Zucchini has been successfully stored for several months, but this applies only to certain varieties. For the long-term preservation of the crop, proper assembly and preparation is important. There are different options for storing zucchini, in each case there are certain features.
Varieties of zucchini suitable for long-term storage
An important condition for long-term preservation is the correct choice of variety. For good keeping quality you need a dense peel, a small amount of small seeds. The following varieties meet these conditions:
- Aral. Hybrid variety, ultra-early ripening in 35-40 days. Fruits weigh up to 0.8 kg. Very high productivity - up to 22 kg per 1 sq. Km. m. The fruits are cylindrical, pale green, slightly pronounced ribs. The length of the fruit is 15-20 cm, the pulp is dense and tender, the seeds are large.
- Harlica. Dutch variety, medium ripening time - 50-65 days. Fruits grow up to 15-17 cm, weight 0.8 kg, light green peel with a dark mesh. The pulp is juicy, but loose. Brings up to 6 kg with 1 sq. m
- Aeronaut. This is zucchini-zucchini, early ripening, takes 45 days. Fruits grow approximately 15-20 cm long, weighing up to 1.5 kg. Variety with high productivity - up to 7 kg per 1 sq. Km. Fruits can be stored for 4 months.
- Gribovsky 37. Unpretentious hybrid, the average ripening time is 45-55 days. Light peel, fruits grow 17 cm each, average weight - 1 kg. The variety brings up to 9 kg with 1 square. m
- Pear-shaped. The name of the variety is associated with its shape - the fruits thicken to the base. The peel is pale yellow, the weight of the fruit is up to 1.4 kg. Ripening after 50 days, yield - up to 9 kg per 1 sq. Km. Juicy and fragrant flesh of orange color. The peel is very dense, the fruits are stored for a long time.
- Yellow fruit. Domestic variety, early ripening - 45 days. The fruits of sunny yellow color with saffron mesh resemble bananas, grow up to 20 cm, the average weight is 1 kg. The variety brings up to 18 kg with 1 square. m
- Gold cup. Hybrid bush variety, early ripening. One bush at the same time brings 5-6 fruits with a length of 16-20 cm and a weight of 1 kg. Harvest is perfectly stored until February.
- Marquise. Hybrid variety, earlier ripening - 40-45 days. The fruits are dark green with white pulp, grow up to 45 cm, the average weight is 3.5 kg. 1 sq. m can bring up to 11 kg. The grade is resistant to temperature extremes, great for transportation.
- Negro. Hybrid variety, early ripening - after 40 days. The fruits have a dark green color, small whitish spots are possible. The pulp is greenish-white, the average weight of the fruit is 1 kg. Harvest large, up to 18 kg with 1 square. m
- Tristan. Hybrid zucchini zucchini, ultra-early ripening - 35 days. Fruits with smooth dark green peel and delicate contents of white color, length 25-30 cm, average weight - 1 kg. m planting brings up to 15 kg of zucchini.
- Festival. Unusual variety, the fruits of its rounded shape resemble a pumpkin. Stripes of different colors alternate in color: greenish, bright yellow, whitish, almost black. The fruits weigh 0.5 kg each, the average yield is up to 6 kg per 1 sq. Km. Excellent keeping quality - the crop is well preserved up to 10 months.
- Anchor. Hybrid variety, ripens in 40 days. The fruits are pale yellow, the flesh is the same, the average weight is 1 kg. A good crop, up to 12 kg with 1 square. m
You should pay attention not only to the yield of zucchini, the dimensions of the fruits and their keeping quality, but also to take into account the peculiarities of cultivation. This applies to recommended regions and care conditions.
Preparation of vegetables for storage
To keep the shelf life as long as possible, competent preparatory measures are required. The following points are important:
- Carrying out cleaning work before frosts. In frozen zucchini, taste and keeping quality are lost.
- Fruits from the bush should be cut with a sharp knife, leaving 5-7 cm of the stalk. It is not allowed to pull zucchini, twist the stalks - all this will affect the shelf life.
- Slices on the stalk - risk of rot and disease. This can be avoided by processing before storing the zucchini. Sifted wood ash, crushed chalk, powdered activated carbon, liquid wax or paraffin are suitable for this.
- The fruits should be carefully peeled from the ground and left in the sun.. It is forbidden to wash, if necessary, you can get rid of dirt with a slightly damp cloth.
