Haranita F1

Class

Dicotyledoneae

Division

Angiospermae

Family

Cucurbitaceae

Order

Curcubitales

Genus

Cucurbita

Species

pepo

Description

An annual herb belonging, along with watermelon, melon and squash, to the Cucurbitaceae botanical family. It has always been cultivated in open fields/lawns or in greenhouses as a vegetable garden species, even domestically, and is prized for its fruits, which vary in shape and colour shade depending on the variety, and are used in cooking for their delicate flavour.

Easy to grow, it requires medium-textured soil and full sun exposure.

Species video

https://youtu.be/6wgB7qbtdLo

Variety description

Clear-skinned courgette variety. Elongated cylindrical fruit to be harvested at approx. 20 cm with fruit easy to detach from the flower. Plant with good vigour, well aerated which facilitates handling and harvesting. It is suitable for cultivation both in the open field and in greenhouses at all times of the year depending on the growing area. Cultivation is not difficult although it is necessary to bear in mind the high water and fertiliser requirements of the plant. The cultivation cycle is relatively short but it is of fundamental importance to guarantee the plant a full sun exposure. It adapts to different types of soil.

Curiosities and special features

Courgettes are widely used, raw, boiled, fried, grilled or stuffed, in a vast number of gastronomic recipes such as omelettes, parmigiana, savoury pies, risottos or to accompany meat or fish dishes; some varieties also give us delicious flowers that can also be used in cooking after removing the pistil.

Low in calories, courgettes are rich in fibre, minerals and antioxidants such as carotenoids, vitamins A and C.

Harvest your courgettes when they have reached the right stage of ripeness, not too large and preferably with the female flower still attached to the fruit. It is also important to use only fresh courgettes with a skin that is not dull or wrinkled, without spots and with a non-bitter taste.

Origin and distribution

A species native to Central America and Mexico, it was introduced to Europe during the 16th century and also reached Italy, where an initial approach to the selection of new varieties began.

Flower size

The flower of the variety is medium in size.

Leaf

The leaf is lobed and tomentose, i.e. covered with a silky down.

Fruit

The fruit is elongated and seedless, with a length of between 18 and 22 cm and a solid consistency. It ripens from late spring to summer. It is unscented, while the flavour is characterised by herbaceous and delicate notes, with an overall mild taste. The skin is not edible and is uniform in colour. According to the technical evaluation, it is a variety with excellent organoleptic characteristics and multiple culinary uses, being one of the main cultivated varieties.

Flowering period

The excellent flowering period lasts from mid-spring to mid-summer for a duration of 40 to 60 days from mid-autumn to mid-winter.

Leaf colour

Homogeneous colour tone.

Plant height

The height of the plant varies from 0.6 to 1 m in relation to the developed habit.

Lifespan

Annual-cycle plant.

Where to plant

Suitable for cultivation in beds, open fields.

Stem

The stem is herbaceous and the variety has no thorns.

Flower

The flower is bell-shaped, medium-sized, with single-coloured petals. It flowers from mid-spring to mid-summer and from mid-autumn to mid-winter, with flowering periods of between 40 and 60 days. It is attractive to bees and bumblebees.

Growth

The variety shows determined growth.

Plant habit

Growht habit is bushy.

Branching

The branching is on the whole average.

PH

During the growth phase, the courgette plant prefers a slightly acidic to neutral soil pH between 5.8 and 7.0; it is recommended not to exceed the neutral level.

Soil preparation

Before transplanting in the early spring in the open field, dig 20/30 cm deep, removing any weeds, bulky stones and residues of previous crops, bury organic or chemical fertiliser and, with the help of a hoe, break up the most compact and coarse clods to improve fertiliser distribution and obtain greater softness. In order to favour the drainage of excess water, thus preventing harmful water stagnation, continue by creating a raised flowerbed by slightly bouldering the soil; finally, carefully level the surface with a rake.

