”.

Watering seedlings of any plant should be moderate. There is still a chance to save the pepper. If it dries out, water it well overnight. If it has not dried out but turned yellow, stop watering for several days and place it in a sunny place.

You can even place it under a special lamp, although this is not necessary, this is how my pepper grows, on the sunniest windowsill.

Comment

Zucchini is grown by direct sowing in the ground or through seedlings. In both cases, an important factor is the pre-sowing preparation of seeds. Against fungal diseases, the seeds are kept for 4-6 hours in water at a temperature of +48+50°C. Then immediately place in cold water for 1-2 minutes.

It is even better to use Fitosporin-M or a mixture of Alirin-B and Gamair for seed dressing (1 tablet per 1 liter of water). The duration of any of these treatments is 8-18 hours at room temperature. For lovers of traditional methods, we can recommend aloe or Kalanchoe juice (1:1) for seed dressing.

Soak the seeds for 30-40 minutes, then rinse well with water. Seeds purchased from hand or from your own production must be pickled. If the seeds were purchased in a store and the package indicates that they have undergone pre-sowing preparation, then the seeds should not be treated or heated to avoid deterioration in germination or its complete loss. Such seeds are usually colored. To speed up seed germination, you can use any of the following techniques:

• Before sowing, soaking seeds in water at a temperature of +25°C for 24 hours. Germination until pricking in a damp cloth (the appearance of sprouts 5-6 mm in size). Hardening of soaked but not germinated seeds by exposing them to variable temperatures for 3-4 days. Seeds soaked the day before are placed in a damp cloth in a refrigerator with a temperature from 0°C to -1°C for 14-16 hours. Then during the day they are kept at a temperature of +18+20°C for 6-8 hours, etc. Barbation of seeds. Soaking before sowing in solutions: microelements, Epin, Zircon (from 8 hours to 24 hours, especially with low seed germination), potassium humate, wood ash (1 level tablespoon per 1 liter of water), complete complex fertilizer, aloe or Kalanchoe juice (1:9 ).

Seed hardening is mainly effective when sowing seeds in open ground. Plant resistance to cold increases, and seeds germinate better.

When growing seedlings at home, this characteristic is lost over time, and the grown seedlings require mandatory gradual hardening in the open air a week before planting (i.e., in the conditions where they will grow in the future). Sometimes during germination in a damp cloth the seeds begin to rot. To prevent this, I place the prepared seeds on a tray with cotton pads or a cloth and sprinkle a little soil on top .

I moisten everything and put it in a warm (+28+30°C) place until biting. I periodically check the humidity and add water. The soil should be wet, but the seeds should not “float in the mush.”

If necessary, cover the tray with film with cut holes. Germinated seeds are noticeable by raised tubercles. I carefully select them and sow them in pots for seedlings.

Zucchini seeds for germinationZucchini seeds for germinationZucchini seeds for germination

In the non-chernozem zone, to obtain early production, seeds for seedlings for warm beds with film cover begin to be sown in the 20th of April. Seedlings are planted on May 20-25. For open ground, seeds are sown for seedlings on May 5-10.

Seedlings are planted in the ground on June 5-10 after the threat of return frosts has passed. For seedless cultivation, sowing seeds on warm ridges with film cover is May 20-25, in open ground - June 5-10.

Compositions of mixtures for sowing seeds

• 50-60% peat, 30-40% humus, 10-20% turf soil and 10% semi-rotted sawdust. If necessary, you can add a little river sand. Add 3-6 g of ammonium nitrate, 8-15 g of superphosphate and 5-10 g of potassium fertilizer to a bucket of the mixture.
• Turf soil with compost or humus in a 1:1 ratio. For 10 liters of mixture add 1 glass of ash, 20 g of superphosphate, 10 g of potassium fertilizer and a little sand.
• Peat with sand in a 1:1 ratio.

For those who find it difficult to make soil mixtures themselves, you can buy universal ready-made soil for vegetable seedlings. Specialized soils for growing pumpkin crops are also available for sale.

More complete information on how to choose the best quality purchased soil or prepare it yourself can be found in the articles Sow me with love And Soils and substrates for growing seedlings. To obtain early production, zucchini is grown through seedlings. Here, as when growing any other vegetable crop, the main thing is quality.

