Courgettes generally;
-To grow your zucchinis successfully, keep the soil moderately moist throughout.
-To grow your zucchinis successfully, keep the soil moderately moist throughout.
-The plant grows well in warm weather but it can withstand cooler conditions better than other cucurbits like cucumber or melon.
-Zucchini (Cucurbita pepo var. cylandrica ) or courgette is slowly becoming a favourite crop
among Kenyans if its growing presence in the market is anything to go by.
among Kenyans if its growing presence in the market is anything to go by.
 |
| Courgette farm |
-As demand increases, it is important farmer
gets it right when growing the crop;
-Zucchini need soils with high organic matter
and good moisture-retaining capacity.
and good moisture-retaining capacity.
-It is recommended you add one wheelbarrow
of compost and or manure to each metre
square of soil and prepare a raised bed, about
25cm high to keep zucchini leaves off the
ground.
of compost and or manure to each metre
square of soil and prepare a raised bed, about
25cm high to keep zucchini leaves off the
ground.
-The crops need a pH of 6 to 7.5. So liming is a
must if your soil test shows that your pH is
below that.
must if your soil test shows that your pH is
below that.
-The recommendation that accompanies the
soil test will give you the exact amount of
lime that is needed to raise your pH to an
adequate level.
soil test will give you the exact amount of
lime that is needed to raise your pH to an
adequate level.
-Remember, lime has to be applied and then
thoroughly incorporated into the soil during
land preparation or weeding.
thoroughly incorporated into the soil during
land preparation or weeding.
-It is good to apply lime just before the rains
start, and better a few months before you
plant as the mineral slowly reacts in the soil,
thus, its positive effects will be seen a few
months later.
start, and better a few months before you
plant as the mineral slowly reacts in the soil,
thus, its positive effects will be seen a few
months later.
 |
| Courgette fruits |
PLANT IN FULL SUN
-Zucchini is a warm weather crop but it can
withstand cooler conditions better than other
cucurbits like cucumber or melon.
-Zucchini is a warm weather crop but it can
withstand cooler conditions better than other
cucurbits like cucumber or melon.
-It is important to mention that zucchinis are
not tolerant to humidity, which causes
mildew.
-Therefore, plant them in full sun.
not tolerant to humidity, which causes
mildew.
-Therefore, plant them in full sun.
-To improve the germination rate, soak the
seeds for three days between two wet kitchen
towels. Use only seeds that have partly
germinated.
seeds for three days between two wet kitchen
towels. Use only seeds that have partly
germinated.
-Sow three seeds at 1.5cm deep per planting
hole. Then thin out to the most vigorous plant
after two to three weeks.
hole. Then thin out to the most vigorous plant
after two to three weeks.
-Alternatively, you can grow two plants at
opposite edges of the seedbed. Some varieties
might need a climbing support to improve air
circulation around the plant.
opposite edges of the seedbed. Some varieties
might need a climbing support to improve air
circulation around the plant.
-The growing vines need to be supported
regularly to avoid breakage or touching the
ground, but most varieties will form big,
sturdy non-climbing plants.
regularly to avoid breakage or touching the
ground, but most varieties will form big,
sturdy non-climbing plants.
-Top-dress with compost after four weeks or
use liquid fertiliser. You can make your own
liquid fertiliser at home by soaking chopped
leaves of tithonia, stinging nettle or comfrey
(or a mixture of all of them) in a bucket of water.
use liquid fertiliser. You can make your own
liquid fertiliser at home by soaking chopped
leaves of tithonia, stinging nettle or comfrey
(or a mixture of all of them) in a bucket of water.
-Cover the bucket loosely and stir the mixture
with a stick daily to incorporate some oxygen
into the brew. It will start to bubble and
“smell” after a few days. That is a good sign,
it means your liquid fertiliser is about to be
ready.
with a stick daily to incorporate some oxygen
into the brew. It will start to bubble and
“smell” after a few days. That is a good sign,
it means your liquid fertiliser is about to be
ready.
-After two weeks, the bubbling stops meaning
your fertiliser is ready for use. You will find
that the water has become a green liquid and
that all the leaves have turned into a kind of
slush. Strain the liquid through a sieve and
store it in a canister.
your fertiliser is ready for use. You will find
that the water has become a green liquid and
that all the leaves have turned into a kind of
slush. Strain the liquid through a sieve and
store it in a canister.
-For application in the root zone of your
plants, dilute it 1:10 (put a litre of the
fertiliser into a 10 litre watering can and fill
it with water).
plants, dilute it 1:10 (put a litre of the
fertiliser into a 10 litre watering can and fill
it with water).
-Pour a bit of it onto the soil next to each plant. Weekly applications are recommended.
-If you want to use it as a foliar spray, simply
strain it in a cloth to avoid clogging of the
sprayer and dilute it 1:20 (put half a litre of
fertiliser into your 20 litres watering can and
fill it up with water).
strain it in a cloth to avoid clogging of the
sprayer and dilute it 1:20 (put half a litre of
fertiliser into your 20 litres watering can and
fill it up with water).
 |
| Courgette flowers |
CUT FRUITS OFF
-To grow your zucchinis successfully, keep the
soil moderately moist throughout. Always
make sure you don’t wet the leaves. So never
water overhead. Mulching with straw is
recommended.
-To grow your zucchinis successfully, keep the
soil moderately moist throughout. Always
make sure you don’t wet the leaves. So never
water overhead. Mulching with straw is
recommended.
-Harvest is done by cutting the fruits off rather
than pulling fruits off to avoid damaging the
plant.
than pulling fruits off to avoid damaging the
plant.
-Zucchinis can be grown all-year round except
during periods of heavy rains as they destroy
the flowers and promote mildew.
during periods of heavy rains as they destroy
the flowers and promote mildew.
-It can be grown in a seedbed and transplanted
at three-leaf stage, but sowing directly in-situ
works just as well.
at three-leaf stage, but sowing directly in-situ
works just as well.
-Recommended spacing is 120 by 60cm since the plants grow quite big.
-Harvest starts after eight weeks and usually
continues for another month. Pick regularly
to encourage production of new fruits.
continues for another month. Pick regularly
to encourage production of new fruits.
-The zucchini fruits look similar to cucumbers
but have a firmer flesh.
but have a firmer flesh.
-They are eaten raw or cooked and are popular in hotels and restaurants. Young shoots, leaves and flowers are a delicacy, and can be eaten raw in salads or fried.
PESTS AND DISEASES
-The crops are attacked by pests and diseases
similar to those that affect cucurbits
(cucumber, melon and pumpkin) although
zucchini is the toughest of them all.
-The crops are attacked by pests and diseases
similar to those that affect cucurbits
(cucumber, melon and pumpkin) although
zucchini is the toughest of them all.
-They include fruit flies, epilachna beetle,
spider mite, white fly, powdery and downy
mildew and wet rot (if vines are grown on the
ground), mosaic virus and wilt.
spider mite, white fly, powdery and downy
mildew and wet rot (if vines are grown on the
ground), mosaic virus and wilt.
Like our Facebook page: Greenfarm organics
Follow us on Twitter: @nicokirui1
No comments:
Post a Comment