How to visually distinguish pumpkin and zucchini seedlings
Very often, when sowing these crops on a plot without appropriate marking, vegetable growers cannot distinguish between their seedlings. Below we will take a closer look at how you can still distinguish between squash seedlings and pumpkins.
Pumpkin and squash are members of the pumpkin family, so they have a number of similar traits, but despite this, they also have many differences.
The benefits of pumpkin and zucchini
These two cultures are widely used in dietary nutrition. Pumpkin fruits are used for processing into juices, for making sweet cereals and as a dessert. Zucchini are more suitable for making snacks and various preparations for the winter.
In terms of medicinal properties, pumpkin is much superior to squash. Its pulp contains large quantities of essential trace elements and vitamins. Its seeds can be used to fight helminths. The oil prepared from them is used for various metabolic disorders and has antiseptic and antioxidant properties.
Zucchini, on the other hand, due to their low calorie content, are used as a component of dishes for various types of diets. Also, their pulp is rich in various trace elements and mineral salts, which are very important for the proper metabolism in the body. This vegetable is well suited for the nutrition of those who suffer from various diseases of the digestive system. In addition, these members of the pumpkin family are excellent diuretics.
Learning to distinguish between seeds and seedlings of squash from pumpkin
Very often, after collecting seeds on his own, the grower forgets to sign the bags. How, then, can you figure out where which seeds are, and what differences do they have?
The main signs of zucchini seeds
- The seeds have an elongated oval shape.
- Their skin is thinner.
- The color is paler, without a yellowish tinge.
- If you squeeze the seed between your fingers, then it easily opens into 2 halves.
The main signs of pumpkin seeds
- Seeds are round in shape.
- Their shell is coarser.
- They are also yellow.
- Pumpkin seeds are difficult to crush with finger pressure.
- They are much larger in size than marrow seeds.
- Pumpkin seeds sprout slightly faster than squash seeds.
Advice
In order not to confuse the seeds of these plants, immediately after collection and drying, they must be put into individual bags indicating the culture and date of collection. This simple technique will avoid confusion when seeding.
To understand what kind of seedling crop is growing on your site, you need to take a closer look at young plants. Each species has its own distinctive features.
The main differences between zucchini seedlings
- Zucchini seedlings have longer cotyledonous leaves.
- The first real leaf is carved, thin.
- The stems of the seedlings are elongated, light green in color.
The main differences between pumpkin seedlings
- Pumpkin seedlings have a thicker squat stem.
- It has a deep green color.
- The leaves are larger and coarser to the touch.
All of the above characteristics cannot serve as a 100% guarantee of cultural differences. For example, certain varieties of squash may have large, coarse leaves. Be not bushy, but trudge like a pumpkin. In this case, for complete confidence in your conclusions, it is best to wait until the moment when the fruits appear on the plants.
Distinctive features of a pumpkin
- Most varieties of this crop have round fruits, although in some cases species with oblong ones can also be found.
- The peel color of ripe fruits is orange or gray.
- Pumpkin tastes sweeter than courgette.
- There is also a characteristic pumpkin aroma.
- The fruits begin to ripen only towards the end of summer.
- Plants of this culture give long and powerful lashes and therefore need to be formed.
- There is a hard crust under the skin of the fruit.
- Wells with pumpkin crops are placed according to the scheme 1m × 2m if varieties with long lashes are planted, and 1m × 1m if it is planned to grow bush species.
Distinctive features of zucchini
- Fruits are oblong-oval.
- Their color can be yellow, green, there are also varieties with striped fruits.
- No distinctive pumpkin scent.
- The taste of the fruit is more bland.
- Plants of this culture begin to bear fruit after 40 days from sowing.
- Fruiting is extended and continues until the first frost.
- The plant has a bushy shape and only in rare cases lashes are formed, which are much smaller in size than pumpkin ones.
- Only young unripe fruits are eaten.
- Under the skin of the fruit, there is no cortical layer typical for pumpkin.
- When sowing, the holes with zucchini are arranged according to a 1m × 1m scheme.
Similarities between squash and pumpkin
Since squash and pumpkin belong to the same family, they have the ability to pollinate. As a result, pumpkin fruits become tasteless, and their rind becomes thick and rough. Zucchini, on the contrary, acquire unusual color, taste and smell. Therefore, in order to avoid the loss of your favorite variety, these crops should be planted at some distance.
In addition to the possibility of cross-pollination, these crops have other similar features.
- They are very sensitive to low temperatures. Even the slightest frost is destructive for them.
- Their seeds will not germinate at temperatures below 12 degrees.
- Soils for them need light and fertile, preferably with the addition of humus.
- For an early harvest, these crops are recommended to be grown through seedlings.
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