My Grandmother made a simple soup. Sauteed onion, 1/2 " chunks gagootz, water, salt & pepper, beaten egg slowly stir in at the end, favorite grated cheese. Yum! I'll have to try the leaves.
I did learn something. I have been eating cucuzzia my whole life and have been growing them the 3 or 4 years. My grandfather always cooked it with potatoes. I like it best over pasta. I have never heard of eating the leaves. I will have to try that. Thanks.
I planted three seeds this spring. Two made plants and now I have more than I know what to do with. They are delicious! I stew them exactly like you do, but I have not tried the leaves. I will be trying that this evening. I also fry and saute them like you would with summer squash... Also delicious! I'm in Central Texas.
I just harvested my first one two days ago and gave it to a friend of mine if Italian heritage. He cooked it today and throughly enjoyed it. He cooked it with olive oil, garlic, tomatoes and shrimp. I have several more growing also. I have t self pollinated them bit will try that also to increase the production. Great helpful video.
Thanks for the tips! Very excited. As a half Italian American, with still a relatively decent Italian population around me, was able to buy the seedlings at the local nursery to get a jump start this year. Very excited. Will let some mature to 3 feet and save the seeds and have Cucuzza for years to come!
I have seeds from my father's plants, he passed away years ago and I'm so afraid that they wont grow and I will lose the seeds. Thanks for the video! I am going to give it a go.
My father also passed away. But I grew my own. I have his seeds from 4 years ago. And they all came up. They re good for about 4 to 6 years. Depends how you keep them. Good luck don't be scared. Soak the seeds in a wet paper towel in a zip lock dark place. 1 week and you'll see. It grow then put them in the ground.
@@oddessy2g thank you for the reply, but unfortunately my pop passed away in 2005 and the seeds were older than that. I did exactly what you said but nothing happened. I still have a couple saved...so who knows, those may germinate one day. But like most things in life, it all works out & I know he is watching. I went to have my car inspected and as I was walking around waiting for them to finish, I saw a small garden center and there he had cucuz starts (I have never seen them in my area!) and was able to grow some and it was so wonderful!
Great Vid... I pretty much grow them a similar way here in South Florida... I grow them on a 10ft high Trellis, planted in half whiskey barrels.. I do all hand pollinating here as well, as Bees have been scarce the past few years.. They are a lot of fun to grow.. My Grandpa was from Sicily and grew them on Long Island... Just about the whole plant is edible. Grandma used to cook the ends of the vines along with the Cucuzza---delicious.. The recipe you mentioned is also a traditional style peasant method of cooking them.. I add a little fresh basil and Romano cheese to the mix when stewing them with the tomatoes, garlic & onions.. It's Mid-October here now, and just the start of our growing season.. Planting my seeds next week.. I get the seeds from the Cordaro Cucuzza Plantation in Louisiana.. I've let a few grow big for kicks.. Had a couple over 5ft...
Robert Ciulla That sound awesome. My parents are from Sicily and I've lived there for a couple years in my early twenties. My dad grew them up in Michigan when I was growing up. so pasta con cucuzza was something I grew up with also. I've been trying to find seeds from a different type of cucuzza that are thin and long maybe 5 to 6 feet long. if you know where I could get some please let me know. Thank you.
Pete B. Absolutely... Here is the link... The guy's name is Chris Cordaro. He owns the largest Cucuzza Plantation in the States.. He's out of Louisiana.. He has 2 choices as far as seeds go.. One grows up to 3ft, and another super long up to 6ft.. I grew one last year 5ft 7 inches.. It was still long and thin and was as tender as the shorter one.. The key is growing them on a Trellis, so they grow straight and thin.. The seeds stay tiny and are edible... Good luck man.. www.cucuzzasquash.com/order.html
Thank you! MyDaddy grew them. He got the seeds from his Italian neighbor. He cooked it with hamburger, onion, tomatoes....delicious! Now, I’m growing them in the same spot he did! Have had 2 so far. There are about 25 on the vines now, one being 25” today but yesterday it was 22”. They take off! I use a cattle panel curved over and anchored in the ground for them to grow on. They go nuts and have to be redirected or they’ll take over the world! LOL 😂
Hello, can you tell me how you attached the 2x2 lumber to the top of your t-posts? I ask because I know those heavy duty posts don't have pre-drilled holes to screw through. Did you just tie wire them? Thanks
Loved your video. I had never grown a Sicilian squash/cacuzza and had no idea why it was so big - and why there were so many flowers but so little fruit. I'm off to research what a female pea flower looks like so I can pollinate a few more. They are delicious!
