Zucchini "Iskander" F1: description of the variety and experience in growing a hybrid

Zucchini Iskander F-1 is a productive Dutch hybrid. During the season, each bush produces 30-35 delicious fruits weighing up to half a kilogram each.

The vegetable came to the Russian market not so long ago, but has already received positive reviews from vegetable growers and summer residents. First they began to grow it in the Krasnodar region, then in the south of Russia. Now the Iskander F-1 variety is cultivated in many regions.

Article – review of the zucchini variety “Iskander” F1, its description, characteristics, cultivation and care

This article will focus on one of the foreign varieties of zucchini obtained as a result of selection - “Iskander” F1

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This variety of zucchini may well become a pleasant discovery for those who have not yet heard anything about it. The first generation Iskander has a juicy, pleasant taste. In addition, it does not require complex care. You can look at numerous reviews and photos on the Internet.

The content of the article:

History of the variety Zucchini Iskander: description of the variety Zucchini Iskander: rules for growing the variety How to prepare zucchini seeds for planting Soil preparation Planting zucchini Iskander directly in open ground Further care for zucchini Iskander Diseases and pests of squash crops Yield of zucchini variety Iskander F1 Reviews of zucchini Iskander

Reviews from amateur gardeners

I ordered Iskander F-1 hybrid seeds from the online store. Seed germination is excellent. They bore fruit for two months. Once I wasn’t at the dacha for two weeks and thought that my zucchini had become coarse in taste, like fodder. But nothing like that. The harvest was great. Bravo! Olga Petrovna, Novocherkassk.

I’ve heard about the Iskander variety for a long time. Last year I bought one bag at the store. Very tasty and high-quality fruits grew, we ate zucchini all summer and prepared canned food for the winter. Irina, Mr. Bryansk.

I used to grow zucchinis because they can be kept fresh until the New Year. No need to fuss with canning. I took out the zucchini and cooked it. When they told me that the Iskander F-1 can also be stored in the basement, I did not believe it. Its skin and pulp are very tender. But the fruits survived safely until January. Ivan Grigorievich, Stavropol region.

History of origin of the variety

Zucchini "Iskander" F1 (Eskanderany f1) refers to varieties bred in Holland. It is very popular. The purpose of its creation was the possibility of early cultivation both in a greenhouse and in open ground.

In Russia, this variety received registration in 2001. The first trial cultivation took place in 2001, in the Krasnodar region.

You can see what early-ripening Iskander squash looks like in the photo.

Features of planting and care

To grow a hybrid, it is recommended to choose a sunny area with neutral or slightly acidic soil. If the pH is not normal, dolomite flour or wood ash is added to the soil. Places with close groundwater should be avoided. Getting a bountiful harvest is a whole science; experienced farmers know that even the predecessors grown on the plot matter. Zucchini grows well in beds occupied last year by onions, potatoes, white cabbage, and legumes.

Growing methods: seedlings and seeds. The first option allows you to quickly get young zucchini to the table.

Seedling method

Iskander F1 seeds are factory treated with fungicides that prevent the development of diseases. They begin to prepare them for sowing in mid-April. Soak for a day in water at room temperature (20-22°), to which a few drops of growth stimulator “Epin” and “Ideal” are added. Then the seeds are wrapped in a damp cloth and left in a warm place for 2-3 days. This environment stimulates the development of the sprout. Do not allow the fabric to dry out.

Advice. Check the expiration date of purchased seeds; they may completely lose their viability.

Zucchini seedlings are very fragile and are easily damaged when picked, so it is better to immediately prepare separate containers for them. The best option is peat cups measuring 10x10 cm, from which the plants do not need to be replanted. Fill them with nutritious soil mixture. The soil is prepared from peat, humus and turf soil. Add 10-15 g of complex mineral fertilizer to the mixture. It is not necessary to prepare the soil yourself; for a small number of seedlings you can buy ready-made soil for zucchini.

Each cup is filled with soil and the seed is buried 2-3 cm, then watered with warm water. Cultivation takes place in a room with a temperature of 18-19°. Cups should be in a well-lit place. The seedlings grow quickly, and in a month they are ready for planting in open ground. Zucchini seedlings tolerate apartment conditions well, the main thing is not to overheat them. The main requirement is long daylight hours. With a lack of sunlight, the seedlings will become very stretched. The soil in the cups should be moist, but not overflowing.

