Objects are considered an unpretentious culture. But even they can throw a surprise. At the stage of active growth, the fruits are suddenly covered with dark spots, and their ends begin to dry and rot. This is not a fungus, as it might seem, but the top (dry) rot, a physiological disease caused by a deficiency of calcium.
Why is a calcium deficiency
1. Acid soil blocks its absorption.
2. Sudden temperature differences violate the metabolism.
3. Irregular watering causes stress and interferes with the absorption of nutrients.
How to distinguish from the fungus. With dry rot, the fruits dry out, as if “mummified”, without signs of mold.
How to avoid the problem
1. Start with the soil. Measure pH. If below 6.5, add ash or dolomite flour (about 1 cup per hole). This will reduce acidity and provide calcium.
2. Water stably watering should be carried out 1-2 times a week under the root. Avoid drying and waterlogging. Mulch from straw will help in the heat. She will hold moisture and protect the roots from overheating.
Fertilizers
Calcium nitrate (20 g per 10 l of water) is carried out no more than once every 2 weeks. Nitrogen manure and excess, on the contrary, interfere with the absorption of calcium.
Home spray from the rotten rot:
- 1 liter of rain or settled water;
- 10 g of calcium nitrate;
- 2 drops of iodine.
Pour into the spray. Process the ovaries and leaves in the morning or evening every 10 days. It is important not to exceed the dosage so as not to burn the plants.
Useful tips
Tear off the zucchini young when their length does not exceed 20 cm. The more fruits, the higher the risk of rot. Dead zucchini immediately remove. They pull the forces at the bush and attract pests.
Choose stable varieties of zucchini:
- “Kavili”;
- “Iskander”;
- “Yasmin F1”.
All of them are less likely to suffer from dry rot.
Dry rot is a signal that the plants lack of comfortable conditions. Regular watering, neutral soil, reasonable top dressing and your crop will again be strong and healthy. And if the trouble has already arrived, do not panic. A simple spray with calcium will be an excellent means for saving fruits.
Previously reported About how to prevent yellowing of onion and garlic feathers. The main causes and ways of struggle against corruption of crop were dismantled.
