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In most cases, green zucchini refers to zucchini – a variety of zucchini, bred in Italy and appeared in Our Country relatively recently, several decades ago. Zucchini has a number of properties and characteristics that allowed it to quickly gain popularity among gardeners and become widespread in plots and gardens. Despite the fact that zucchini, in fact, is also a zucchini, its distinct features actually allow it to be considered a separate culture. This statement, of course, does not apply to strict science, but it is convenient in everyday communication and in the description of agricultural practices and growing methods for a wide range of amateur gardeners.
Description and properties
All zucchini, including zucchini and squash, are classified as a bush variety of ordinary pumpkin, which has characteristic rather large elongated fruits. The most common variety in recent years has become zucchini (or green squash). Compared to conventional ones, they have a number of distinct features.
Differences between zucchini and regular zucchini
Despite many common properties and features, green zucchini, otherwise called zucchini, also have quite serious differences from ordinary ones:
- color. Regular zucchini is usually white or light green in color. Zucchini are mostly dark green or other shades of green, and often have a striped or similar pattern;
- taste. Green zucchini have a more delicate taste, which makes it possible to use them raw with minimal heat treatment;
- maturity and productivity. Zucchini much earlier than ordinary zucchini begin to bear fruit – in June. In addition, due to constant fruiting, they are much more productive (24 times), which is one of the main advantages of the crop;
- fruit size and peel. Zucchini rarely reach 25 cm, moreover, they often simply do not have time to grow, as they acquire excellent taste qualities early, most pronounced in fruits 15-20 cm in size. Zucchini peel is thin and tender, which makes it possible to eat it, which is practically impossible in zucchini, which have a thick and hard skin;
- care requirements. Successful cultivation of green squash requires a little more attention than regular squash. Zucchini are more in need of moisture and warmth, however, given that zucchini is one of the most unassuming crops, zucchini is also quite undemanding when compared to the vast majority of other garden plants.
Properties and benefits of green zucchini
You can list the minerals, vitamins and other useful components contained in zucchini for a long time. But the specific benefits that a vegetable brings to certain vital systems of the human body look much more convincing:
- digestion. The fiber contained in zucchini in large quantities has an extremely beneficial effect on the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, allowing you to solve many problems associated with digestion;
- weight loss. Zucchini is included in the vast majority of diets aimed at reducing weight and cholesterol levels in human blood. Such close attention of nutritionists is caused by a complex of properties of green zucchini: minimal calorie content, lack of fat in the composition and high water content. All together allows you to prevent overeating, combined with the maximum benefit. Particularly useful in this sense are steamed zucchini;
- immunity, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. A high concentration of vitamin C, as well as the content of ascorbic acid, significantly increase human immunity and its ability to resist many diseases, in particular, asthma, arthritis, cancer, diabetes – the list goes on for quite some time. This property is especially important in the autumn-winter period, when the pressure of infectious and viral diseases is high on the body. They, as well as cancer, are successfully resisted by the presence of antioxidants in zucchini, which are extremely useful for precisely these purposes;
- eyes. The lutein and zaxanthin contained in green zucchini have an extremely beneficial effect on the organs of vision, being also a prophylactic against age-related ophthalmic diseases.
Most of the above beneficial properties of zucchini are not known to a wide range of amateur gardeners who grow green zucchini, primarily because of their wonderful taste.
But green squash can also cause some harm to health. This applies to people with kidney and gallbladder diseases. The use of zucchini is contraindicated for them.
The best varieties of green zucchini
Currently, domestic gardeners are offered a wide selection of various varieties and hybrids of green zucchini, both domestic and foreign.
Aeronaut
Green zucchini Aeronaut has a compact bush structure with a small number of lashes. The female type of flowering predominates. The plant has a main shoot of insignificant length. The aeronaut can be grown both in the open field and in greenhouses, reaching a yield of about 7 kg / sq. m. Refers to early ripening varieties, brings the first fruits in 45 days. The shape of the fruit is cylindrical with a smooth surface. The fruit is a dark green zucchini, a pattern is possible, which is a number of small light green dots. Fruits can reach a mass of up to 1,3 kg. The flesh of the fruit has a whitish-yellow color. The variety is versatile and suitable for eating in any form. Due to the combination of a fairly high yield, unpretentiousness and good taste, the Aeronaut variety is one of the most common and popular in Our Country.
