Seedlings of pumpkins, zucchini: how to distinguish

The article describes the seedlings of pumpkins, zucchini: how to distinguish seedlings and seeds, the characteristic features of plants. Provides information about the benefits of pumpkin seeds, the rules for growing seedlings.

Difficulties in distinguishing seedlings is a question that is quite relevant for many gardeners, both beginners and quite experienced ones. In particular, it is problematic to determine the seedlings of crops belonging to the same species or family. In such cases, various markers, stickers and other devices come to the rescue. However, over time, the tablets are lost, the inscriptions are erased or soaked, and with the approach of the moment of planting seedlings in the ground, the imagination more and more often "paints" a picture of pumpkins that have grown on the floor of the garden, in the place of which neat bushes of zucchini should have grown. Therefore, it does not hurt to know the distinctive features of seedlings of similar vegetable crops. Let us consider such differences using the example of seedlings of two vegetables very common among gardeners - zucchini and pumpkin.

Seedlings of pumpkins, zucchini: information on the benefits of pumpkin

Seedlings of pumpkins, zucchini: information about the benefits of pumpkin

To begin with, let's remember why these representatives of the pumpkin family are so attractive.

The benefits of vegetables can be judged by already looking at the amount of vitamins and minerals they contain, including: vitamins A, B, C and P, iron, potassium and calcium, phosphorus. Pectin, also included in their composition, helps to normalize the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

Since vegetables are low in calories and rich in fiber, they are recommended for inclusion in the diet. Baby food for one-year-old babies is also not complete without zucchini and pumpkin.

Perhaps, these vegetables are distinguished only by culinary preferences. We often use zucchini in various dishes, preservation and preparations, and we add pumpkin to cereals and desserts, since some of its varieties have a rather sweet pulp.

Seedlings of pumpkins, zucchini: distinctive features of plants and fruits of the family

Seedlings of pumpkins, zucchini: distinctive features of plants and fruits of the family

Despite the fact that squash and pumpkin are one family, and also have similar properties and characteristics, some differences between them are still present.

Pumpkins, for example, in contrast to squash, form long shoots that grow in length up to 5 meters. Such powerful lashes are recommended to pinch in a timely manner. This procedure is correctly called formation. This formation is of several types - in one, two or three lashes. The number of fruits and their size will depend on the chosen method. They begin to form lashes when the main shoot forms the first fruit, and then the lashes continue to pinch throughout the summer. By the way, today, there are pumpkin varieties that develop in the form of a bush, not at all forming long shoots.

Also, experts note that the duration of storage of pumpkins depends on how well the lashes are formed.

Most gardeners plant round gourds. However, through the efforts of breeders, this vegetable takes on such bizarre forms that looking at them, you certainly cannot think of a pumpkin. And some varieties, in shape, are easy to confuse with zucchini.

The flesh of the pumpkin has a rich orange or yellow-orange color. The skin can be orange, green, or even gray. And many decorative pumpkins combine several colors, having striped or spotted colors.

Pumpkins begin to ripen in the last summer month, and reach full maturity by the end of September. Pumpkin fruits of late varieties, with a growing season of up to 200 days, sometimes have to be removed not yet ripe. However, pumpkins ripen well during storage.

In pumpkin fruits, between the skin and pulp, another hard layer is hidden, which, by the way, is also eaten.

Also, unlike zucchini, pumpkin has a rich aroma and sweet taste.

Zucchini is a plant that, more often, develops in the form of a bush. However, some varieties, for example, "F1 Watermelon", form whips, of course, not as powerful and long as those of a pumpkin.

Zucchini is also capable of “confusing” with its shape, and, in combination with a variety of colors and color options, “misleading”.

The plant bears fruit perfectly all season, only the first negative temperatures can stop it.

The flesh of the zucchini is very tender, and the fact that it does not have a pronounced taste is, rather, an advantage of this vegetable, since it allows you to use it in an unlimited number of different dishes.

Fresh zucchini is stored, of course, much less than pumpkin. However, the number of options for harvesting and preserving zucchini makes up for this shortcoming.

How to distinguish between squash and pumpkin seedlings

So, in case you sowed seeds at random, the last way to distinguish these two pumpkin crops is to compare the signs of pumpkin seedlings and squash.

Zucchini seedlings have two very first leaves, which are also called cotyledons, more elongated and slightly elongated. The stems of the leaves are rather long, light greenish in color, and the leaves themselves are rather thin, having a relief, carved surface.