It doesn’t matter what age you can grow seedlings - two weeks old or 30 days old. It is important that it is healthy, strong and hardened by the time of disembarkation.

Seedlings can be grown on a windowsill, glassed-in balcony or loggia, greenhouse or greenhouse. Depending on the age of the finished seedlings, containers for planting seeds are selected. These can be peat or plastic pots, 0.5 liter juice bags, homemade cups from newspaper, etc.

Zucchini does not tolerate transplantation well, so it is better to sow the seeds immediately in separate containers. For two-week-old seedlings, 8 cm cups are suitable, for 20-day-old - 12 cm, and for 30-day-old - 15 cm. Seeds are sown to a depth of 3-4 cm and lightly watered for better contact with the soil.

Before germination, the crops are kept at a temperature of +25+28°C. As soon as the shoots appear, the pots are transferred to a bright place with a temperature of +13+14°C at night and +16+17°C during the day. This temperature is maintained for 3-4 days so that the seedlings become stronger and do not stretch out.

Picking up the zucchini. From "snail" to "diaper".

Then, throughout the entire growing period, the temperature is maintained during the day in cloudy weather - +20+22°C, in sunny weather - +25+28°C, at night - +16+18°C. If the seeds are sown without being sown, then take them with a reserve and sow them in one pot 2-3 seeds each. In the future, only one best strong seedling is left, which appeared first and has a normal healthy appearance.

The rest are deleted. Water the zucchini seedlings regularly as the top layer of soil dries slightly. Under no circumstances should you overwater or delay watering, as due to a sharp pressure drop in the stems they may crack lengthwise.

This is fraught with the development of root and stem rot. Irrigation water temperature +22+25°C.

Feeding seedlings

During the growing of seedlings, they are fed several times.

• If the seedling mixture was prepared with the addition of humus, compost and mineral fertilizers, then the first fertilizing is carried out two weeks after germination, the second - 7-10 days after the first. If the seedling mixture was prepared without adding compost, humus and mineral fertilizers, then the first fertilizing is carried out 7 days after germination, the second - 7-10 days after the first. And if necessary, you can carry out a third feeding (when growing 30-day-old seedlings) 2-3 days before planting.

Fertilizing can be done with one of the following solutions (consumption of 100 ml per plant in the first feeding and 200 ml per plant in the second and third feeding).

We sowed or planted most of the plants in the spring and it seems that in the middle of summer we can already relax. But experienced gardeners know that July is the time to plant vegetables to obtain a late harvest and the possibility of longer storage. This also applies to potatoes. It is better to use the early summer potato harvest quickly; it is not suitable for long-term storage. But the second harvest of potatoes is exactly what is needed for winter and spring use.

Astrakhan tomatoes ripen remarkably well lying on the ground, but this experience should not be repeated in the Moscow region. Our tomatoes need support, support, garter. My neighbors use all sorts of stakes, tie-downs, loops, ready-made plant supports and mesh fencing. Each method of fixing a plant in a vertical position has its own advantages and “side effects”. I'll tell you how I place tomato bushes on trellises and what comes out of it.

Bulgur with pumpkin is an every day dish that can be easily prepared in half an hour. Bulgur is boiled separately, the cooking time depends on the size of the grains - whole and coarse grinding takes about 20 minutes, fine grinding literally a few minutes, sometimes the cereal is simply poured with boiling water, like couscous. While the cereal is cooking, prepare the pumpkin in sour cream sauce, and then combine the ingredients. If you replace melted butter with vegetable oil and sour cream with soy cream, then it can be included in the Lenten menu.

Flies are a sign of unsanitary conditions and carriers of infectious diseases that are dangerous to both people and animals. People are constantly looking for ways to get rid of unpleasant insects. In this article we will talk about the Zlobny TED brand, which specializes in fly repellents and knows a lot about them. The manufacturer has developed a specialized line of products to get rid of flying insects anywhere quickly, safely and at no extra cost.

