One of the most popular vegetables that are often grown on garden beds in households is zucchini. Among the many existing varieties, round zucchini can be distinguished, which are distinguished by especially delicious pulp and attractive appearance. In this article, we will consider their detailed description, cultivation features and care rules, as well as get acquainted with the characteristics of the most popular varieties.

Appearance story

Homeland zucchini are considered Central America and Mexico. They came to the territory of Europe thanks to the navigator Columbus, who brought them on his ship. After that, plants for three centuries were grown exclusively for decorative purposes in the botanical gardens of Italy. The fruits began to be consumed only in the 18th century. The vegetable came to the territory of modern Russia from Turkey in the 19th century. Fruits with a round shape appeared in our area only a decade ago and have already managed to gain considerable popularity among gardeners.

Did you know? The name "zucchini" comes from the Turkish word kabak, meaning "pumpkin".

Appearance and size of round zucchini

Zucchini of this type, in contrast to their oblong counterparts, have a spherical shape. The fruits are covered with a dense peel, which helps to keep them fresh for a long period of time. Different varieties have fruits with different skin colors: green, striped, light, yellow or even orange. In general, round zucchini is more like a pumpkin. There are varieties with large and small fruits, the weight of vegetables can be from 300 g to 5-6 kg. Round zucchini take root well in various climatic conditions and give a decent harvest.

Taste qualities

Round zucchini are considered the most delicious and delicate. Their flesh most often has a light color, but in some varieties it may be orange. The fruits are juicy and contain a small number of seeds, which allows you to use them for cooking a variety of dishes. There are varieties with a characteristic sweetish flavor; from these vegetables you can make delicious squash jam for the winter.

Composition and calorie content

Round zucchini have a very useful chemical composition for the human body. They contain vitamins A, B and C, magnesium, calcium, iron and potassium, folic and nicotinic acid, pectin. Vegetables also contain a lot of fiber. With such a rich vitamin composition, these vegetables belong to low-calorie foods.

The nutritional value of 100 g of fruit is described below:

• proteins - 0.6%;
• fats - 0.3%;
• carbohydrates - 4.6%;
• calories - 24 kcal.

Important! Due to the hypoallergenic properties of zucchini, they are recommended to be given to infants as a first feeding.

Advantages and disadvantages of round zucchini

The wide popularity of growing round zucchini is due to a number of their positive characteristics.

• The main advantages of vegetables include:
• low calorie content and rich vitamin composition;
• attractive fruit shape;
• delicate taste, allowing the use of zucchini in cooking;
• beneficial effect on the digestive system;
• moisturizing effect on the skin;
• the possibility of eating by people with allergic reactions and diabetes;
• ability to reduce the risk of cancer;
• unpretentiousness of the variety in the care and growing conditions.

• Despite the large number of pluses, round zucchini is not without some drawbacks:
• the fruits can not be consumed in renal failure;
• vegetables are contraindicated in raw form for people with high acidity of the stomach;
• zucchini can not be consumed with an excess of potassium in the blood.

Varietal variety

Due to its attractive shape, round zucchini become an ornament of both a summer cottage and a festive table. It will not be possible to purchase them at the supermarket, as they are grown only in private households. As a result of research, many varieties of round zucchini were obtained, differing from each other in external characteristics and some features of cultivation. By size and weight of the fruit, all varieties are divided into large and small.

Large round zucchini

These include varieties with round and large fruits, weighing from 1 to 6–7 kg. They can be eaten raw or prepared from them a variety of vegetable dishes or preservation. To understand when to pick fruits, you need to remember that they are most delicious in a slightly unripe form. When fully ripened, the taste characteristics of their flesh are slightly impaired. Next, we will consider what the most popular varieties of this type of vegetables are called, and give their description.

Did you know? The largest zucchini in the Guinness Book of Records was grown in England in 2008 and weighed 65 kg!

Ball

The name of the variety comes from its spherical shape, and the bush itself on the bed looks very compact.

