Is it possible to plant zucchini and cucumbers nearby, their compatibility
To harvest a high-quality crop, you definitely need to know whether you can plant cucumbers and zucchini nearby. A successful neighborhood of crops allows you to grow vegetables with a pleasant taste, a bountiful harvest. Manages to reduce the risk of spreading infections and protect against attack by insect pests. Some planting combinations negatively affect plant growth and development.
Growth similarities
Each vegetable in a garden plot does not grow alone and it has to coexist with other crops. A certain part of the plant releases bioactive substances into the environment, such as antibiotics, phytoncides. These substances are either assimilated by all plants planted nearby, or inhibit their development.... This property must be taken into account when planting vegetable crops in adjacent rows.
Cucumbers and squash belong to the pumpkin family. The processing and selection of seeds, preparation of the soil for sowing, the complex of necessary fertilizers applied during the digging of the earth are exactly the same.
Both types of vegetable crops need the same growing conditions:
- do not tolerate low temperatures and especially frosts, therefore, planting in the ground begins after warm, sunny days are established;
- during the entire growing season, the same complex of fertilizers is applied;
- the same time for sowing seeds to a permanent place;
- for planting, you need to choose a land plot, protected from through winds, and where light enters without obstacles;
- have similar sowing methods.
Having chosen a favorite variety, pre-sowing preparation begins. Seeds of squash and cucumber are prepared at the same time. First, you need to select only large and dense seeds. The day before sowing, it is recommended to soak the seeds in nutrient solutions that strengthen the immune system and accelerate growth.
Since the seeds of zucchini have a denser structure, then germination will be later, by about 2-3 days. After the seeds germinate, they can be sown immediately on the garden beds, pre-processed and fed.
Do not plant too tall plants next to cucumbers and zucchini. This is necessary so that light and warmth reach the vegetable beds without obstacles.
Top dressing is applied at least three times during the entire growing season. The first time the wells are fertilized before planting, the second time before flowering and the last time during the period of mass ripening of fruits.
Possible difficulties
Cucumbers and zucchini have the same inflorescences and ovaries, so problems may arise during the pollination period. Being close, these two crops are not pollinated correctly. As a result, female flowers receive an overabundance of pollen, which negatively affects the formation of ovaries.The amount of harvest may decrease.
When growing zucchini and cucumbers, the neighborhood with carrots, garlic, and onions is considered successful. Beets have a beneficial effect on their development. These are good neighbors that have different inflorescences and ovaries, so there is no risk of deteriorating plant growth.
It is not recommended to plant zucchini and cucumbers in the open field nearby for another reason.
- Since these crops require the same trace elements during growth and development, a rapid soil depletion can occur.
- The tendril shoots that the zucchini shoot can inhibit the growth of cucumbers.
- Zucchini has a highly developed root system, so it can intertwine the roots of cucumbers and prevent the flow of water and nutrients.
To get an excellent harvest of cucumbers and zucchini, you need to know what to plant with and how to properly combine the planted vegetable with other crops. The linear arrangement of plants in the garden is popular. This method is especially helpful for gardeners who have at their disposal only a few acres of land. The beds in this case are made square.
What can be planted with cucumbers
The best neighbors for cucumbers, which have a beneficial effect on their development and the quality of the harvest.
- From the experience of vegetable growers, we can say with confidence that the proximity to corn favorably affects the state of cucumbers. It repels ants and protects against bacterial wilting. You can also plant cucumbers nearby with sunflowers. Another plus of this neighborhood is an additional support for cucumber lashes. The cucumbers will taste sweet and crunchy.
- You can plant radishes and radishes in the neighborhood. These vegetables improve the palatability of cucumbers and protect against root pests.
- It is safe to grow all varieties of cucumbers next to peas and beans. Beans and peas enrich the soil with useful trace elements, especially nitrogen. Therefore, after harvesting, the stems of legumes are not recommended to be pulled out by the root, but only the tops are removed. It is only important to know that beets and beans do not get along.
- You can plant onions next to cucumbers. It can protect against the invasion of many insect pests. Planting with onions helps protect cucumbers from spider mites and many diseases.
- Good compatibility with garlic. It can be planted with almost any crop, including squash and cucumber. It suppresses many fungal and viral diseases. If you plant a strawberry garden next to it, garlic will protect it from insect pests, it protects potatoes from late blight, and carrots protect from carrot flies. Cucumbers and squash can also be planted alongside strawberries.
- Different varieties of cucumber culture get along well next to cabbage. They require the same care and growing conditions. White cabbage and kohlrabi get along especially well
- Beets will not interfere with their neighborhood. Almost all vegetables feel good next to it. Beets are capable of secreting natural antibacterial substances that kill many pathogens in the soil. But beets should be planted with sufficient spacing from the cucumbers, as their powerful tops shade their neighbors.
If the question arises of what to plant with the beds where zucchini and cucumbers grow, then you can think about flowers. Planted nasturtium flowers will help prevent whitefly infestation. If you plant calendula next to a cucumber garden, then the pollination process will improve. The scent of these flowers attracts pollinating insects.
Vegetable growers need to know which herbs are considered a good neighborhood. From greens, you can choose dill and basil. Basil has a good effect on all surrounding crops due to its high vitamin content and special aroma.This smell repels many insect pests.
Dill can be planted with many crops. You can sow dill between squash or cucumber plantings. But it should be remembered that dill does not get along well with basil.
Away from each other
It is impractical to plant together plants that are subject to the same diseases. For example, late blight often affects tomatoes and potatoes, viruses are dangerous to peppers, bacterial rot often affects radishes, cabbage, turnips, powdery mildew and root rot are considered dangerous for zucchini and cucumbers.
You will not be able to grow tasty and crunchy cucumbers planted next to potatoes. Potatoes contain substances that cause yellowing and wilting of cucumber leaves. In addition, these two vegetables require different growing conditions.
You should not plant cucumbers and zucchini on the site of a potato field for several more years. Potatoes, during their growth, take potassium and phosphorus from the soil, which are so necessary for the growth of cucumbers and zucchini.
You cannot plant cucumbers next to a pumpkin. During the pollination period, there is an excessive ingress of pollen on the female inflorescences, which affects the taste and shape of the fruit. Pumpkin seeds are best planted away from tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, eggplants.
You cannot plant watermelons with cucumbers or zucchini on the same bed or even close. These crops have different care requirements, especially watering. Cucumbers love moisture, and watermelons do not do well in high humidity. Excessive soil moisture can lead to the death of melons and gourds.
But the melon is allowed to be planted nearby, but not on the same bed. When planted close to the melons, cross-pollination occurs, which affects the flavor of both crops.