The summer months are the time for hydrangeas to bloom. This beautiful deciduous shrub produces luxuriously fragrant flowers from June to September. Florists readily use large inflorescences for wedding decorations and bouquets. To admire the beauty of a flowering hydrangea bush in your garden, you should take care of the proper conditions for it. Unfortunately, some hydrangeas do not bloom year after year, despite the care and efforts of gardeners. We will explain why this happens in the article.

Every summer resident knows that plants need nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium for full development. These are three main macronutrients, the deficiency of which significantly affects the appearance and yield of plants, and in advanced cases can lead to their death. But not everyone understands the importance of other macro- and microelements for plant health. And they are important not only in themselves, but also for the effective absorption of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.

Garden strawberries, or strawberries, as we used to call them, are one of the early aromatic berries that summer generously gifts us with. How happy we are about this harvest! In order for the “berry boom” to repeat every year, we need to take care of the berry bushes in the summer (after the end of fruiting). The laying of flower buds, from which ovaries will form in the spring and berries in the summer, begins approximately 30 days after the end of fruiting.

Spicy pickled watermelon is a savory appetizer for fatty meat. Watermelons and watermelon rinds have been pickled since time immemorial, but this process is labor-intensive and time-consuming. According to my recipe, you can simply prepare pickled watermelon in 10 minutes, and by the evening the spicy appetizer will be ready. Watermelon marinated with spices and chili can be stored in the refrigerator for several days. Be sure to keep the jar in the refrigerator, not only for the sake of safety - when chilled, this snack is simply licking your fingers!

Among the variety of species and hybrids of philodendrons, there are many plants, both gigantic and compact. But not a single species competes in unpretentiousness with the main modest one - the blushing philodendron. True, his modesty does not concern the appearance of the plant. Blushing stems and cuttings, huge leaves, long shoots, forming, although very large, but also a strikingly elegant silhouette, look very elegant. Philodendron blushing requires only one thing - at least minimal care.

Thick chickpea soup with vegetables and egg is a simple recipe for a hearty first course, inspired by oriental cuisine. Similar thick soups are prepared in India, Morocco, and Southeast Asian countries. The tone is set by spices and seasonings - garlic, chili, ginger and a bouquet of spicy spices, which can be assembled to your taste. It is better to fry vegetables and spices in clarified butter (ghee) or mix olive and butter in a pan; this, of course, is not the same, but it tastes similar.

Plum - well, who isn’t familiar with it?! She is loved by many gardeners. And all because it has an impressive list of varieties, surprises with excellent yields, pleases with its diversity in terms of ripening and a huge selection of color, shape and taste of fruits. Yes, in some places it feels better, in others it feels worse, but almost no summer resident gives up the pleasure of growing it on his plot. Today it can be found not only in the south, in the middle zone, but also in the Urals and Siberia.

Many ornamental and fruit crops, except drought-resistant ones, suffer from the scorching sun, and conifers in the winter-spring period suffer from sunlight, enhanced by reflection from the snow. In this article we will tell you about a unique product for protecting plants from sunburn and drought - Sunshet Agrosuccess. The problem is relevant for most regions of Russia. In February and early March, the sun's rays become more active, and the plants are not yet ready for new conditions.

“Every vegetable has its own time,” and every plant has its own optimal time for planting. Anyone who has dealt with planting is well aware that the hot season for planting is spring and autumn. This is due to several factors: in the spring the plants have not yet begun to grow rapidly, there is no sweltering heat and precipitation often falls. However, no matter how hard we try, circumstances often develop such that planting has to be carried out in the midst of summer.

Chili con carne translated from Spanish means chili with meat. This is a Texas and Mexican dish whose main ingredients are chili peppers and shredded beef. In addition to the main products there are onions, carrots, tomatoes, and beans. This red lentil chili recipe is delicious! The dish is fiery, scalding, very filling and amazingly tasty! You can make a big pot, put it in containers and freeze - you'll have a delicious dinner for a whole week.

Cucumber is one of the most favorite garden crops of our summer residents. However, not all and not always gardeners manage to get a really good harvest. And although growing cucumbers requires regular attention and care, there is a little secret that will significantly increase their yield. We are talking about pinching cucumbers. Why, how and when to pinch cucumbers, we will tell you in the article. An important point in the agricultural technology of cucumbers is their formation, or type of growth.