The choice of planting time in the garden depends on the climatic conditions of the region. It is advisable to find out the weather for the next week to see if the crops are at risk of night frosts. Soil preparation is usual - loosening, leveling, applying organic fertilizers. To prevent the powerful roots of vegetables from interfering with each other, the distance between them is made up to 60 cm. The readiness of the seedlings is determined by the appearance of two or three true leaves. Healthy seedlings have a strong stem and long roots.

Advice. Plant Iskander f1 seedlings on a cloudy day or early morning hours. During the adaptation period, it is better to cover the zucchini from the bright sun with non-woven material.

Before planting, the holes are well moistened with warm water. The seedlings are planted directly with a peat cup. If the zucchini was grown in a regular container, then they are transplanted with a lump of earth. Deepen the seedlings to the cotyledons.

Seedless method

When choosing seeds for planting in open ground, discard light and deformed ones; they will not sprout. The material should be soaked for several days, as is the case with growing seedlings. The planting period depends on the air and ground temperatures. Seeds germinate at 15°C, but fragile seedlings do not tolerate frost. In different climatic zones, sowing dates extend from late May to early June.

Advice. To obtain an extra early harvest, seeds are planted in mid-May. To prevent seedlings from being damaged by night frosts, use temporary covers made of film or non-woven material.

Holes are prepared for the seeds at a distance of 60 cm so that the bushes do not take food away from each other. The soil for zucchini should be light and loose. The soil structure is improved by adding sawdust. Each hole is well moistened, 2-3 seeds are placed for guaranteed germination. Planting depth 5-7 cm.

Zucchini care

Hybrids are resistant to negative factors, including drought, but to obtain a bountiful harvest, plants need sufficient moisture. Watering is carried out once a week, each plant requires about 10 liters of warm water. The moisture is heated by the sun's rays. Cold water provokes plant diseases. Moisture flows under the root; it is advisable not to wet the leaves. An excellent option for Iskander f1 zucchini is a drip irrigation device. The system will help avoid excess moisture, which is harmful to the crop. It is advisable to mulch the soil with peat and humus. Under the protective layer, moisture will remain longer.

Fertilizing and weeding

Vegetables do not develop well due to the proximity of weeds, so weeding must be regular. After the appearance of 4-5 leaves, it is recommended to hill the seedlings, this will give stability to the young bushes. Feed the plant 2-3 times per season. Superphosphates, potassium and ammonium nitrate are used as fertilizers. Substances are dissolved in water. Chicken manure is a good fertilizer. Organics are diluted with water in a ratio of 1:10.

Information. One of the significant advantages of the variety is the ability to set fruit at low air temperatures. In this it is similar to the “Cavili” variety of zucchini.

Zucchini Iskander: description and characteristics of the variety

Zucchini "Iskander" F1 came to us from Holland; below is a description of the variety.

Iskander is a hybrid belonging to early ripening varieties

. The fruits of this variety are capable of setting even at temperatures below zero. The first fruits appear already on the 45-50th day.

In appearance they look like ordinary zucchini, nothing unusual. Zucchini has an oblong shape in the form of a cylinder. A medium-sized zucchini reaches 20 cm in length and weighs 600 grams. The top of the fruit is covered with delicate, light green skin, with a waxy coating.

Only by looking closely can you detect thin veins and specks. The white flesh of the squash is as tender as the surface. The 1st generation Iskander variety has special taste characteristics

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Important:

Be sure to use a staking of zucchini bushes to maintain the shape of the crop as it grows.

Preparing the bed and transplanting Iskander zucchini into the ground

It is better to prepare the area for planting in the fall by digging it up with a shovel and fertilizing the soil with minerals and organic matter. If the humus is heavy clay, you should add sawdust and sand; if the soil is sandy, add peat and humus. In the spring, immediately before planting, the soil must be loosened and leveled with a rake.

Advice! Before planting zucchini, 10 days before, it is recommended to cover the bed with agrofibre or film. This will further warm the soil.