Main characteristics:

1. The variety belongs to early ripening and high-yielding.
2. The bush is resistant to low temperatures, has an average immunity to diseases.
3. Fruits are covered with green peel with lighter spots.
4. The weight of an average vegetable marrow is from 0.8 to 2.1 kg.
5. The pulp is juicy, contains a small amount of seeds.
6. The fruits have excellent taste and attractive presentation.

Watermelon squash

The vegetable was obtained by crossing zucchini and watermelon, therefore, combines the characteristics of both species.

Its main features are as follows:

1. This variety belongs to late ripening, but gives a high yield - up to 20 fruits from one bush.
2. Zucchini resemble watermelons in appearance, covered with a thin and durable green peel with light stripes and spots.
3. The weight of one fetus can reach 6 kg.
4. The pulp is white and juicy, very sweet.
5. Fruit seeds are pink or black.
6. The fruits of the variety have a long shelf life, their taste characteristics do not deteriorate.

Boatswain

The fruits of this variety have an impressive appearance, and the bush looks sprawling and powerful.

The main features of the Boatswain variety are:

1. Ripe vegetables, the ripening time is up to 1.5 months.
2. The fruits have a thin peel of dark green color.
3. The weight of one zucchini with good care can reach 3-4 kg. Productivity is high.
4. The pulp is dense, light green in color, has a rich taste.
5. The variety is distinguished by good keeping quality; vegetables can be well stored all winter.

Bourgeois F1

A universal variety with large bushes that are successfully grown in any region, but require careful care.

Characteristics of the squash Bourgeois F1:

1. The variety is early ripe, the fruits can be harvested 1.5 months after the appearance of the first seedlings. Productivity is high - up to 10 kg from 1 m².
2. The fruits are large, have a dark green dense peel.
3. The weight of one vegetable can reach 3 kg.
4. The pulp is dense, in the context has a light shade. The vegetables have a good taste.
5. The fruits are well stored and transported without losing their attractive presentation.

Mother-in-law hospitable

These zucchini are characterized by powerful bushes and beautiful large fruits. Sometimes the abbreviated name of the variety is used - Zucchini Bread.

Type Description:

1. The variety is early ripe, 1.5 months are enough to ripen the crop.
2. The yield of the bush is high - up to 12 kg from 1 m². On one plant, up to 10 fruits can be formed simultaneously.
3. The peel is light green, but in the process of ripening the vegetable changes color to lighter.
4. The weight of one fruit is 1.5–2.5 kg.
5. The pulp of the vegetable is very delicate, cream-colored, tastes good.
6. Zucchini can withstand long-term storage, well transported over long distances.

Sailor

Bushes of this variety, despite the compact appearance, very intensively form new ovaries.

The main characteristics of the variety Moryachok are described below:

1. The fruits ripen early, the first crop can be harvested 35 days after the appearance of the first seedlings.
2. The variety is resistant to various climatic conditions, so it can be grown in different regions.
3. Productivity is high - up to 5 kg per 1 m².
4. The skin of the vegetable is light green, with small white spots.
5. The weight of the fruit is from 600 to 900 g.
6. The pulp has a white color, very tasty and juicy.

Tondo di Piacenza

The birthplace of this variety is Italy, but the plant is successfully grown in any region and does not require specific care.

The main characteristics of the squash Tondo di Piacenza:

1. The variety belongs to early ripening; the first crop can be harvested in 1.5–2 months.
2. When grown in open ground with minimal maintenance, the yield of the bush is high.
3. Zucchini is covered with a dark green smooth peel with light spots.
4. Vegetables are not very large, can reach 10-12 cm in diameter.
5. The pulp is light and tender, juicy.
6. The highest taste characteristics are not fully ripened fruits that can be consumed even in raw form.

Ronde de Nice

This variety was bred by French breeders. Its peculiarity is that to get the maximum yield you need to pick the first fruits from the bush as early as possible.

Variety Description:

1. Belongs to early ripening, from seed germination to ripening of the first crop no more than 40 days pass.
2. Vegetables are small. Their weight is about 1 kg and a diameter of up to 15 cm. The yield is high.
3. The fruits are covered with soft and thin skin of a light green hue.
4. The pulp is cream colored and contains almost no seeds.
5. The most delicious are considered slightly immature vegetables that are used in cooking.

