Three key management tasks after transplanting spring-sown zucchini
Early fruiting stage: the 20-25 days from transplanting to the harvest of the first fruit is the early fruiting stage. The key management points are keeping warm, controlling water, intertillage, and promoting roots and protecting seedlings. From transplanting to the recovery stage, keep the greenhouse closed for 5-7 days to preserve heat, cover with straw mats in the morning and evening, and maintain the daytime temperature inside the greenhouse at 25°C-30°C, nighttime at 15°C-18°C, and soil temperature at 20°C-25°C. After the recovery stage...
Early fruiting stage: the 20-25 days from transplanting to the harvest of the first fruit is the early fruiting stage. The key management points are keeping warm, controlling water, intertillage, and promoting roots and protecting seedlings. From transplanting to the recovery stage, keep the greenhouse closed for 5-7 days to preserve heat, cover with straw mats in the morning and evening, and maintain the daytime temperature inside the greenhouse at 25°C-30°C, nighttime at 15°C-18°C, and soil temperature at 20°C-25°C. After the recovery stage, lower the temperature appropriately, to 22°C-25°C during the day and 15°C at night. Generally, 2-3 days after transplanting, open a furrow and apply a small amount of water for the recovery stage, then begin intertillage and loosening the soil, loosening the soil once every 3-4 days, for 4-5 times in a row, which can preserve soil moisture, raise soil temperature, and promote root growth. When the daytime greenhouse temperature exceeds 30°C, ventilate, and when the outside temperature reaches above 20°C, open the bottom ventilation. When the first fruit begins to swell, water once, and after watering increase ventilation and loosen the soil. Remove excess male flowers that open early to avoid consuming nutrients. When female flowers open, use 20-30 ppm of 2,4-D to dip the flowers, and at the same time carry out artificial pollination (pollination time before 9 a.m.) to preserve flowers and fruits. Short-vine varieties generally can only grow 2-3 vines per plant, so pruning side shoots is not necessary. The first fruit should be harvested early (it can be picked when it is about 250 grams).
Peak fruiting stage: from the harvest of the first fruit to the development of the 4th and 5th fruits is the peak fruiting stage, about 40-50 days. The focus of this period is to strengthen fertilizer and water management, prevent high temperatures, and control vine growth to promote fruit development. When the minimum outside temperature at night reaches above 15°C, the sides of the greenhouse should be lifted, and ventilation should be large day and night, so that the temperature inside the greenhouse reaches 25°C-28°C during the day, 15°C-20°C at night, and soil temperature 18°C-22°C. Water once every 5-7 days, and note that watering should be done two days before each fruit harvest, not within 3 days after harvesting, so as to control vine growth and promote fruit development. Apply fertilizer once after every other watering, with 15-20 kg of potassium sulfate compound fertilizer per mu, and persist in using 2,4-D to dip flowers and artificial pollination. After harvesting 3 fruits per plant, if the plants are too dense, thin them appropriately, and if necessary remove one row.
Late fruiting stage: after each zucchini plant has harvested 4-5 fruits, it enters the late fruiting stage. In this period the vines weaken, and no special management is carried out. Remove old leaves, carry out appropriate fertilizer and water management, maintain the fruits already set, and harvest them after they have grown.