Incidents often happen to inexperienced gardeners: they planted two similar crops, didn’t sign the cups, and now you can’t find out what and where is growing. Today I will tell you how I solved such a riddle with containers in which zucchini and pumpkins grew.
Differences between pumpkin and zucchini
Zucchini and pumpkin belong to the gourd family, so the plants themselves are very similar. But still, they also have differences:
- Bush type. Pumpkins grow long and powerful stems that need to be shaped. Zucchini grow in a tall and powerful bush, and if they have whips, then they are small in size.
- Type and color of fruits. Pumpkins grow quite large, often rounded, although you can also see specimens that are very similar to zucchini. Skin color is gray to orange. The classic zucchini is oblong, but there are also species with a round pumpkin shape. The color can be all shades of white, yellow, green.
- Ripening time. Pumpkins are ready for storage by the middle of the third month of summer, but there are also late-ripening varieties that are harvested in the fall. Zucchini can bear fruit until frost.
- Features of the fetus. The pumpkin is covered with a dense inedible skin; the skin of the zucchini becomes woody during long storage. Pumpkins are more fragrant and sweet in taste, while zucchini has a uniform and odorless flesh.
Differences between zucchini seeds and pumpkin seeds
From experienced gardeners, I heard about cases when a mixture of these crops turned out to be in a bag of pumpkin or zucchini seeds. Many will say that you can disassemble and plant separately. But it was not there. It turns out that distinguishing the seeds is not so easy. Let's take a look at the distinguishing features:
- Zucchini. Seeds of a more elongated oval shape, easily split when pressed into two parts. The skin is lifted when pressed with a sharp object, has a milky white tint.
- Pumpkin. Plump, large and round seeds with a yellowish skin, practically do not divide into parts when pressed with fingers even with great effort.
I disassembled the seeds according to these signs, but I’ll say right away that I didn’t get a 100% result. An experienced neighbor advised me to plant these crops with seedlings, so it would be easier not to get a mix of crops in one garden.
Differences between zucchini and pumpkin seedlings
Here, too, no one can give a 100% guarantee that in front of you is not a zucchini, but a pumpkin, but the probability of hitting the target is much higher than when sorting seeds.
- Zucchini. The cotyledon leaves are long, the first true leaf is carved, the stem of the seedling is pale green.
- Pumpkin seedlings have a short and thin stem, the plant is dark green in color, the leaves are rough and large.
Zucchini and pumpkins have similarities and differences at the stage of both seeds and seedlings. The surest way not to make a mistake with planting a crop is to buy seed from trusted manufacturers and sellers. And the harvest will show who made a mistake and at what stage.
Read also: Causes and methods of dealing with yellowing leaves in eggplant - I share the experience of saving my plants
Another related article: We choose the most favorable days for sowing cabbage for seedlings - features of varieties, lunar calendar and folk signs
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