Small round zucchini

These vegetables are very popular due to their miniature size. Small round fruits become a decorative decoration for a summer cottage, ideal for stuffing and have a very delicate and tasty flesh. Let's get acquainted with the most common varieties of small round zucchini.

Did you know? Vietnamese zucchini can grow up to 2 m in length and weigh about 150 kg!

Orange

Zucchini of this variety decorate the garden plot with a compact bush shape and decorative appearance of small fruits.

Main characteristics of the type of Orange:

1. The variety is precocious, you can harvest 40–45 days after planting.
2. In appearance, the fruits resemble a small pumpkin, covered with a bright yellow skin with a small green spot near the stalk.
3. The yield of the bush is low, and the diameter of the zucchini rarely exceeds 17 cm.
4. The pulp of the vegetable is light, contains many seeds.
5. Ripe zucchini has a good taste and healthy composition, but when overripe, the volume of pulp decreases and the palatability of the fruit decreases.
6. The advantages of the variety include its spectacular appearance and high carotene content in the fruits.

Gingerbread man

Bushes of this variety grow quite compactly, but require good lighting.

The main characteristics of the Kolobok variety are:

1. Fruits are ripe, ripen 1.5 months after seed germination. The plant is immune to disease.
2. The shape of vegetables resembles a small pumpkin, the average weight is about 600-900 g.
3. The peel of the fruit is soft, dark green or light in color.
4. The pulp is tender, tastes like a pumpkin.
5. With good care, the yield is high.
6. Fruits can be stored until winter.

F1 festival

This variety was obtained by crossing pumpkins and zucchini. The bush looks powerful, and its fruits become the decoration of the garden.

Festival Variety Feature:

1. The variety belongs to the late-ripening, you can harvest only 2 months after planting.
2. The fruits have a rounded, ribbed shape, can reach 15 cm in diameter.
3. The crop is plentiful and can be stored for up to 10 months even at room temperature.
4. The peel is covered with green stripes, which turn yellow or orange during ripening.
5. The pulp is juicy and tasty, painted in a bright orange color.
6. The variety is distinguished by the external beauty of the fruit, but is too sensitive to cold and temperature changes.

Tintoretto

In appearance, the fruits of this variety are very similar to zucchini variety Myachik, but differ in some characteristics. The birthplace of Tintoretto is Italy.

The main characteristics of plants are:

1. The variety is very early, it takes only a little more than a month to ripen the crop.
2. When growing this variety, it does not matter if there are spring frosts in the region, since the bush is resistant to cold.
3. The fruits are small, their weight is from 0.6 to 2.2 kg. Productivity is good - up to 10 kg with 1 m².
4. Zucchini covered with smooth skin, the color of which during the ripening of the vegetable changes from light green to yellow.
5. The fruit pulp is juicy, sweet and tender. It has a light shade and contains large seeds.
6. The advantages of the variety are its good transportability and excellent keeping quality.

Tondo

The bush of this variety is compactly located on the bed and resembles a small green watermelon.

Important! Due to the miniature size of the fruit, the Tondo variety is convenient for canning.

The plant description is presented below:

1. Variety Tondo refers to early ripening, zucchini ripen 55 days after planting.
2. The fruits have a spherical shape, their diameter is 10-15 cm.
3. The weight of one zucchini does not exceed 500–600 g. From 1 m², you can collect about 4–5.5 kg of vegetables.
4. The skin is smooth and thin, dark green in color.
5. The pulp of the fruit is very tender and tasty, there are almost no seeds.
6. Even in case of over-ripening, the vegetable does not lose excellent taste characteristics.

Cultivation and care

Round zucchini is usually not too whimsical to care for, but they need good lighting and love warmth. Subject to all the nuances of agricultural technology, even a beginner gardener can grow them on the site. Planting a plant in open ground is carried out by seed or seedling method. In this case, you need to properly prepare the soil, and planting seeds and seedlings to carry out according to some rules. Consider these stages of growing plants in more detail.

Important! The most delicate pulp is possessed by small zucchini, weighing about 300–400 g

Soil preparation

The success of growing this variety largely depends on the correct preparation of the soil. For the best result, you can buy ready-made soil for zucchini in the store.

