What are the methods for selecting and soaking zucchini seeds and raising seedlings?

Zucchini belongs to the cucurbit family of melon and fruit vegetables and is currently widely cultivated in countries around the world. It was first introduced into China from Europe during the Qing Dynasty, and is now cultivated in all regions. Zucchini likes moisture and is not tolerant of drought; its requirements for light intensity are moderate, and it can relatively tolerate weak light. It is not strict about soil requirements, and deep loam soil easily produces high yields. So how do you select and soak zucchini seeds? What are the seedling raising methods? Now let's take a look together.

1. How do you select and soak zucchini seeds?

1. Seed selection

Before sowing zucchini seeds, we must first select good zucchini seeds. The seeds should mainly be fresh, glossy, and have a high germination rate. For some whose seed coats are dull and show yellowing, these are generally old seeds that have been stored for a long time, and the germination rate of such seeds is generally relatively low, so they are not suitable for selection. Then we should pick out impurities, diseased and pest-damaged seeds, and seeds with wounds, etc., to ensure the overall quality and germination rate of the seeds.

2. Seed soaking

Remove debris, select clean and plump seeds with a 1,000-seed weight of about 200 g, place them in an earthenware basin or another oil-free container, first soak them in cold water, then scald the seeds with warm water at 50-55 degrees C, stirring continuously and maintaining this for 15-20 minutes, then let them cool naturally to 20-30 degrees C, soak the seeds for 4-6 hours, then after removing them soak them in 1% potassium permanganate for 20-30 minutes to disinfect and sterilize. Air-dry them, and when they are half-dry they can be warmed to promote germination, with the temperature preferably at 25 degrees C. If the seed quantity is large, they can be turned during germination promotion to encourage uniform sprouting, but after sprouting they should no longer be turned.

2. What are the seedling raising methods for zucchini?

Prepare the seedling bed and pour sufficient warm water at about 35 degrees into the soil. After the water seeps down into the lower soil layer, cover the upper soil layer with a layer of culture soil and then sowing can begin. The main seedling raising method for zucchini is raising seedlings in nutrient pots. Sow one seed in each nutrient pot, and after sowing cover with a layer of nutrient soil about 4 cm thick. Generally, after all nutrient pots have been sown, cover the entire seedbed with another layer, then properly cover with film to maintain soil moisture, and seedlings will emerge after about 7 days. When about 75% of the seedlings have emerged, the plastic film should be removed to avoid seedling scorching.

The above is an introduction to zucchini. Before planting zucchini, farmers should choose varieties with high quality, high yield, disease resistance, wide adaptability, moderate maturity, and vines that do not run after fruit set. For example, Golden Apple No. 12, Ruifeng No. 9, "Golden Beauty" Snow White No. 5, etc.

For wonderful pictures and text and popular comments about zucchini, you may be interested in the following recommended content from Nongxun Network. Welcome to read.

Agricultural products you may be interested in: High-quality zucchini seeds supplied nationwide