Everyone knows about the beneficial properties of vegetables, and among them one cannot fail to mention zucchini, which, in addition, has a luxurious taste, thanks to which even the best chefs in the world use such a simple vegetable when creating dishes, along with the famous zucchini.
Zucchini grown with your own hands cannot be compared with store-bought ones; they grow juicy, are much more natural and are stored better. This article describes how to care for the Tender Zephyr variety in order to get healthy and tasty fruits.
Description of the variety
Zucchini Tender Marshmallow was produced as a hybrid specifically for creating delicacies. Externally it differs in its fabulous two-tone color: yellow with a sharp transition to green.
The variety is early ripening and high-yielding. A little more than a month after planting the seeds, you can already harvest. At this time, new ovaries will form, so it will be possible to harvest the crop 2 or even 3 times. During the season, an average of up to 8 kg is collected from a bush.
Growing
Before planting, the bed must be thoroughly weeded and fertilized with manure; you can additionally sprinkle it with ash. The holes are made approximately 30 cm from each other, several seeds are planted in each and only the strongest sprout is left. Immediately after planting, the bed should be watered abundantly. To harvest the harvest as early as possible, seedlings can be planted in the soil immediately.
It is better to plant zucchini in open ground; this variety is recommended for cultivation in central Russia. Seeds should be soaked in warm water or wrapped in a wet cloth 1–2 days before planting, so the sprouts will sprout more quickly.
Features of care
Delicate marshmallows are easy to care for, so they don’t require much effort. It should be watered once every few days, covered at night and in cold weather with spunbond or film. Excess leaves that cover the inflorescences and fruits from the sun must be trimmed so that the fruits receive enough light and heat.
If you cut off still young zucchini, new ovaries will form, which will have time to ripen.
Advantages and disadvantages
Today the variety has spread quite widely, so it is not at all something rare and something that is impossible to get.
The yellow-green fruits look elegant in the garden and continue to please the eye after harvest.They are sometimes even used, like pumpkins, to decorate the interior. Because thanks to their cheerful colors and interesting shape, they can lift your spirits and simply be an original interior decoration.
The taste of this variety is truly finger-licking, but its only drawback is that it is not suitable for long-term storage. Zucchini can be eaten raw.
Pests and diseases
Zucchini is not very susceptible to disease, but there is still a possibility of damage from powdery mildew, white rot or insects. To avoid this, you should follow several rules:
- there is no need to plant zucchini in the soil where they have already grown before;
- before planting, it is important to deeply and efficiently loosen and weed the soil;
- diseased bushes are immediately removed without regret.
To combat insects, periodically water the soil with onion solution and karbofos solution. Some pests can be washed away with strong pressure of water, and for prevention, you can periodically water the soil with a potassium solution.
Harvest and storage
Tender marshmallows should be collected when the fruit reaches 10–15 cm in length (“milk ripeness”), until it has outgrown and the pulp, its main feature, begins to gradually harden. In addition, the fruits have a very delicate structure, including the skin, which is why they spoil easily. It is better to cut them as soon as they begin to ripen so that wet weather does not ruin the entire harvest.
Zucchini is stored in a cool place with average air humidity, preferably low. When there is strong humidity, they begin to rot, especially such delicate varieties. If you have already used half of the zucchini, and decided to add part later to another dish, then it is best to store it only in the refrigerator.
Delicate marshmallows are not intended for long-term storage; they are best used for canning. If you want to prepare other dishes from this variety, it is better to do this in the first couple of months.
Reviews from gardeners
Zucchini truly has a magical taste; it has delicate flesh and a pleasantly sweet taste. Most gardeners are happy with growing Tender Marshmallow, mainly due to the quantity and quality of the harvest and its extraordinary flavor.
