When to plant zucchini?

Zucchini planting is divided into two main periods: spring and autumn. Spring sowing is usually in early May, while autumn sowing is in early September. Choosing the right time for sowing is essential to ensure high germination rates of seeds and avoid pests and diseases. The ideal temperature for growing zucchini is about 25℃. It can withstand a certain degree of cold, but is more sensitive to high temperatures. In our country, zucchini is widely grown in various regions. Let’s learn in detail below about when to plant zucchini?

When to plant zucchini?

In spring, open-field sowing is carried out from late April to early May, in autumn, generally in mid-August, and in autumn delayed cultivation, sowing is carried out from late September to early to mid-October.

The best time to grow zucchini is spring and autumn sowing, and it is recommended to start seedling cultivation in mid-March. Choose healthy, disease-free seeds, first treat the seeds with 55°C hot water, and then soak the seeds for 8 to 10 hours after the water temperature drops to 30°C. During the germination stage, place the seeds in a 30°C environment for 24 hours and wrap them with gauze to maintain a suitable temperature (28-30°C). During this time, wash the seeds daily in warm water to remove the slime and prevent mold.

When more than half of the seeds begin to germinate, they are ready for sowing. After sowing, cover with mulch to maintain soil temperature and moisture. When the seedlings emerge from the soil, remove the plastic film in time and lower the temperature appropriately, especially at night. The daytime temperature should be controlled between 23℃ and 25℃ to prevent the plants from growing too tall.

During the seedling stage, ensure sufficient light, about 10 hours of light per day, which helps the formation of female flowers. Temperature management should be adjusted flexibly: maintained at 23℃ to 28℃ during the day and 13℃ to 15℃ at night. On cloudy days, the daytime temperature can be adjusted to 20℃ to 30℃, and can be reduced to 11℃ to 12℃ at night, keeping the temperature difference between day and night at 10℃ to 15℃. 7 to 10 days before transplanting, proper hardening of the seedlings should be carried out to enhance their adaptability.

The ideal seedling age is 25 to 35 days. At this time, the strong seedlings should have the following characteristics: plant height 10 to 18 cm, strong plants, thick and expanded cotyledons, 3 to 5 true leaves, dark green leaves, developed root system, and no diseases or pests.

Zucchini growing conditions

Variety selection: Choose varieties with short plants, compact shape, small leaves, low female flower nodes, fast growth and development, and strong cold resistance, such as Early Spring Generation, Gray Cai Ni, Zhengzhou Yiwo Chicken, etc.

Seedling raising: The time for raising zucchini seedlings is usually around mid-February. The seeds need to be germinated first and then sown. When raising seedlings, you can use nutrient pots or nutrient soil blocks.

Transplanting: Generally, transplanting is done after the frost stops. In order to mature earlier, it can also be transplanted before the frost stops and covered with plastic film for protection.

Soil requirements: Zucchini prefers loose and fertile soil, which should be rich in organic matter and well-drained.

Temperature management: The suitable temperature for the growth and development of zucchini is 18-25℃, and the suitable temperature for flowering and fruiting is 22-25℃. When sowing in spring, the average daily temperature should be above 15℃.

Light: Zucchini needs plenty of sunlight, and the lighting time should be maintained at about 10 hours, which is conducive to the differentiation of female flowers.

Water management: Zucchini has a high demand for water, especially during the fruit expansion period, the soil needs to be kept moist.

The above is an introduction to the planting time of zucchini. There are many aspects of zucchini cultivation that need attention in order to achieve high yield and good quality.