Zucchini grown in the open field, regardless of whether they grow in a vegetable garden or a greenhouse, need regular and stable watering. Following simple irrigation rules will allow you to grow a crop without exposing it to dry periods or excessive moisture.
Watering rules
Each gardener chooses his own irrigation regime for zucchini, depending on their place of growth, soil composition, and size. But there are general recommendations, which are as follows:
- To avoid the appearance of burns on the foliage, the culture is watered either in the early morning or in the evening.
- So that the roots of zucchini do not suffer from a lack of water or do not rot from its excess, 40 cm is considered the optimal irrigation depth.
- Zucchini grown on sandy and sandy soils need more frequent irrigation. Cultivated on clay soils, on the contrary, in rarer ones.
- Water must be poured exclusively under the root of zucchini, avoiding moisture on the leaves and stem of the plant.
To avoid rapid evaporation of moisture from the ground, I recommend mulching the soil around the zucchini. You can use sawdust or chopped straw. The height of the mulch should be 7 cm.
Soil moistening is carried out exclusively with settled water. For 2-3 days, while the water settles, it has time to warm up, which is also important for the culture.
Watering in the open field
The correct irrigation of zucchini depends on the stage of their vegetation. At different levels of development, the need for fluid in a plant is different.
flowering period
Flowering is the stage during which zucchini needs moisture the most. At this time, I irrigate them every 3 days, pouring 7-9 liters of water under each bush.
If precipitation regularly falls during flowering, then additional moisture should be discarded.
Irrigation during fruiting
In the absence of precipitation, I water the bushes 1-2 times a week. Focus solely on soil moisture. As soon as the top layer of soil dries out, this is a sign for the next irrigation.
Watering in the heat
Short-term dry periods will not harm zucchini, but with a long absence of precipitation and high temperatures, irrigation is carried out 2 times a week, 8-10 liters per bush.
Sprinkling after planting
Irrigation of zucchini after transplanting to beds should be moderate, but at the same time regular. The soil should be constantly moist, but not wet. One young bush needs 1.5 liters of water every 5 days.
Watering methods
The choice of irrigation method depends entirely on the preferences of the owner and the planting area:
- Manual. It is carried out with a watering can or a mug, the main thing is that moisture does not get on the leaves and stem of the bush. Suitable if zucchini occupy several small beds.
- Hose. I definitely use a spray hose. Suitable for watering large beds.
- Drip. For mass plantings that occupy a large area, drip irrigation is an ideal solution. Requires plastic pipes with small holes through which water drips. The output is continuous, but moderate irrigation. In this case, moisture enters exclusively under the root, without affecting the stem and foliage.
- Dosed. Drip irrigation method, created by hand from plastic bottles. Not suitable for use in hot and dry weather.
- Sprinkling. Requires a special irrigation system. Water under pressure comes out through small sprayers and creates a kind of misty clouds above the plantings, consisting of tiny drops of water.
Given the negative reaction of zucchini to drought and excessive waterlogging, zucchini should be watered regularly, but moderately. For irrigation, only warm, settled water is used. If you have your own methods for watering zucchini, then share them in the comments.
Read also: Distinctive features of pumpkin and zucchini at different stages of development - sometimes it can be very difficult to distinguish
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