{"product_id":"stardust-zucchini","title":"Stardust Zucchini","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"product-info-main\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"shop-bottom-block\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"long-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLarge, productive plants with beautiful, medium to dark green fruit.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOne of our most uniform open pollinated zucchinis in fruit shape and color, plants produce abundantly on short stems. Leaves are large and variegated and fruit are covered in beautiful tiny flecks of contrasting color with defined, attractive ridges.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eProductive\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eVariegated leaves\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHarvest at 6-9\"\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOpen-Pollinated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eSeed Specifications\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eZucchini, 155-260 (200 avg) seeds\/oz, 2.5-4.2M (3.3M avg) seeds\/lb. Summer Squash, 260-375 (315 avg) seeds\/oz, 4.2-6M (5.1M avg) seeds\/lb. Specialty, 220-280 (250 avg) seeds\/oz, 3.5-4.5M (4M avg) seeds\/lb. M=1,000. 1\/8 oz approx. 30 seeds. Direct seeding rate: Sow 2 seeds every 18-24\", in rows 5' apart. Transplants: 18-24\" apar t in rows 5' apart.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eCultural Info\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSummer squashes\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e(Cucurbita pepo)\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eare warm-season annuals in the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eCucurbitaceae\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003efamily, which includes cucumbers, melons, winter squash, and gourds. Commonly grown types include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eZucchini\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCrookneck\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpecialty types can be scalloped, round or pale green.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSoil Nutrients and Requirements\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlants need loose, fertile, well drained soil with plenty of nitrogen and a pH 5.8-6.8. Fertilize seedlings with fish emulsion if leaves yellow.\u003cb\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eSeeding Depth\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e½-1”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePlant Spacing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e12-24”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eRow Spacing\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5-6'.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eWhen to Sow\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDays to maturity are from direct seeding, subtract 2 weeks if transplanting. Direct seed as soon as chance of all frost has passed or start transplants 3-4 weeks before planting date. Optimum soil temperature for germination is about 85ºF and little or no germination occurs below 60ºF. Harden off plants by reducing temperature, water, and fertilizer. Many growers plant multiple successions of summer squash during a season to ensure continuous harvest, transplanting the first succession immediately after frost-free day and the final succession three months before the expected first frost. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eOther Considerations\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBlack plastic mulch and floating row cover can be used to increase soil and air temperature, as well as ward off cucumber beetles which feast on young seedlings and also spread disease.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eHarvest\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBest quality fruit are harvested at 5 – 8” or smaller, while skin is soft and somewhat glossy.  Harvest fruits every other day to for best size and quality and to maintain plants’ productivity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eStorage\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFruits are very perishable, but will store 3 to 4 days at 35 - 40ºF and 90% relative humidity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003ePest Info\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStriped Cucumber beetle feeding can damage young leaves so extensively that plants either die or are stunted in growth. Dipping or spraying seedlings with kaolin clay can significantly deter infestations. Combine clay with insecticidal soap (such as Safer Brand™, see Supplies) or neem (such as Ahimsa Neem Oil). Use of a trap crop preferred by cucumber beetles, such as blue hubbard squash, lures beetles away from main crop.  Crop rotation, removal of crop debris to discourage overwintering populations, and use of floating row cover can be effective in controlling cucumber beetles.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSquash vine borer will cause plants to look wilted even when moisture is plentiful. Slice open stem and remove and destroy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSquash bugs can be controlled by handpicking. Bury or compost plant residues at the end of the season.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eDisease Info\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePowdery mildew can be checked by providing good air circulation. Give plants wide spacing and eliminate weeds, especially milkweed, marshcress and yellowrocket. Choose resistant varieties.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFruit rots such as anthracnose, scab, and fusarium fruit rot are common under wet conditions. Space plants apart, avoid wetting foliage and water early in the day so that leaves can dry.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFusarium Wilt is caused by the fungus\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eFusarium oxysporum f. sp. Melonis (Fom)\u003c\/i\u003e, and can be seed and\/or soil borne.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBacterial Wilt and Cucumber mosaic virus should be controlled by removing and destroying infected plants.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product media\"\u003e\u003ca id=\"gallery-next-area\" tabindex=\"-1\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product info detailed\" id=\"productInfoDetailedSecond\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product data items mage-accordion-disabled\" role=\"tablist\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"data item title\" aria-labeledby=\"tab-label-product.info.SeedSpecs-title\" data-role=\"collapsible\" id=\"tab-label-product.info.SeedSpecs\" role=\"tab\" data-collapsible=\"true\" aria-controls=\"product.info.SeedSpecs\" aria-selected=\"false\" aria-expanded=\"false\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"High Mowing","offers":[{"title":"1\/8 oz (approx. 25 seeds)","offer_id":48800681590968,"sku":"HM-2903.1","price":4.15,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0615\/3856\/6328\/files\/Stardust-Zucchini-High-Mowing.jpg?v=1733334713","url":"https:\/\/seedtime.us\/products\/stardust-zucchini","provider":"Seedtime Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}