Seedlings should be transplanted in the evening or in cloudy weather.

Technology for planting seedlings in the ground:

1. Dig holes 15-20 cm deep and 30 cm wide for the seedlings.
2. Water the holes and seedlings well with warm water.
3. Place the plant, together with a lump of earth, into the hole 2-3 cm below the ground level. Sprinkle with soil substrate and compact down to the cotyledon leaves.

On a note! The best predecessors for zucchini are potatoes, onions, legumes, cauliflower and cabbage. Bad ones are pumpkins (melons, watermelons, pumpkins), cucumbers.

Planting zucchini seedlings in open ground

Advantages and disadvantages of the variety

Among the undeniable advantages of the Iskander variety are early ripening and large harvest volumes.

For clarity, I will provide statistical data:

1. in one season it is possible to harvest up to 17 kg of vegetables. And this is from one bush;
2. Zucchini is capable of bearing fruit even at low, sub-zero temperatures. Fruiting continues even during cold periods;
3. Low maintenance requirements.

Hybrid zucchini "Iskander" has a short shelf life

. This is mainly inconvenient for large farms that grow vegetables for sale. For me this is not a disadvantage.

Photo of Iskander zucchini seeds

How to plant Iskander F1 zucchini in the ground

Many gardeners plant zucchini directly in the garden so as not to waste time and energy on growing seedlings. But with this approach, the harvest is formed at a later date.

It is better to sow seeds in an open area in late May or early June. The first thing you need to do is prepare the site, wait for the deadline, and process the seed. It is very important to adhere to the planting scheme; if plants are placed close together, they will interfere with each other and experience a deficiency of nutrients.

The following instructions will help you sow zucchini correctly in open soil:

1. Make holes 3-4 cm deep at a distance of 70 cm from each other.
2. Place 2-3 seeds per hole. After germination, weak shoots should be removed.
3. Cover with soil and water generously.
4. After planting, spread dry grass around the holes. This mulch will retain moisture in the soil and prevent weeds from germinating.
5. Cover the bed with film. When shoots appear, immediately remove the covering material.

Important! It is undesirable to grow the crop in places with high groundwater levels. This will cause vegetables to grow slowly and develop poorly.

Rules for planting plants with seeds in the ground

Zucchini Iskander: sowing and growing a hybrid

I’ll tell you in more detail about how to properly sow Iskander zucchini seeds, grow and properly care for the variety.

Preparing seeds for planting

There are two ways to plant the Iskander squash variety:

• growing seedlings;
• sowing seeds directly into open ground in their original form.

Growing Iskander zucchini - video

In both cases, you need to prepare the seeds themselves for planting.

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Seeds require moisture to germinate. To do this, soak them in warm water. The temperature of the water for soaking should be at least 20 degrees

. It is allowed to add nutrients to the water.

The soaked seeds must be removed from the container, wrapped in a damp material made of thick fabric. Leave the seeds in this state for 3 days. Keep an eye on the fabric in which the seeds are located, and if necessary, moisten it. Store at a temperature of 25-26 degrees above 0.

There is another method to prepare seeds for planting: cooling

. To do this, seeds for germination are placed in the refrigerator for 15 hours. After this, they need to be warmed up well at 22-23 degrees. You can repeat the process a couple of times for better sprout pipping.

Note!

Iskander zucchini belongs to the first generation hybrids, so its seeds are not suitable as planting material for next year.

Preparing the soil for growing crops

It is necessary to prepare the soil in the fall. To do this, they carry out digging, enrichment with nutrients, and application of fertilizer. In the spring, loosening, leveling, and marking of beds are carried out.

Important!

The soil is preferably slightly acidic. You should not grow the crop in the area where pumpkins were previously grown.

The early ripening variety Iskander can be planted in open ground in mid-spring, immediately after the end of frost (if the climate allows).

It is advisable to choose sun-warmed areas for planting.

Seeds are immersed in the soil 7-8 cm

. After planting, water immediately with warm water.

Technology for planting Iskander zucchini with seeds in open ground

If you choose to grow Iskander zucchini, bypassing the stage of sowing seeds for seedlings, the timing of planting directly into the ground is postponed to late spring - early summer.

