Ronde De Nice Zucchini Squash Vegetables Seeds - West Coast Seeds

PRODUCT DETAILS

C. pepo. A round French heirloom zucchini from Provence, grown for generations. The succulent, tender flesh is at its peak while the fruits are still less than 7.5cm (3"") in diameter, or grow the fruits on to be hollowed out and stuffed for an interesting summer side dish. The flesh of this zucchini has such delicate skins that the fruits are prone to bruising, which is why it doesn't turn up in grocery stores. Ronde De Nice zucchini seeds, however, are perfect for the home vegetable garden. Try them steamed at just 2cm (1"") diameter, or stuffed at 10cm (4"").

Matures in 60 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

All About Ronde De Nice

Latin

Cucurbita pepo

Family: Cucurbitaceae

Difficulty

Easy

Season:

Warm season

Exposure:

Full sun

Zone:

2-12

Timing

Direct sow or transplant in late May or early June when soil is warm. For transplants, start seeds indoors in late April or early May. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 25-35°C (68-95°F). Seeds should sprout in 7-14 days.

Starting

Sow seeds 2cm (1″) deep. Sow 3 seeds in each spot you want a plant to grow and thin to the strongest one. Aim to space zucchinis no less than 45-60cm (18-24″) apart in rows 90-120cm (36-48″) apart.

Growing

Ideal pH: 6.0-6.8. These big, fast-growing plants need plenty of moisture and lots of food. Grow them in rich, well-drained soil in full sun. Dig finished compost or well-rotted manure into the beds, and dig in 1 cup of complete organic fertilizer beneath each transplant. Water the soil around them when you irrigate, and always avoid overhead watering, as wet leaves will attract diseases like mildew. Keep weeded. Misshapen or withered fruits can result from incomplete pollination. Make sure to remove these from the plants as you see them, before they begin to rot, and put them in the compost. In the home garden it can be tempting to over-plant zucchinis. One well-grown plant will provide enough fruits for the average family. Instead of planting several zucchinis, use that space for other vegetables.

Harvest

Pick regularly to encourage the plant to keep on fruiting. Zucchini leaves are often very prickly, so pull delicate skinned fruit out carefully. Fully mature zucchini have a hard skin: chickens like them.

Seed Info

In optimal conditions at least 80% of seeds will germinate. Usual seed life: 2 years. Per 100′ row: 180 seeds, per acre: 15M seeds.

Diseases & Pests

Zucchinis that are grown in good soil in full sun will have few problems. One common complaint is the development of powdery mildew on the leaves. This begins to show up in mid-summer as grey patches on the leaves and stems, and it literally is mildew. It results from excess moisture, and can be prevented or minimized by avoiding overhead watering at all times. Try to water plants early in the day, and only water the soil around them. Avoid over-crowding plants to improve air circulation around them. Leaves that are badly affected by mildew can be removed, but throw them in the garbage, not the compost.