And you can cook it yourself, using an equal amount of such components:

• turf land;
• peat;
• dung or humus;
• decayed sawdust;
• coarse sand.

If the planting of vegetables will be carried out in the seedling method, then the soil for growing seedlings needs to be frozen for 1-2 months. To do this, it can be taken out to the balcony or porch. 7 days before planting seeds on seedlings, the soil must be put in a warm room so that it thaws.

When growing round zucchini by seed, the land on the site also needs to be prepared in advance:

1. In autumn and spring you need to dig a garden.
2. Feed twice from humus or any complex fertilizer.
3. If the soil on the site has a high level of acidity, it is recommended to add lime before the onset of winter.
4. To disinfect the soil before planting, it is watered with a weak solution of potassium permanganate.

Did you know? Due to the nutritional properties of squash juice, it is used in the manufacture of tonic facial masks.

Seed planting

Sowing seeds of round zucchini in open ground is carried out after the land on the site warms up to a temperature of + 12 ° C at a depth of at least 10 cm. Thus, the planting time for vegetables in this case falls at the end of May or the beginning of June.

A step-by-step instruction of actions is described below:

1. Make small holes 3-5 cm deep on the surface of the soil. The distance between rows and adjacent holes should be at least 80 cm.
2. Arrange flat zucchini seeds in holes. You can’t dig them too deep into the ground, because in this case they will not sprout.
3. Sprinkle each hole with soil and water a little.
4. The first shoots appear about a week after planting.After this, the soil around them needs to be loosened periodically and timely watering of plants should be carried out.

Video: planting zucchini seeds

Planting seedlings

Growing seedlings of round zucchini in indoor conditions will positively affect the ripening of vegetables and will allow you to get an early harvest. But the fruits grown from seedlings cannot be stored for a long time and quickly spoil, so this method of growing is used only when the vegetables are planned to be used immediately after ripening. Young seedlings of zucchini are grown indoors from seeds. Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out in April.

A step-by-step instruction for planting round zucchini in seedlings is presented below:

1. For each bush seedlings, it is recommended to take a separate small container. At the bottom lay a layer of sphagnum for drainage, then fill the tank with prepared soil.
2. To deepen the planting material into the soil by 4 cm. In each tank, 2 seeds can be planted to increase the likelihood of germination.
3. Sprinkle the soil with seeds in water, cover the container with a film and put in a well-lit warm place for germination.
4. After the shoots appear, the film can be removed and the container kept in a well-lit place. This will contribute to the growth of seedlings.
5. If 2 sprouts have grown in one container, then one of them is recommended to be removed. Water the seedlings once a week with water at room temperature.
6. Planting seedlings in open ground is carried out after the appearance of a pair of green leaves on them and provided there are no night frosts on the surface of the soil.
7. Planting sprouts in the open ground is performed in the evening or in cloudy weather, so that it does not wither under the bright sun.
8. Small holes are made in the soil, watered with water.
9. The seedling is removed from the container along with an earthen lump and placed in the hole. Sprinkle the roots with earth and gently ram it around the seedling.
10. So that young shoots do not freeze, they are covered with a film for the first few days. During the day, shelter can be raised if the weather is quite hot.

Video: planting zucchini seedlings

Watering scheme

For good growth, round zucchini requires a lot of water, but the plant tolerates a lack of moisture better than its excess.

When watering plants, you should adhere to such recommendations:

• watering is carried out in the evening, 1 or 2 times a week, depending on weather conditions;
• 10-12 l of water are consumed per bush;
• for irrigation, you can use standing water with a temperature of at least + 22 ° C;
• water the bushes under the root so that the water does not fall on the foliage and inflorescences;
• after watering, it is recommended to loosen the soil around the bush a little.

Important! Overmoistening of the soil around the bushes can lead to decay of the root system.

Round zucchini have a number of positive characteristics and unpretentious care, so they are often grown in summer cottages. A variety of varieties allows you to choose a vegetable to your taste, and observing the described recommendations for cultivation will help to get a plentiful harvest.