Planting Iskander zucchini with seeds directly into open ground should be done as follows:

• Make furrows on the prepared soil;
• The seeds are inserted with a sharp end into the heated soil;
• Sprinkle a thin layer of earth on top;
• Carry out watering.

At first, you can use film to cover the seedlings, simulating the conditions of a greenhouse.

Features of cultivation

Iskander variety zucchini must be grown correctly. The rules for caring for the Dutch selection are no different from the agricultural practices of conventional species. For the convenience of gardeners and gardeners, the process was divided into 4 stages.

Site selection

Iskander zucchini is grown in a well-lit area. Any shading during flowering and ovary formation reduces yield. It is forbidden to plant the crop after the pumpkin.

Recommended predecessors:

• beet;
• tomatoes;
• potato;
• onion;
• legumes

The Iskander zucchini variety grows best in fertile soil with moderate or low acidity. When choosing a site, preference is given to a place with deep groundwater. The abundance of underground moisture will cause rotting of the roots.

Irrigation rules

The Iskander variety of zucchini needs to be regularly watered with settled, warm moisture. After planting in the ground, one procedure per week is enough, 10 liters per bush. After the ovaries appear, the frequency of irrigation is doubled. Sprinkling is contraindicated for the crop, so water is poured directly into the root zone.

Watering is best accompanied by loosening the soil and then removing weeds. In hot weather, mulching will help reduce moisture evaporation. After irrigation, a thick layer of peat is poured around the trunk.

How to fertilize

The high-yielding variety of zucchini Iskander must be fed regularly, otherwise fertility will decrease by 40%. The first procedure is carried out in the formation phase of 4 leaves. Young plants are watered with a solution of superphosphate, ammonium and potassium nitrate.

After the ovaries appear, preparations based on potassium and phosphorus are needed. Without fertilizers, the bushes drop fruits. Fertilizing is applied every time after flowering and formation of zucchini. No procedures are needed in the fall.

Harvesting

The Iskander variety reaches milky ripeness 30-35 days after hatching from seeds. The fruits are not suitable for long-term storage. A harvest of technical maturity can be recognized by the typical hollow sound when tapped. 2 days before harvesting, the bushes should not be watered.

Recommendations for caring for Iskander zucchini

After the plants have taken root, you definitely need to look through the beds and weed where necessary. Weak, ungerminated sprouts are removed along with the weeds.

Regular loosening of the soil is mandatory

to provide air to the root system. Until the growing season, regular watering is required.

After the growth and development of the plant has begun, it is worth watering periodically.

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Be sure to take into account weather conditions, which are different in all regions of our large country.

Important!

The most common mistake is watering the plant under the root during hot periods. In this case, it is worth making a small furrow along the planted zucchini and filling it with moisture.

Diseases and pests

Pests and diseases of zucchini

There are two main types of diseases common among squash crops: insect pests and fungal diseases. Zucchini of other varieties are also susceptible to it.

Pests that attack Iskander zucchini include:

• wingless;
• aphids;
• spider mite.

Excessive soil moisture can lead to fungal infection - anthracnose.

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For powdery mildew

characterized by round white spots. They appear as a result of dampness, cold, and drafts.

High humidity and sudden temperature changes provoke the appearance of white rot.

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You can fight pests and diseases of zucchini using products that are offered in large quantities in specialized stores.

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Nuances of agricultural technology for Iskander zucchini

It is recommended to grow Iskander in a temporary greenhouse made of PVC pipes bent in an arc and covered with film. It is important to avoid shading and temperature drops of up to 5-6 degrees that are detrimental to the variety. The level of transpiration through large leaves is high, which requires systematic watering with water heated in the sun. The best fertilizer is slurry diluted in a ratio of 1:10.

There is no need to form bushes, but in the absence of bees you will have to pollinate yourself. To do this, cut the male flower, tear off everything except the stamens, and move it along the pistil of the female flower.

Greens intended for immediate consumption are cut short, but if they are to be stored, a part of the stalk the length of a matchbox is left. They will last 3-4 months in a cool place.