How to distinguish between squash and pumpkin seedlings

Pumpkin seedlings, if you look closely, have a darker color. Both the leaves and stems are rich green color. The leaves of pumpkin seedlings are larger, in addition, to the touch, they are coarser and denser than the leaves of zucchini. The stem of the pumpkins is shorter and thicker.

The above differences between seedlings and seeds of these two crops, more, are still conditional, since the varieties of both squash and pumpkin are so diverse that you cannot foresee everything. Here, it seems, the plant develops in the form of a bush, and then you look - a pumpkin is tied, not a vegetable marrow. In this case, there is only one thing left - we are waiting for the harvest.

How to tell the difference between pumpkin and squash seeds

It happens that without waiting for the time to plant the seeds, we begin to open the cherished bags, considering the planting material. As a result, the seeds spill out and mix. And when harvesting our own seeds, we do not always consider it necessary to make inscriptions on the packaging, considering that the differences in seeds are too obvious to be confused. But no, sometimes, and experienced gardeners have difficulties with determining the ownership of the seeds of a particular vegetable.

What are the signs that will help distinguish pumpkin seeds from zucchini.

Zucchini seeds have a more elongated shape, closer to oval. They do not have a very hard shell, which can be easily damaged or completely removed by pressing the seed hard. The color of the seeds is closer to milky, without any shades.

The main difference between pumpkin seeds and squash is, of course, their larger size and rounded shape. The seeds of most pumpkin varieties are yellowish, however, in some varieties, the color of the seeds does not differ at all from the seeds of courgettes. The shell of pumpkin seeds is somewhat coarser and cannot be removed quickly. But, at the same time, pumpkin seeds germinate faster than zucchini.

These differences will help sort the seed material, however, they cannot give a full guarantee. In this case, it is recommended to plant seeds for seedlings. This option will exclude their proximity, and will give one more opportunity to try to distinguish vegetable crops before planting them in open ground.

Growing rules and photos of pumpkin and zucchini seedlings

Growing rules and photos of pumpkin and zucchini seedlings: pumpkin seedlings

Before sowing seeds, it is recommended to process them. As a rule, processing includes several stages. First, the shift is discarded, discarding those that floated to the surface when soaked in salt water. Then, briefly immersed in disinfectant solutions of potassium permanganate or wood ash. Some people use biological fungicides for this purpose. And the soil remaining after soaking with the solution is shed before or after sowing seeds into it.

Growing rules and photos of pumpkin and zucchini seedlings: zucchini seedlings

By the way, before processing, you need to carefully read the information on the package, because in some cases the manufacturer carries out the necessary seed treatments on his own and you can immediately proceed to sowing them.

Both squash and pumpkin do not like acidic or alkaline soil, so the soil for sowing seeds must be at a neutral ph level. This must be remembered in the future, when planting seedlings in open ground. For sowing seeds, you can use purchased soil or make up the soil mixture yourself. The components of such a mixture include sod land, high-quality humus, peat and sawdust. At the same time, regardless of whether you purchased the soil in a specialized store or compiled it yourself, it is imperative to decontaminate it. Even if you are sure that there are no pathogens, prevention will not hurt.

It is better to use separate small containers for growing seedlings. In each such glass or pot, you need to plant two or three seeds. And when the seedlings grow up a little, leave only the strongest and healthiest plant.

The sowing depth of the seeds is no more than 2 cm. The seeds are placed horizontally in the hole.

Containers with seeds are covered with foil or glass and placed in a room with an air temperature of + 20 ... + 22 degrees. After the seedlings appear on the surface, it is recommended to move them for 7 days to a room where daytime temperatures are + 15 ... + 18 degrees, and night temperatures are 2-3 degrees lower.

Experts note that after such hardening, the seedlings will not stretch even despite low lighting.

For watering young plants, use settled water at room temperature. Watering is carried out as the soil surface dries up, but not allowing it to dry out. Young and immature plants will instantly respond to changes in living conditions by wilting and slowing down in development.

Fertilization during the growth of seedlings is carried out twice. For the first time, about a week after the shoots appear, phosphates, carbamide (urea) or organic fertilizers are applied. The second time, 7 days after the first feeding, a complex nitrogen - phosphorus - potassium fertilizer is applied.

Both zucchini and pumpkins are vegetables that are very sensitive to low temperatures, so the seedlings are planted after the return frosts have passed. In many regions, this time falls on the end of May - beginning of June.

Seedlings of pumpkins, zucchini