If the zucchini on the plant begins to rot, this could have various causes. Unfavorable weather conditions, excessive humidity and waterlogging, no pollinating insects and watering errors are among the most common causes. We explain how you can properly care for zucchini and reap a bountiful harvest.
Zucchini are one of the easiest crops to care for and are therefore always popular among hobby gardeners. To ensure that they bear healthy and large fruits, they should be planted in well-drained, humus-rich soil. If the soil is loamy, you can plant the plants on small “hills”. The hill height should be around 18 cm – 20 cm. In addition, the zucchini are planted at a minimum distance of 60 cm and the soil is supplied with slow-release fertilizer with NPK 14-14-14. It is best to use granules that are worked into the root area. The zucchini must be harvested regularly - this promotes flower production and they will bear fruit tirelessly all summer long.
However, if something is wrong with the care or the weather does not offer the best conditions for the plants, then the zucchini will begin to rot from the tip. These are the possible causes:
The zucchini fruits lie on moist ground
Zucchini fruits are quite heavy and often lie directly on the ground. If poor drainage or frequent rainfall keeps it moist, the fruit can rot. To avoid waterlogging, you should:
- Correct watering accordingly and water less or not at all during periods of rain.
- Cover the zucchini with fleece in the event of a storm.
- Line the bed with a 5 cm layer of straw so that the fruit lies directly on it.
The zucchini flowers have not been pollinated
It is difficult to attract pollinating insects in a greenhouse or garden in the big city. Bad weather or long heat waves can also drive away the bees and prevent fertilization.
The female plants that have not been pollinated bear small and watery fruits. At first they look completely healthy, but then they suddenly stop growing and begin to wilt.
To prevent this, you can plant bee-friendly plants around the vegetable patch. Or even better – plant the bee magnets directly between the zucchini. Alternatively, you have to help and collect the poles from the male flowers with a brush and then use them to pollinate the female fruits. One sign that pollination was successful is the development of the fruits. These grow healthily and do not rot.
Why do zucchini rot on the plant: watering errors
Zucchini need regular watering. If you first water your plants too much and then too little, you can cause blossom end rot. This is not an illness, but rather a calcium deficiency, which is promoted by longer dry periods. The zucchini do not need to be fertilized with nitrogen or cattle manure during the flowering period.
The quickest way to solve the problem is to mulch the zucchini regularly, improve the permeability of the soil by adding sand andcompost used as fertilizer.
The plants are out of the sun and rot
Zucchini have large leaves and need a lot of sun so that they can dry well. The fruits also need to be in the sun and receive at least 6 hours of direct sunlight. If you don't have a sunny spot in the garden, you should choose other types of vegetables. The zucchini fruits in a shady location remain small, ripen very slowly and can rot. Zucchini do not tolerate waterlogging and the soil cannot dry out in a shady location.
Exception: Shade is welcome during hot periods. The zucchini thrive best when they get morning sun and then are in partial shade at midday.
Zucchini will rot from the inside if it suddenly gets cold
If temperatures fall below 19 degrees at night after a summer storm, zucchini can rot. At first you may not notice it because they are rotting from the inside. However, after the first harvest at the latest, it becomes clear: the zucchini are rotting and you have to act quickly to save the rest of the fruit.
For this purpose, the plants are covered with fleece in the evening. It helps if they are additionally warmed in the greenhouse or at least if you mulch the vegetable bed with straw. The natural material serves as a natural protective layer and keeps the plant roots warm.
Strengthen the zucchini in summer
So that the zucchini can better survive the change in weather in summer and easily withstand heat, rain and wind, you can give the plants additional strength. Either use 10-10-10 NPK fertilizer or make your own fertilizer. Banana peels are ideal for this purpose. They are first dried, then finely ground and then incorporated into the soil. You can also provide the plants with compost during and immediately after flowering. You can also spray the leaves with milk water to protect them from mildew and at the same time speed up the absorption of calcium.