Zucchini varieties "Iskander" do not take up much space on the plantation, but they bear fruit until the cold dew. This is an excellent hybrid for lovers of delicious salads, vegetable stews and squash caviar. Just 2-3 Iskander bushes will provide the gardener with a harvest for the whole summer.

Characteristics of fruits and yield of the zucchini variety Iskander

The Iskander F1 hybrid stands out from the rest due to its “fertility.” The yield of the variety can reach 17 kg per bush. It is in the first positions in terms of fruiting period. Harvesting is recommended to be done in a timely manner, before the first frost appears.

Photo of Iskander zucchini harvest on a bush

You don’t have to wait until the fruits fully ripen. Young zucchini, more than 10 cm long, with a fallen flower, have excellent taste.

The zucchini must be carefully cut, and under no circumstances should you try to pull it out with your hands (it’s still not a turnip). It is enough to make a cut at a level of 4-5 cm from the end of the stalk.

Good varieties of carrots!
Autumn King Flakke
You can store Iskander zucchini for up to 5 months.

The following conditions are required for this:

• It is recommended to pick vegetables for storage when they are fully ripe;
• The temperature in the storage room should not exceed 10 degrees;
• Dry indoor atmosphere.

By providing optimal conditions for the plant, in return you can get a rich yield of high quality.

In general, my attitude towards the Iskander zucchini variety is positive

. I've been growing it for three years now. There are no particular difficulties with planting, growing, or caring for them. The fruits ripen quickly. I really like the delicate and soft taste. It distinguishes the Iskander variety from other zucchini. In my opinion, this variety has no analogues and produces fruits of very high quality.

Excellent productive variety!
Zucchini variety “Roller”

Advantages and features of Iskander F-1 zucchini

Reviews of the variety from summer residents are always positive.

1. It never outgrows and has an excellent taste, low in calories, but at the same time contains a set of vitamins and minerals.
2. If you add fertilizer to the soil every fall when digging, you can grow zucchini in one bed for several years in a row.
3. The vegetable is easy to use. Picked fruits are stored in a cool place for up to six months. It is important that they are hard, smooth and without damage.
4. Since the Iskander F-1 is a hybrid, its seeds are not collected. You will have to buy them again. But the result will pay for all the costs.

Today, the productive hybrid is cultivated not only by summer residents; it is grown on an industrial scale. In the second case, the yield is 155 tons per hectare.

Care

Considering the unpretentiousness of Iskander zucchini, for their growth and development it is enough to provide food in a timely manner, regularly carry out irrigation activities, loosen and mulch the soil.

Weeding

To get rid of weeds, you need to periodically weed the garden bed. Otherwise, harmful plants will take not only moisture, but also nutrition, weakening the Iskander zucchini.

Loosening

Considering the close location of the root system of Iskander zucchini, you need to loosen the soil very carefully. If the roots are injured, the plants will take a long time to recover.

Top dressing

When the Iskander zucchini has two true leaves, add a mixture of ammonium nitrate (20 grams), potassium nitrate (20 grams), superphosphate (40 grams) and 10 liters of water. In the ovary formation phase, a composition of superphosphate (50 grams) and potassium nitrate (50 grams) per 10 liters of water is used. The same fertilizing is used at the fruiting stage.

Mulching

For Iskander zucchini, it is best to use a mixture of peat and humus as mulch. Thanks to it, it is possible to feed the plantings and protect them from lack of moisture.

Mid-season varieties

The best mid-season varieties include: Skvorushka, Kuand, Gribovskie 37, Jade, Zolotinka, Macaroni, Black Beauty.

Skvorushka

Mid-season, climbing zucchini. Ripening period is 46-55 days. The fruits are large. The skin color is dark green. Weight 0.5-1 kilogram. The taste is very high. Transportability and productivity are good.

A high-yielding variety of zucchini with high resistance to cold and excess moisture. The Kuand variety ripens in 48-60 days. The zucchini is ovoid, tapering at the end.

Weight reaches 1 kilogram. The color is spotted (camouflage), bright. The skin is thin and becomes rough when ripe. The pulp is juicy, dense, tender, white-cream in color.

