There are certain types of vegetables that are not only delicious, but also so easy to grow that everyone should have them in their garden and beginners in particular should try them. Zucchini is undoubtedly one of them. If you have also decided on the vegetables, in addition to the usual care, you should also check them regularly for diseases and pests in order to avoid their spread if possible or to save the affected plant itself. Or maybe you have already noticed something? If your zucchini rots, you should take immediate action to save all the other fruits.
Why do zucchini rot in the garden?
First of all: If the ends of the zucchini are rotten, that doesn't necessarily mean that you've done something wrong. Incorrect care is not always the cause of a poor harvest; sometimes there is simply nothing you can do about it. But why do zucchini rot at the top?
The weather is usually to blame for this problem. For this reason, the risk of this rot does not occur every year. Certain weather influences change the nature of the soil and make things difficult for the plants (and you). Nevertheless, you should also check yours againReconsider nursing measures. The following list shows you what reasons there are for rotting fruit.
Why are my zucchini rotting on the plant?
- Incorrect fertilization: calcium deficiency or over-fertilization, especially with nitrogen
- Unfavorable temperatures: over 30 degrees as well as cold weather or low temperatures in combination with a humid climate promote rot, as do high temperature fluctuations between day and night
- little sunlight
- unfavorable soil conditions: waterlogging and inadequate ventilation
- Excess of fruits, causing some of them to die
- poor pollination
- Zucchini diseases such as blossom end rot
Zucchini Rotting at the Tip – What Options Do You Have?
The good news is that, on the one hand, you can take preventive measures to prevent rot from occurring in the first place. On the other hand, if the problem has already occurred, you can act and save all the other fruits.
Preventive measures against rot on the fruits
Taking preventive action regarding the effects of the weather seems simply impossible at first. However, you can actually ensure, for example, that the influences on the plants are less harmful to the location. You can also follow the forecasts and protect the plants if necessary.
Protection from the weather:
- The most important thing is that the zucchini plants get enough sun. This means they dry faster if they are exposed to dew, rain or other types of moisture and can also develop better and stronger.
- If the region you live in is generally cooler in summer than other regions, it is also advisable to choose a location that is sheltered from the wind.
- A spot in front of a house wall or wall is considered particularly advantageous. These are heated by the sun during the day and release this collected heat again at night. Of course, they also warm the plants, so you can counteract larger temperature differences between day and night.
- Block out excessively high temperatures with shade. You don't necessarily have to build a roof for this. Choose a larger tree in your yard. However, you should make sure that the plants still get enough sunlight, because as already mentioned, the lack of sunlight also causes the zucchini to rot.
- However, too much moisture during longer periods of rain can be bridged with the help of rain protection. However, make sure that there is still good ventilation. For this purpose, there should be a distance of at least 20 cm between the shelter and the plants.
Prepare the soil correctly:
- Before planting the zucchini plants, loosen the soil well to ensure adequate ventilation.
- Mix in compost. This gives you a high-quality long-term fertilizer that provides the plant with everything it needs until flowers form, thus avoiding accidental over-fertilization.
- If the soil in your garden is very clayey and tends to prevent good aeration, you can improve it with sand and make it more permeable.
- A layer of mulch is beneficial for keeping the plants themselves moist, but at the same time protects the fruits from moisture, which would in turn damage them. The zucchini lie on the mulch layer and are not in direct contact with the moist soil.
What to do if zucchini rots?
Have your fruits already started to develop tip rot? Dispose of the affected fruits immediately because they can no longer be saved. But all the others do. Provide them with calcium immediately and stop any other fertilizing. Nowadays, many people tend to be too kind to their plants and harm them by using too much nutrients. Some nutrients in too high a concentration prevent the plants from absorbing enough calcium. These include ammonium, potassium and magnesium. Sufficient (but not too much!) water is also important for good calcium absorption. A calcium deficiency causes the top of the zucchini to rot.
By taking these measures, you can also stop blossom end rot, which is caused, among other things, by a lack of calcium and causes the fruit to rot at the top. So if your zucchini rots after flowering, that could be a cause that you should take action about right away.
