Zucchini is popular among gardeners due to its unpretentiousness in cultivation and the wide use of the crop. The fruits are used to prepare various snacks and preserves. So, I plant on my site not only early varieties, but also late ones. I'll tell you more about them.
Benefits of growing late varieties of zucchini
Since the crop has a short growing season, I grow late varieties in the beds that have already been vacated.
In this case, it is important to remember about crop rotation and occupy with zucchini those areas where they grew before:
- pumpkins;
- squash;
- carrot;
- onion;
- beet;
- beans;
- peas;
- beans.
I use late-ripening zucchini for long-term storage, grilling or canning.
I have been growing a crop for quite some time and have tried a large number of different varieties. I liked the following the most.
Lagenaria vulgaris
Attracted me with long fruits. One zucchini reaches 170 cm, and weight - 10 kg.
The plant belongs to the strongly weaving. From the day the first shoots appear to the biological maturity of the crop, 120 days pass.
I want to especially note the high yield of the variety. Subject to all the rules of agricultural technology, I was able to collect up to 40 kg from one bush.
Separately, I want to highlight other advantages of the variety:
- Keeping quality. Harvest is stored without loss of taste up to 4 months.
- Excellent taste qualities.
- Universal application.
Lagenaria oscillas
The plant forms large, powerful lashes of dark green color. The variety attracted me with large fruits of an unusual shape, reminiscent of a pear. They grow up to 160 cm in length.
In a normal summer, I collect up to 40 kg of fruit from one bush.
The maturation period of Lagenaria fluctuates for a long time - at least 200 days pass from the moment the first shoots appear to the full harvest. Therefore, I recommend growing this variety exclusively in seedlings.
Main advantages:
- Tender pulp.
- Sweet taste.
- Small amount of seeds.
- High resistance to most diseases.
Tivoli
It is a squash-spaghetti hybrid. 160 days after the appearance of the first shoots, large cream-colored fruits appear.
The pulp is sweetish, but fibrous.
I use fruits for cooking, thanks to which I get vegetable vermicelli.
Growing Features
Most varieties of late-ripening zucchini are suitable for sowing in open ground. I choose a site with good lighting and fertile soil, but protected from strong gusts of wind.
I pre-prepare by digging a shovel onto a bayonet and applying a small amount of organic fertilizers, based on 1 m2:
- humus - 10 kg;
- wood ash - 1 cup;
- double superphosphate - 100 g.
Before sowing, I germinate the seeds slightly, soaking them for a day in warm water. Then I place it in the planting holes, deepening by 5-6 cm. Lightly sprinkle with earth on top and water with soft, warm, well-settled water.
Features of care
For zucchini, I organize abundant watering with soft and warm water. I water 2 times a week. I reduce the number of waterings only during the fruiting period in order to prevent fruit rotting.
After that, I will definitely loosen the soil.
Periodically I make top dressing, alternating organic and mineral compositions.
In conclusion, I want to say that the cultivation of late varieties of zucchini has a number of advantages: you can take the vacant place in the garden, the fruits are stored for a long time and do not lose their taste. The main thing is to choose the right variety and follow the rules of agricultural technology.
And what varieties of late-ripening zucchini did you have to grow? Share the names in the comments
Read also: Pumpkin Rossiyanka: I talk about growing from seeds and seedlings, providing care
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