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Today, there is a wide range of shapes, colors and patterns in zucchini varieties. A distinction is made between hardy, mostly old, varieties and hybrid varieties. To make it easier for you to choose the right varieties, we have put together a small overview for you here and give examples of round zucchinis, yellow zucchinis and old varieties.
Zucchinis are very easy to grow yourself in the garden. It is hardy and high-yielding, making it ideal for the hobby garden. The fruits of zucchini plants come in different shapes and colors. Apart from the classic green variety, they are available in white, green or yellow, striped varieties or uniform colors. The golden, elongated fruits of the 'Gold Rush' variety are particularly delicate and delight with their radiant color. There are now numerous varieties, so that round zucchini varieties such as the 'Round Zucchini Summer Squash' are also available. Depending on the variety, the fruits from just 1 - 2 plants are enough to cover the needs of an entire family.
Climbing zucchini plants are less well-known than bushy varieties. However, these varieties are ideal for vertical cultivation in pots or on the balcony. So if you have little space but still want to garden, then climbing zucchinis are just the thing for you.
You can find tips on growing zucchinis vertically in pots in this article. Climbing zucchinis are a space-saving option for growing your own zucchinis on the balcony. Mixed cultures are possible even in small spaces, for which you can find inspiration and ideas in our digital bed plans.
New hybrid varieties (F1) cannot be propagated from their own seeds; they lose more of their original characteristics with each generation. However, you can obtain your own seeds from old, seed-resistant zucchini varieties. So if you want to obtain your own seeds from a particularly high-yielding variety, you should only grow a open-pollinated plant in your garden. The variety 'Cocozelle di Tripolis' is a seed-resistant zucchini variety that is very popular with many hobby gardeners.
Cucurbits like to cross-pollinate with each other, which means that the varieties mix. To prevent this, you can keep a sufficient distance from the next pumpkin plant or use an isolation tunnel. Otherwise, you risk taking seeds that produce inedible and even poisonous fruit. Therefore, avoid growing zucchinis and pumpkins at the same time, especially ornamental pumpkins in the same season. Otherwise, the variety may lose its specific characteristics when crossed. It can also lead to increased storage of the bitter substance cucurbitacin. This not only makes the fruit inedible, but also poisonous. The original zucchini varieties produced cucurbitacin as a natural protection against being eaten. In more recent varieties, the bitter substance has been bred out.
To do this, the seeds are scraped out of a properly ripened fruit together with the pulp and placed in a bowl of lukewarm water. After a few days, the mixture begins to ferment and the pulp dissolves. The seeds are then washed in a coarse sieve and laid out to dry. When drying, make absolutely sure that the seeds are completely dry, otherwise they will go moldy later. Seeds should generally never be dried in the sun, as this weakens their germination capacity.
If you have any questions or comments, please write to us at [email protected].
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Cover picture by helena munoz on unsplash
Annabell is studying agricultural biology at the University of Hohenheim. She also enjoys gardening in her private life, spends a lot of time in nature and loves to be creative.
Learn moreAre there purple zucchini varieties?
There are indeed purple-colored zucchini. Varieties such as 'Bianco di Trieste' and 'Lunga Bianca' can have a purple coloration. However, purple zucchini varieties are rare and not that common.
What types of zucchini are there?
There are different shapes and colors: in addition to classic green zucchini, there are white, yellow and even purple varieties. There are also varieties with round fruits or climbing zucchinis that form tendrils.
Are old zucchini varieties seed-proof?
Seeds of old zucchini varieties are usually seed-resistant, i.e. you can take your own seeds and sow them again. Unfortunately, this is not possible with many new varieties, the so-called F1 hybrids.
Which zucchini varieties tendrils?
There are also climbing zucchini that you can tie up on trellises. Varieties such as 'Erken' or 'Tromboncino d'Albenga', for example, are suitable for vertical cultivation.