Do you still think that growing a good harvest of zucchini is a problem? But no! There are a number of factors that can cause zucchini to rot, including unfavorable weather conditions and improper care. But having carefully understood the reasons, you can easily fix everything and prevent the problem in the future.
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The reasons why zucchini rot:
- Greenhouse effect (occurs as a result of oversaturation of the soil with moisture, fertilizer, and too dense planting).
- Deficiency of moisture in the soil, nutrients and improper watering (contributes to rotting and yellowing of small zucchini).
- Diseases and pests.
- Disrupted crop rotation.
- A sharp cold snap.
- Lack of pollinating insects.
- Boron and iodine deficiency in the soil.
How to fix problems
- Develop optimal watering for squash. Water no more than once every 8 days, only at the root, avoiding contact with the leaves. Use about 20 liters of water, as the zucchini have deep roots, so the soil should be soaked about 40 cm.
- If the problem is excessive fertilization or dense planting, then the zucchini leaves will grow, preventing sunlight from entering. In this case, it is necessary to temporarily stop fertilizing the soil (if there is oversaturation), and thin out too large leaves.
- Diseases and pests can be fought with chemicals: "Topaz", "Ridomil", "Tiovit", or organic: infusion of garlic, onions, medicinal herbs, potassium permanganate. Chemical treatment should be stopped 30 days before harvest, follow the instructions and be careful not to burn the leaves of the plant. Also, do not forget to remove rotten flowers and fruits in time to prevent further spread of the disease.
- In order to have a good harvest and not deplete the soil, it is necessary to change the areas allocated for different vegetables every year. You cannot constantly plant the same or related crop for several years in a row. If you control this process, then there will be no problems with crop rotation.
- In case of a sharp cold snap and rainy weather, cover the zucchini with plastic wrap stretched on stakes.
- If, due to bad weather conditions or other reasons, the flowers are not pollinated in a natural way, pollinate on their own with a watercolor brush.
- It is possible to restore the missing boron in the soil with the help of boric acid (1 g per 5 l of water) or with the help of complex fertilizers containing boron. And to restore the lack of iodine, you can spray the zucchini with a solution of potassium iodide.
Additional care tips
The main conditions for a good harvest of zucchini are: airing the plantings, a sufficient amount of sun, a moderate amount of moisture and fertilizers, as well as the timely elimination of pests
It is necessary to remove the old (lower) leaves on time, and a day after pruning, spray the bushes with a solution of brilliant green (1 tsp. l. 10 liters of water). Monitor the rejuvenation of the bushes throughout the growing season.
You should also remember to periodically loosen the soil to enrich the roots with oxygen. And to scare off harmful insects such as slugs, you can plant mustard, garlic or hot peppers next to the zucchini.
Do you know why zucchini rot?
Original articleand many other materials, you can find on ourwebsite.
Read about what to do with rotting zucchini in the following article:How to help zucchini if they rot