What are the key points to note when growing zucchini?

Zucchini is a vegetable similar to the small pumpkin we usually see; not only does it look very similar, but the growing methods are also very close, with only slight differences in growing conditions. Zucchini is now a relatively best-selling vegetable on the market; not only does it sell better than small pumpkins, but its price is also higher than that of small pumpkins, so more people are now growing zucchini. So what do you need to pay attention to when growing zucchini? Let Qinnongwang tell you.

1. Soil

Zucchini has relatively strict requirements for soil, and of course its requirements for the growing environment are all very strict. But to grow zucchini well, whether the soil choice is correct is the foundation for high yield and high quality. When growing zucchini, it is best to choose a plot with strong soil water-holding capacity and close to a water source. Next, the nitrogen content in the soil must not be too high. Also, the soil layer is best loose on top and firm below, which is conducive to the growth of zucchini roots and water storage. Finally, the soil must not have grown melon or fruit-type plants within two years.

2. Temperature

Zucchini is very sensitive to temperature. If the temperature is above 30 degrees or below 15 degrees, the plant's growth rate will slow down, its resistance will decrease, and it will be prone to various diseases. But if the temperature is below 10 degrees, the plant will directly stop growing, so temperature has a great impact on zucchini growth. The most suitable temperature for zucchini growth is around 20 degrees to 25 degrees, so when growing it we must always pay attention to changes in air temperature and reasonably use artificial growing techniques to control temperature.

3. Water

Zucchini is extremely intolerant of drought. If the humidity in the soil does not meet the standard, zucchini growth will slow down, become diseased, or even wither, so we must water it in a timely manner. Usually, water about once every week or so, and the soil humidity should be kept at around 70 percent, that is, when you touch the soil with your finger you can clearly feel moisture. Next, if both the air humidity and soil humidity are relatively high, zucchini grows fastest. Finally, although zucchini likes moisture, there must be no standing water in the field, as this very easily causes root rot, leaf blight, and various other fungal infections.

4. Pruning

During the growth of zucchini, another point we need to pay attention to is removing some unnecessary branches, leaves, growing tips, flowers, and fruits at the appropriate time. The purpose of doing this is to improve the yield and quality of zucchini, because if the branches and leaves are too lush, the field will have poor ventilation, making disease very likely, and nutrient consumption will be too great to fully meet the needs of the fruits, leading to reduced zucchini quality. After fruit set, we need to remove some of the surrounding flowers and branches and leaves, so that the well-set fruits will grow better.

5. Fertilizing

The yield and quality of zucchini are greatly affected by nutrients. During the growth of zucchini, we mainly need potassium fertilizer. If the soil contains nitrogen, then basically no nitrogen fertilizer is needed; if it does not, then only a small amount can be applied, because too much nitrogen fertilizer will cause zucchini to grow leggy and not bloom or bear fruit, thus missing the best fruit-setting period and leading to reduced yield. However, its demand for potassium fertilizer is relatively large; potassium fertilizer can promote flowering and help retain fruit. At the same time, we can also supplement an appropriate amount of boron fertilizer to strengthen the fruit.