Costata Romanesco Zucchini Seeds

The intriguing Costata Romanesco is a light grayish-green zucchini spackled with green spots and lined with prominent ribs. The Cocozelle type of zucchini is most likely native to Rome, Italy, where it is still popular today. 

Plants will grow large with vines that continually creep outward. Tons of male blossoms will appear, great for the pollinators and consumers, those that like to stuff and fry the tasty flowers. Resilient to powdery mildew, this special heirloom variety will grow slowly, but well into the season. The long vines produce a moderate crop when compared to hybrid varieties, but the excellent nutty flavour and buttery smooth texture of the heirloom more than makes up for it. While having a surplus of squash in summertime is the butt of many a gardener’s joke, no grower of Costata Romanesco dreams of sneaking any onto their neighbor’s porch. 

Costata Romanesco is so delicate in both taste and texture that it can be enjoyed in any preparation, whether raw or cooked. The large, yet tender, fruits are supremely versatile in the kitchen. Try spiralizing the zucchini to make a healthy veggie noodle or finely julienne the slices for satisfying summer salads. Add generous portions to any soup, stew or stir fry to enhance the heartiness and nutrition of the dish. Stuff them with your favourite toppings or bake them into a mouth-wateringly moist zucchini bread, the possibilities are endless! 

- Latin Name: Curcubita pepo
- Life Cycle: Annual
- Days to Maturity: 50-60
- Planting Depth: 1-2 cm
- Plant Spacing: 90-120 cm
- Row Spacing: 1-1.5 m
- Growth Habit: 30-60 cm tall

GROWING INSTRUCTIONS

An abundance of delicious zucchini can be produced with little effort and space required. A summer staple, zucchini are nutritious and have a surprising number of uses in the kitchen. Zucchini will thrive situated in a sunny space with rich fertile soil. Direct sowing and starting seeds indoors are both possibilities to acquire a good crop.

When planting outdoors, wait until the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed quite a bit. Plant seeds directly into the bed at a depth of 2 cm, at least 60 cm apart. Rows should be spaced 90-120 cm apart.

Start seeds indoors in pots, about four weeks before the last frost. If kept warm, moist and well lit, squash seeds will germinate and grow at a rapid rate. It may be necessary to transplant seedlings into larger pots if their smaller containers are outgrown. After the danger of frost has passed, carefully harden off young plants. Give them shelter early on and slowly acclimate them to the sun. Plant and treat the roots gently, zucchini can be finicky when transplanting.

Water well to encourage growth and prolific flowering and fruiting. Mulch around the plants to conserve water and keep down weeds. Give the zucchini a balanced fertilizer when it starts blooming.

Pollination is crucial for zucchini plants, male flowers must fertilize the female flowers in order to produce fruit. Attract bees and other pollinators by planting zucchini among other flowering plants.

About a week after the first sign of flowers, search the plants well. Zucchini can grow to monster sizes within days without being detected. Use a knife to cut the stems and be cautious not to tear or damage the plant.

Process or eat them quickly, they spoil as quickly as they grow! Delicious breads, relish, pickles, casseroles, soup, and even pasta come to mind when hauling large loads of fresh zucchini to the kitchen.

QUICK FACTS

- There is a type of wild squash that grows wild in some parts of Africa, but it is the wild varieties from the Americas that were first domesticated over 8,000 years ago, predating the domestication of other crops such as corn and beans by about 4,000 years. Squash seeds were eventually brought to Europe in the 1500s.

- There are two main types of squash: ''summer'' and ''winter.'' Summer squash is harvested in the warm weather months and doesn't store for long. Winter squash is usually harvested in the fall and has hard skin which allows it to keep well for months.

- Zucchini seeds will remain viable for 4 years if stored in a cool, dark place, ideally between 4 and 10⁰C. After that, the germination rate may start to go down.