- Culling. Only healthy fruits are suitable for storage, signs of disease or pest damage are unacceptable. The shape of zucchini should correspond to the description of the variety, the size is average. Overripe fruits for storage are not suitable.
Due to the strong trimming of the stalk, the shelf life of the squash suffers. The same is observed in the presence of mechanical damage.
Storage conditions
Regardless of the method chosen, zucchini should be stored under the following conditions:
- darkness and coolness;
- the optimum temperature is 0-10 degrees, temperatures up to 20-22 degrees are allowed;
- humidity level - up to 75%;
- the fruits should not touch each other - keeping quality will be higher, the risk of the spread of diseases, spoilage will be reduced;
- it is impossible to pack squash in a film, plastic bags;
- There should be no heat sources near.
During long-term storage of zucchini, regular inspection is required. At the first sign of decay, all damaged specimens must be disposed of immediately. The place where they were lying should be disinfected.
Methods and shelf life of zucchini
There are several options for preserving squash. In addition to the method used, the variety of culture, the observance of storage conditions affect the keeping quality.
Basement or cellar
This option is optimal due to the darkness and coolness. An important condition for storing any vegetables is ventilation. In its absence, constant ventilation is required.
Harvest can be saved in many ways:
- Boxes (wood) or cardboard boxes. The layer of fruits should be one. It is important to remember the distance between them, you can organize partitions. Filling with fine material is effective: sand, sawdust, pieces of newspapers or newsprint.
- Shelves, pallets or floorif it is not too cold. Zucchini in this case should be kept on dry straw. Lay in one layer, remember the interval.
- Hanging. To do this, use strong threads, tying them around the stalks. You can bind the fruits in pairs for the stalks, if they are not too large. Hang them on the crossbars, rope, wire. They should not be in contact with each other, adjacent to anything.
- Suspension in nets, nylon stockings. Each fruit is placed individually without contact with each other and any surfaces.
In the cellar or basement, zucchini harvest will last up to 5 months. Longer periods are fraught with coarsening of the peel, seed germination. The flesh resembles cotton wool in consistency; bitterness appears in the taste.
Home storage
Zucchini can lie for a long time in the apartment, but away from batteries, heating or heating appliances. If possible, they should be removed to the balcony door or to the glazed balcony.
For storage of crops, the space under the furniture is suitable if the floors are not heated. For safety, it is worth wrapping the fruits individually with soft paper.
At home, zucchini lies well for 1-1.5 months, and especially bed varieties - 2-3 months. Longer storage of the crop is not recommended, even if it looks good. The peel hardens and the flesh loses taste.
Refrigerator
For storage, it is better to use paper bags, having made several holes in them. Pack each fruit separately, place in a vegetable box.
In the refrigerator, zucchini lasts up to 3 months. The option is good for small fruits with a thin skin, but they lie for 2-3 weeks.
Freezer
Zucchini stored in this way can be used for cooking, stewing. The workpiece is simple:
- Wash the selected fruits, dry.
- If the peel is thick, remove it.
- Cut zucchini in a convenient way: rings, half rings, cubes, straws. You can grind the fruits on a grater.
- Dissolve the prepared raw materials in one layer and put them into the quick-freezing compartment.
- Frozen raw materials portioned in bags or special containers.
Get frozen zucchini should only be for cooking. Defrost them as desired. Do not re-freeze the mass.
Frozen zucchini stored for up to 9 months.
Zucchini drying
This option of harvesting gives a richer taste and the preservation of all useful properties. The fruits must first be washed, peeled and finely chopped in a convenient way. Seeds to remove.
You can dry zucchini like this:
- Natural drying. The process takes several days. Lay out the raw materials in a single layer on paper or cloth, dry in the sun. Turn the pieces over every 4 hours.
- Oven. Lay the raw materials in one layer on a baking sheet, dry at a temperature of 50-55 degrees for 6-8 hours, open the door a bit.
- Electric dryer. The mode depends on the modification of the device, drying takes 2-3 hours. Follow the instructions for the dryer.
Dried zucchini is appropriate in the preparation of various dishes. If necessary, the raw material is pre-soaked.
Dried zucchini is best stored in glass or plastic sealed jars. The place should be dark and dry. Shelf life up to one year.
Canning
One of the options for harvesting zucchini is preservation. The mass of recipes, you can use additional other vegetables. Billets can be stored for 2-3 years.
From the described methods for storing zucchini, everyone can choose the option that suits them. To do this, it is not even necessary to independently grow a culture - you can buy fruits, making sure of their keeping quality and good quality.