Delicacy
The variety of green zucchini Delicacy refers to the bush, bearing dark green fruits. It is a high-yielding mid-season variety, the first fruits of which ripen after 55 days. The shape of the leaves is slightly corrugated, they are of medium size. Fruits of the correct cylindrical shape, large enough, reach a length of 30-35 cm in size with a normal weight of 1,2-2 kg.
The taste qualities of the Delicacy variety, first of all, appear during canning, although it is possible to use zucchini in other forms.
long-fruited
The zucchini variety Long-fruited is early ripe, bearing the first fruits after 45 days. Like most green zucchini, it has a compact structure with short lashes, the number of which is small. The fruits are green or pale green in color, ribbed cylinder shape and relatively small in size, reaching a weight of 0,9-1,7 kg. Variety Long-fruited is most suitable for growing in open ground.
Cukesha
One of the popular varieties of zucchini Zukesha, quite productive (12 kg of fruit per bush), is suitable for growing both indoors using film coatings and in open ground conditions.
It has the ability, rare for green squash, to not lose flavor or become rough even when overgrown, making it suitable for gardeners who visit their plots only on weekends. Refers to early ripe varieties (fruiting – after 45-50 days). The mass of the fetus, as a rule, does not reach 1 kg. The variety allows long-term storage, in addition, it is universal, perfect for pickling, canning and fresh consumption.
Zebra
Zucchini Zebra variety is one of the most famous varieties of green zucchini due to its original color. The plant has a compact structure, a short main shoot and a small number of lashes. This variety of green zucchini reaches a yield of 9 kg / sq. m. Zebra zucchini are suitable both for growing in open ground and in conditions of film shelters of greenhouses or hotbeds. The variety belongs to early ripening, the first crop ripens after 38 days. The fruits have a classic cylindrical shape, slightly ribbed surface and, most importantly, distinguishing from a large number of other varieties, the property is a characteristic pattern, which is an alternation of stripes of dark green and light green colors. Zucchini are relatively small in size, rarely exceeding a mass of 0,5 kg.
In addition to the remarkable and extremely original appearance, the variety also has a high degree of cold resistance and the ability to restore growth and fruiting when favorable conditions occur.
The huge popularity of the Zebra variety is caused not only by color, but also by high yields achieved with unpretentious care. In addition, the variety of green zucchini Zebra has excellent taste, being versatile, perfect for use in any form.
Sir
A variety of green zucchini with an original color in the form of a light green mesh. Belongs to early ripening, allowing you to harvest as early as 35 days. Like most green zucchini, it has a compact bush shape. In addition to the original color, the fruit also has a ribbed surface and relatively small dimensions – weight – 0,5-0,6 kg, the length usually does not exceed 18 cm. The fruits have a characteristic white-cream pulp.
Cavili
The hybrid of the green vegetable marrow Kavili belongs to the ultra-early varieties, bearing fruit after 35 days. The fruits, as a rule, have the correct cylinder shape, white-greenish color and small size, which rarely exceed 22-25 cm in length. The most pleasant taste qualities are acquired by fruits having a size of 16-22 cm, at this time they are best harvested. They have the properties of parthenocarpic plants, that is, they bear fruit with low insect activity in rainy and cold weather. They have a fairly long (more than 2 months) period of fruiting. A hybrid of green squash Cavili can be grown both in open ground and in closed ground in greenhouses or hotbeds.
When
One of the most high-yielding varieties of zucchini Kuand bred for cultivation in open and closed ground. With the correct application of agricultural practices, its yield can reach 22,6 kg / sq. m.
Kuand refers to mid-season varieties of green zucchini, ripening for 52-55 days. The variety belongs to the universal and can be used for food in any form: fresh, canned or after heat treatment. In addition to these advantages, it has a weak susceptibility to diseases of powdery mildew and rot.
Conclusion
The variety of green zucchini fruits presented allows any gardener to easily choose the option that best meets their requirements and meets their existing needs.