Many people consider zucchini to be unpretentious: plant it, water it, harvest it. But in practice, 3–4 small fruits grow, and the bush stands as a green monument until autumn. In fact, zucchini consumes a lot of nutrition and needs constant feeding. A scheme of 4 fertilizing with two compositions gives a stable 12 fruits per bush.
First feeding
When 4-5 true leaves appear, the zucchini needs nitrogen. Use mullein infusion (1:10, leave for 2-3 days, half a liter per bush). If there is no mullein, use green fertilizer from mowed grass: fill a barrel with grass, fill it with water, cover, wait a week.
Water only on damp soil: first with ordinary water, then fertilizing. It is useless to feed dry soil.
Second feeding
When the bush has grown 6-7 leaves and buds are about to appear, it’s time for ash. This is potassium, phosphorus and calcium in an accessible form. The best ash comes from burning tops of cucumbers, potatoes, and branches of fruit trees. Coniferous is poorer, but also suitable. Dry ash is scattered and buried shallowly in the ground. After three days, water with an ash solution (a glass of 10 liters of water, leave for a day).
Third and fourth feedings
When the bush blooms en masse, organic matter is given again. Nitrogen is no longer needed, but organic matter provides comprehensive nutrition and supports the bush all season long. As soon as the fruits begin to fill, the fourth feeding is done: ash solution. Potassium is involved in the transport of sugars and affects density and taste. Without this, the fruits grow watery.
What ruins the result even with proper feeding:
- feed on dry soil – first watering, then fertilizing;
- overdose of mullein: dilute strictly 1:10, otherwise the roots will burn;
- feed in cold summer – the roots do not take food, it is better to wait for warmth.
Alternating organic matter and ash is the essence of the scheme. Organic matter provides nitrogen and microelements, ash replenishes potassium and phosphorus. They do not compete, but complement each other, says the author of the channel O Fazenda. Country life” (18+).
Personal experience
My husband laughed all the time that I was feeding zucchini with “chemicals”. I tried a regimen with ash and herbal infusion – without any purchased chemicals. The result exceeded expectations: the zucchini was eaten so much that it was distributed to neighbors.
