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The first zucchini were grown as ornamental plants - they have beautiful carved leaves, long lashes with large yellow flowers. The plant itself belongs to the same species as African vines and exotic orchids. Later, people began to dry the seeds of ripe fruits and use them for food. And just a few centuries ago they thought of eating the whole fruit whole. Zucchini turned out to be not only very tasty, but also extremely useful vegetable, especially for children and people who need a diet.
To date, created over 150 varieties of zucchini, they all have their own characteristics. There are colored fruits, striped, round and pear-shaped, fruits with an extraordinary taste and interesting properties. This article will describe all these varieties, but special attention will be paid to small varieties of squash - bush plants.
Bush squash
Initially, the zucchini grew in lashes that dragged along the ground. Such crops are still grown today, and there are many varieties of climbing plants. But most of all summer residents and gardeners fell in love with bush varieties - they are compact, do not take up much space.
In confined areas and vegetable gardens bush squash is considered the most successful solution. And yet, the bushes of this vegetable are not so small - no more than one plant should be planted on one square meter of land.
This is the only way to provide the zucchini with enough heat, light, nutrients and moisture. Bushes planted at such an interval will be well ventilated, which means they will not become infected with fungus and mold.
Zucchini care
As a rule, zucchini are unpretentious plants. All they need is sun and water. But in order to get a good harvest, it is better to pay more attention to the plants:
- plant at the end of May, when a constant temperature of at least 18 degrees is established;
- plant seedlings to get an early and bountiful harvest;
- grow in greenhouses and greenhouses if the air temperature in the region is low;
- water often and abundantly, it is better to use warm, settled water for this purpose;
- fertilize and dig up the ground before planting plants, lime the soil, loosen;
- choose areas with loose soil;
- harvest on time, avoiding over-ripening of fruits;
- climbing varieties tie on trellises so that the plant is ventilated and does not rot;
- choose areas on the sunny side, with deep groundwater.
This is the only way to get high yields, which will be enough not only for canning and cooking, but also for sale.
Hybrid zucchini
For to get as many small zucchini as possible, the fruits need to be picked while they are young... Vegetables overripe very quickly - they increase in size, the peel hardens, and many large seeds appear. All this spoils not only the presentation of the vegetable, but also its taste.
Hybrid varieties are characterized by fast ripening and the fact that zucchini do not outgrow for a long time... That is, even with an irregular harvest, the yield of young fruits will be the same.
This is great for summer cottages, the owner of which cannot come every day. Hybrid zucchini can be harvested on weekends, and the fruits will be just as small and tender.
Among other things, all hybrid varieties are very productive - up to 16 kg of vegetables can be harvested from one bush. They are resistant to low temperatures, and some even to frost.... Therefore, planting zucchini of a hybrid variety is possible not only in the south, but also in Siberia.
Another quality of hybrids is disease resistance. Good breeding companies process the seeds of their production from both pests and most diseases inherent in this vegetable.
Iskander
The most famous and most productive hybrid variety is Iskander. This plant was bred by Dutch breeders. With proper care, about 17 kg of zucchini can be harvested from one hybrid bush.
The fruits do not overripe - for a long time they retain their small size and delicate peel and pulp. Zucchini of this variety has pale green or beige color, oblong shape and smooth surface. There are practically no seeds inside the fruit, which makes its pulp very tender and tasty.
The Iskander hybrid ripens very quickly - already on the 40th day after sowing the seeds, the first fruits can be harvested - small zucchini weighing up to 0.5 kg. The culture tolerates any climate and pest attacks, is resistant to many diseases.
Genovese
Zucchini, which was bred by Italian breeders specifically for their Mediterranean climate - a hybrid "Genovese". Domestic scientists have adapted the variety to the climate of central Russia - it can be grown not only in a greenhouse, but also in a garden bed.
The hybrid is very early - the first vegetables can be tried as early as 35 days after planting in the soil. The fruits are distinguished by excellent taste and small size, retain their delicate flesh and skin for a long time.
Among other merits, the hybrid gives high yields and staunchly resists diseases of a humid climate - powdery mildew and bacteriosis.
White Bush
Another early hybrid bred by Danish breeders is the White Bush marrow. The first fruits can be enjoyed already on the 40th day after planting the seeds in the ground.
Zucchini are distinguished by their excellent presentation - flat surface, regular cylindrical shape, light green color. More mature vegetables acquire a white skin color.
The flesh of the vegetable marrow is delicate, creamy in color, and has an unusual sweetish aftertaste. The plant is resistant to diseases, tolerates the local climate well.
Yellow zucchini
Many housewives prefer white or greenish zucchini to ordinary zucchini. yellow fruit. Varieties that give a golden harvest are distinguished by good keeping quality and excellent taste.
They have a slightly sweet taste and are suitable both for fresh consumption, preparation of salads and side dishes, and for canning. After pickling, the zucchini retains its bright yellow hue, which looks very beautiful.
"Yasmin"
Japanese breeders have developed this very early hybrid variety. "Yasmin" also refers to high-yielding zucchini - up to 14 kg of vegetables can be removed from one bush.
The fruits grow large - their maturity occurs at a length of 25 cm. The most interesting thing about this zucchini is the golden color of the peel. The pulp also has a yellow tint. Differs in a sweetish taste, provided by a high content of carotene - the same useful substance that is rich in carrots.
The plant is resistant to high humidity, can be grown both in a greenhouse and in a garden bed. Zucchini is not afraid of rot and mold. Another plus is long-term fruiting. Fresh vegetables can be harvested within two months - new ovaries will appear on the plant very often.