The fruits are tasty, and their quality is not lost during preservation and processing. The variety is resistant to many diseases.

Gribovsky 37

High-yielding variety. The bush is highly branched. Ripening period is 50-60 days. Fruiting lasts up to 45 days. The skin is white and quickly becomes rough. The pulp is tasty, but as it grows, the taste deteriorates.

The plant is not susceptible to disease. The marketability of the fruits is high. Zucchini is stored for a long time, but does not lose its quality and is transportable. Used fresh, heat-treated and for preservation.

This is a mid-season, versatile Italian zucchini hybrid. From the moment of sowing the seeds until the fruits are removed from the garden, 40 days pass. The plant is high-yielding, bushy. 15-18 zucchini are collected from a bush.

Zucchini is golden yellow. The pulp is straw-yellow, sweet. The surface is smooth, the skin is thin and shiny. The weight of zucchini reaches 500 grams. Suitable for baby food.

Black handsome

It is a mid-early variety of foreign selection. Fruiting occurs on day 45-55. The bush is compact, heavily leafy. Up to 5 fruits ripen at the same time on one bush.

The fruits are thin-barked, cylindrical, shiny, smooth. The color is rich, dark green. The pulp is greenish-white, tender, dense, unsweetened. Length 22 centimeters. Weight 0.5-1 kilogram.

Up to 20 kilograms of zucchini are harvested per square meter. The plant is not afraid of diseases and pests.

Growing zucchini

Before planting zucchini, pay close attention to the soil: it should be light and have normal acidity. You can plant seeds directly into the ground, after soaking the seeds. If you use the seedling method, vegetables will ripen two weeks earlier.

The seedling method has an undeniable advantage - the fruits can be harvested two weeks earlier

Before planting, it is necessary to sort the seeds, selecting those that are denser, undeformed and undamaged. Those that are selected are soaked for a day in a growth-stimulating solution; most often they take Ideal or Bud. The swollen seeds should be covered with a damp cloth and placed in a warm place for several days, where the temperature is approximately 22–23 °C.

Zucchini seedlings must be at least one month old at the time of planting.

Planting seeds

Sowing is carried out in mid-April - early June. Place 2-3 seeds per hole at a distance of at least 60 cm. After the seeds germinate, the flaccid sprouts must be removed.

If spring frosts end early, seedlings can be planted in late March or early April, then the first harvest will be by mid-May. A ripe vegetable can be easily identified by the dull sound when tapped and the thick skin of the fruit.

From fresh zucchini you can prepare 1000 and one delicious dish

Freshly harvested zucchini has a long shelf life - about five months. It is better to store in a dark, cool place; a cellar or basement would be a great option. If there is an abundance of harvest, it is better to preserve it, because over-seasoned zucchini loses its taste and becomes unsuitable for consumption.

Plant care

For zucchini to grow well, they need fertile soil and proper, systematic watering.

Soil and fertilizing

Iskander can only be planted on a well-rotted compost heap. Periodically loosen the soil so that it allows moisture, heat and oxygen to pass through. If the soil is sandy, you need to add magnesium fertilizers to it.

Fertilizing of the squash bush is carried out during the growing season, during flowering and fruiting. Feed with ammonium nitrate at a rate of 30–40 grams per 1 square meter. m.

Watering

Iskander is considered a drought-resistant plant and requires abundant watering only during the growing season, that is, during the growth of green mass. In cloudy weather, watering can be done once every 7 days. If the weather is hot, you need to water the zucchini at least 2 times a week at the rate of 200 liters per 10 square meters. m.

Spraying

The harvest will be much greater if pollinating insects are attracted. In 10 liters of water you need to dilute 5 g of boric acid and add a little sugar - spray the plants with the resulting solution. This procedure is especially recommended for those who grow zucchini in greenhouses.

Table: diseases of the Iskander variety and control methods

In addition to fungal diseases, zucchini is susceptible to attack by pests.

Neat Iskander bushes can be planted even in a small area. They grow quickly, bear fruit for a long time and produce a good harvest - because of this, the variety has repeatedly received high praise from gardeners. Iskander zucchini is great for eating fried, stewed, canned and diversifies any menu.