How to Grow Zucchini Seeds in Inner Mongolia
Zucchini is a common vegetable, grown mainly for its tender fruit; the fruit is cylindrical with a smooth surface and can be used in dishes or as a filling, making it very popular. So, how do you grow zucchini seeds in Inner Mongolia?
1. Land preparation
Zucchini has no strict soil requirements and can be grown in sandy soil, loam or clay, but loam with a deep soil layer is preferable. Before planting, apply base fertilizer to the soil: 2000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer, 75 kg of cake fertilizer, 40 kg of compound fertilizer and 80 kg of plant ash per mu. Spread the fertilizer evenly over the ground, deep-plow 30 cm, level the ground, then make beds 100 cm wide and 20 cm high with ditches 25-30 cm wide.
2. Sprouting
Soak the zucchini seeds in warm water at 50-60 degrees, stirring constantly. When the water temperature drops to about 30 degrees, remove the seeds and rinse them clean, then continue soaking for 5-6 hours so the seeds absorb enough water. Remove them, dry them, wrap them in a wet towel and place them in a warm environment at about 25 degrees to sprout. Once they sprout, they are ready to sow.
3. Sowing
The suitable temperature for zucchini seeds is 25-30°C; they can germinate at 13°C, but very slowly; they germinate fastest at 30-35°C, but this easily causes leggy growth. Spring or autumn sowing can be done at the suitable temperature. Before sowing, prepare a seedbed, water the soil thoroughly, then sow the zucchini seeds in the seedbed with the sprouting end facing down, cover with a thin layer of soil and wait for emergence. When the seedlings grow to 2-3 cm, they can be transplanted.
4. Fertilizer and water
Zucchini likes moisture and is not tolerant of drought; water it in good time later according to soil moisture. When the first fruit begins to swell, top-dress in good time, generally applying 30-40 jin of compound fertilizer per mu; when the second fruit swells, top-dress again, this time applying 40-50 jin of urea per mu. After that, apply fertilizer once a month and water once.