1427 Summer Cucuzzi Zucchetta Seed Packet

Awesome seeds! You can see our vines and first cucuzza. Bonus, the plants seem to be resistant to ground hogs and bunnies. We put three seeds in each basket and all the seeds came up. When we thinned, we put a few in pots to give away. Accidentally, those pots got left outside the garden fence, and remained unmolested by the numerous ground hogs and bunnies - the knocked over the pots, but left the plants alone. I'm not sure about the how resistant the fruit is yet, but there's one getting pretty long on the outside of the fence, so far, so good. I usually have a hard time with squash borer bugs, but since this a gourd, the squash bugs aren't interested. We haven't seen any other insect damage either -- we're in the north west corner of NJ.I suppose that you can grown them on the ground, but these are vining plants that grow great on a trellis. We have a tall garden fence and we just laid a piece of trellis over the corner and tied it to the fence. We planed in felt bags and the plants are doing great. I had some thin poles - the kind you line the driveway with in the snow. I popped them into the bags and the cucuzza grew right up them to the top of the trellis. This expanded where I could put plants since they didn't have to be right next to the fence. I've seen pics of people also dropping string from the top of the trellis.They taste fantastic. I describe zucchini as having a bland, slight bitterness. These guys are plain but have a sweetness to them. This is really my first opportunity to cook them. We roasted it for a very long time and it held it's shape but got very soft -- a zucchini would have been a puddle. The cooked meat has a delicious sweetness to it and it was great in a tomato sauce. We're still experimenting with this, but I can see why google tells me that people candy this and add it to desserts. It's definitely a plant that can go sweet and savory.I can pick up zucchini's and other summer squashes at roadside stands and farmers markets all summer. We're going to be sticking to cucuzza from now on in the garden, because it's unique, completely easy to grow and pest resistant.

It is so.much.fun to Grow!First off, I live in Central FL. My property is beach sand. The trellis is a staked cattle panel I purchased from Tractor Supply. (Searched many videos online before deciding what would best suit my abilities and needs.)I am Italian yet had never heard of this until 3 years ago when my aunt wanted me to grow it for her. Technically, cucuzza is a gourd. Researched it online. Needed a trellis. And a way to get said trellis home. Bought the seeds in April 2019. Never planted because I wasn't able to get the trellis until early 2021. Pics were taken today, May 26, 2021. What you see in the pics grew this year (2021) from the seeds I purchased in 2019. I started some in peat pots inside, I sowed seeds directly into the ground. They came up but weren't thriving. I quickly realized I did not amend enough cow manure and Garden Tone into the soil. Once I side dressed the row with both, the plants began thriving. They get all day sun. Don't remember the last time it rained, so I am having to water every morning. The cucuzza is on the left side of the trellis; I am growing something different up the right side. I go out and look to hand pollinate every other evening. (Several videos online.) Once pollinated, they just take off and can grow up to 6" over night. I am looking forward to the plant getting to the top of the trellis and the cucuzza hanging down from the there.

Have been planting the seeds, 5-6 every 2 weeks. So far, have 2 sprouted seeds. Not a very good germination rate. I’m hoping to actually harvest some food, and the poor germination to hoe the seeds have been stored.

This is the second year I ordered and planted these seeds. Not one plant lived! I have a green thumb and love gardening but this last year despite using special medium I only got three seeds to germinate and after replanting them none of them grew. They all died. Wait, correction I have two little seedlings that I gave up on that live!!! It my be my long dead Sicilian Grandfather who loved gardening who perhaps revived them? OK so if you have a Sicilian grandparent then order them!!

Quick shipping and already sprouting!so far I'm very happy with these gourds. I wanted something new and interesting so I tried them.I planted them in large containers, bit I don't know the germination rate. I have two to three plants per 20 gallon container, growing up my deck stairs.I love how fuzzy these are and flying pest resistant! The white flowers are mesmerizing just as much as the long gourds themselves. I will be planting these again.

Grows extremely quick...we used the plant to shade patio and we have now learned of use/recipes for cucuzzi.Enough yield for neighbors/friends..

Got to us ok.Thanks

l liked this, but, was alittle sad as l got no Zucchini, but, l will try again next season....