During cultivation it is important to promptly eliminate possible weeds within the plant by hoeing, alternatively a control can be carried out from the beginning by using a mulch cloth.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Sun exposure

For optimum vegetative growth followed by abundant production, expose the plant to full sun and sheltered from the wind, ensuring adequate water supply.

Ideal climate and temperature

The ideal temperature is between 15 and 28 °C, it prefers a warm and humid climate; transplanting outdoors is not recommended until the risk of frost is over.

Use

Always cultivated, at all levels of professional experience, and appreciated as a plant for use
Agribusiness

Hardiness

The variety is medium to highly hardy, adapting to different types of soil as long as it is well drained and exposed to the sun.

Soil

It adapts well to different soil conditions, however, the ideal soil is medium-textured or loamy, well structured and draining as well as endowed with organic substance.

Difficulty

Cultivation is easy with an average level of management effort; care must be taken to ensure adequate irrigation and fertilisation to promptly meet the plant's needs.

Growing tips

Some cultivation tips aimed at obtaining the best production results:

Balanced fertilisation Avoid over-watering Put outside when there is no longer a risk of frost Prefers warm, humid climate

Intercropping/combination

Among possible crop associations we suggest that with lettuce or radish.

Planting

In the transplanting phase, a correct planting pattern is of primary importance in order to allow a suitable vegetative growth followed by an abundant level of production; to this end, an average density of 2 plants per square metre is recommended, also in consideration of the habit developed by the variety. It is advisable, before transplanting, to moisten the peat substrate of the lump to encourage subsequent rooting, carefully extracting the seedling from the container without damaging the roots, placing it on a raised bed with the collar outside the soil surface and irrigating immediately after planting.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Pruning

Make a clean harvest cut, usually every 1-2 days during the summer period, with instruments with disinfected blades in order to prevent the transmission of any diseases; it is advisable to remove the first 3-5 fruits so that the development of the plant is balanced.

Propagation

Reproduction is by sowing in containers.

Watering

The water requirements of the courgette plant are particularly high, especially during the summer period. Use rainwater, or alternatively aqueduct water with an optimal sub-acidic pH, either manually or by means of an irrigation system. When transplanting, assist the seedling, which may be more susceptible to stress in the new planting site, by means of an initial abundant irrigation, but without excessive water stagnation, followed by regular watering. Thereafter always keep the soil moist but not saturated, avoiding the occurrence of root rot. It is also advisable not to water the aerial part of the plant from above during the late afternoon or evening to prevent the spread of phytopathologies.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Fertilising

In the pre-transplant soil preparation phase, bury an organo-mineral fertiliser to provide the nutrients the seedling needs in the early stages of growth.

During the cultivation cycle the plant has significant nutrient requirements, so to have an excellent production it is advisable to intervene frequently by adding a specific water-soluble fertiliser for horticulture to the soil, to be diluted in the irrigation water according to suitable dosages. Courgette is a potassophilous plant, i.e. it has a high potassium requirement, and care must also be taken to ensure an adequate supply of calcium, which plays an important role during the various growth phases.

Read more on the Joyflo blog

Pet safety

Ingestion toxicity for dogs and cats not known; consider the individual case and consult with your veterinarian before administration.

Edibility for humans

Edible fruit.

Toxicity for humans

Courgettes, if harvested at the right degree of ripeness, with a firm texture and a non-bitter taste, are not toxic; consider the case in point.

Tip

Pay close attention to the health aspect of the crop under consideration. In particular, monitor for the presence of possible pathogens and diseases such as powdery mildew, downy mildew, sclerotinia and botrytis, which can cause considerable damage in terms of production. Also pay attention to the presence of possible insects such as aphids that act as vector organisms for the possible proliferation of viruses to which the variety is susceptible. If you opt for cultivation in a greenhouse during colder periods, such as autumn or winter, simply follow the cultivation care indicated with reference to the spring/summer period, since the greenhouse being a protected environment allows these operations to be managed better. Carry out a removal of the first 3 to 5 fruits in order to ensure and encourage a regular development of the plant. If you decide to water by rain, it is necessary to do so only during the first part of the day.