"Golda"
Another early ripe hybrid is "Golda". These zucchini have a bright orange skin and a creamy flesh. The hybrid tastes sweetish, contains a lot of sugar and carotene.
The fruits are very large - their weight reaches 3 kg, and the length is 0.5 meters. With such sizes, high taste characteristics are not lost - the zucchini remains as tender and juicy.
For salads and fresh consumption, it is still better to pluck young fruits until their length reaches 30 cm.
The plant gives good yields (which is not surprising given this size of fruit), is well transported and stored for a long time. All this allows you to grow a variety for sale, and not just for your own use.
"Gold Rush"
The Dutch version of the yellow-fruited zucchini is the Gold Rush hybrid. The plant is early maturing - the first vegetables can be eaten already on the 40th day after planting the seeds.
Zucchini grows small, their weight reaches only 150-180 grams. But outwardly, the fruits are very attractive - they have a smooth peel with an orange color. Their flesh is creamy, slightly sweet and very tasty.
"Yellow-fruited"
The pride of domestic breeders is the Zheltoplodny zucchini. Zucchini grow large - young vegetables weigh 0.7 kg, but even overripe 2 kg zucchini remain just as tasty and tender.
The peel of the vegetable is glossy, smooth, has a bright orange color. A distinctive feature of the variety is its long fruiting period - fresh zucchini can be plucked throughout the season, the plant bears fruit for about three months.
Round zucchini
Round zucchini are very interesting - they can have different colors and different sizes. Such fruits can decorate any summer cottage, because their appearance is quite exotic.
The taste qualities of such zucchini are no worse than ordinary, cylindrical fruits. AND the round shape allows you to use vegetables in various culinary experiments - for baking, stuffing, marinades.
One of the uses of a round squash is arts and crafts. Here the fruits are used to make various vases, vessels and other souvenirs.
Almost all varieties of round zucchini are perfectly adapted to the Russian climate - they can be planted both in a greenhouse and in open ground. Such crops do not require any special care - they have enough watering and fertilizers.
"Ball"
Zucchini of the Ball variety can be easily confused with a regular pumpkin - they are round and striped. The skin is green and the flesh is creamy.
The taste of round zucchini is very high - these are tender and juicy fruits with pulp without large seeds. "Ball" grows up to 0.5 kg, retaining all the taste.
Most often, young fruits are still used in cooking, they are plucked when the mass reaches only 100 grams. Such "balls" are easy to stuff, and you can even marinate whole - this dish looks very presentable.
"F1 Festival"
The hybrid belongs to the most unusual varieties - it is often used as a decorative type, decorating summer cottages and country houses.
The fruits grow small - up to 0.6 kg. They have a round shape, similar to a decorative pumpkin. The zucchini color is very bright and variegated - stripes of yellow, green, black and white shades alternate here.
You can not only look at zucchini - they are quite tasty. They are pickled, baked and stuffed.
"Orange F1"
Another very interesting variety is the round squash "Orange F1". The fruits are like tiny pumpkins - they are bright orange in color and round in shape. The mass of such zucchini rarely reaches 200 grams - they are quite small.
Exotic zucchini is quite suitable for human consumption, in addition, they are very useful and rich in trace elements and carotene.
Fruits can be salted, pickled, stewed, baked and stuffed.
The best domestic varieties
What are the best varieties? For some, the color and shape of the zucchini are important, someone is interested in the timing of its ripening, and someone wants to spend less time in the garden and chooses the most unpretentious crops. But probably for each owner, the most important thing is the yield of zucchini, because vegetables should be enough for the entire hot period and conservation.
The resistance of plants is also very important, especially in the domestic climate. Zucchini should tolerate heat, cold, drought, and high humidity well.... The plant must resist disease and not attract insects and other pests.
"Anchor"
One of such versatile varieties is the Yakor zucchini. You can plant this variety simply in the ground, and the zucchini belongs to the early maturing and gives the first fruits already on the 40th day after planting the seeds.
The fruits have a pale green hue, smooth surface and cylindrical shape. The mass of a mature zucchini reaches 1 kg, and its shape becomes slightly rounded.
The fruits of this variety perfectly tolerate not only transportation, but also long-term storage - within a month they will retain all useful substances and trace elements.
The pulp is very tasty and aromatic, rich in vitamins. Zucchini "Yakor" can be stewed, fried, marinated, baked and canned - the variety is versatile and tasty in any form.
It is necessary to pay great attention to caring for the plant - the variety does not tolerate diseases very well, needs timely watering and regular loosening of the soil. But with proper care, you can easily get up to 7 kg of zucchini from each bush.
"Zebra"
Zucchini variety "Zebra" belongs to the very early - the first vegetables appear on the 35th day after planting the seeds. But these are far from all the achievements of the variety. In addition, the zucchini have an interesting color - they are decorated with light green and dark green stripes.
The variety is also high-yielding, mainly female flowers appear on the plant, bearing fruit. Zebra bushes are very compact, they can be grown in greenhouses, and in greenhouses, and in beds.
Another advantage is resistance to cold, which allows planting this variety of zucchini-zucchini in any region of Russia.
How to get small zucchini
All zucchini can be picked young and have the same flavor and composition as technically mature vegetables. Small zucchini can be stuffed, baked and marinated whole. They look beautiful in jars and on a plate.
There are varieties of zucchini that have medium-sized fruits, which, even when overripe, rarely reach 25 cm in length. The smallest zucchini can be found among the round varieties, among them there are fruits weighing up to 180 grams.