Thank you, I have a recipe that I love here ua-cam.com/video/Ujwkja4EiZw/v-deo.html and I have a harvest video on my super long cucuzza variety and seed giveaway ua-cam.com/video/4YVg-YOb5Oo/v-deo.html
Could you explain how you built your trellis? I like it and like using the metal fence posts but I'm not sure how you connected the wire over the top and how you attached the wood at the top. Thanks!
Use at least 6 foot long T-posts from the big box stores and drive them in the ground about a foot or until they're sturdy. I used 1"x1" treated wood for the top that goes horizontally or you could even use electrical metal conduit that they sell at the big box stores. I just connected the 1'X1" with galvanized wire to the very top side of the T-posts and tightened it real tight with pliers and it should last you for many years.
I let one or two cucuzzas grow out till the end of the growing season, then take them and put them in your garage or inside the house till the cucuzza turns all brown. Then a month before you start planting, the cucuzza will be all dried out. Cut one open and you're ready to start planting.
Thanks a friend grows these I peel them an cut into French fries season with Tony's cajun seasoning an place in plastic bag with about 11/2 cup flour then deep fry till light brown .. So good ..
I can get them to germinate in just a couple (2-3) days. I use a tent in a cup grows very fast. We call them goo-gootz back home. You make it exactly like we do. I serve t with lots of good grated cheese on top. YUM!! Very nice vines... great video thank you.
Great video, we didn't know about pollination until watching your video. however, we only see male flowers on our single plant. Will the female flowers eventually grow?
Male flowers come first to attract the pollinators, then the females later. The flowers open up later in the day towards evening and gets pollinated by a moth.
Your trellis is really cool, bet that would work for cucumbers too. Just wondering if you need to use one male flower per female flower for pollination or if you can use it for several. I am just growing these this year so I'm not sure if the plants pump out equal numbers of both. I was surprised to find out they grow this way. The tag at the nursery didn't say anything about it so I figured it grew like other zucchini.
Thank you, The trellis would work great for cucumbers too and yes you can use one male flower for several female flowers as long as the male flower still has pollen on it. This type of trellis is good for most vine type vegetables like squash, gourds and small melons.
Some time my father was talking the soft leave and used for minestrone and pasta .Did taste good and the leaves are from part did not have the flowers .
I tried to grow this last season and the vine was killed off by stink bugs out here in Central Fl :( I'm going to try again and grow 1 as a bait plant and plant the other in a different part of the yard and keep my fingers crossed
Have you tried growing it in the fall after the first mild cold front? That's what I am going to try. Those cold fronts here in Florida normally get rid of most insect pests and bring much needed rain.
If you see this could you please answer one question..? My first crop was so amazing my neighbors kept coming buy to see how beautiful. Just like yours. This years I am getting a fungus that is almost totally killing them off. I live in the hot wet south I can't find what it is to treat it. Would you know.?? thanks....
It's probably powdery mildew on the leaves. You can use 1 tablespoon of baking soda.1/2 teaspoon of liquid dish soap to 1 gallon of water in a pump sprayer and spray the leaves on both sides real good. I would do that everyday for three days, then every other day for a week then twice a week after that.
@@rosewood513 The heat and humidity really get the mold and fungus growing. The baking soda should take care of it but it's best to spray when you see the first signs of powdery mildew.
@@petebeasttexashomesteadingThanks again. Next year I am going to start spraying early. I appreciate your input.. At least they do not attract bugs like zucchini...
@@rosewood513 Also since you live in the south, you could replant them if you want. Mine stopped producing because they are about four months old and it's getting to hot here in Texas. If you have three more months of good weather, you can plant a new crop.
If they're very tender then no. To check it, push your thumbnail into the skin, if it easily leaves a mark then it's tender. Usually if they are under 18 inches, they are tender.
My grandparents were all born in Sicily, one of my grandfather's would grow this ,i didn't know about the leaves. Is there any heath Benefit to eating the leaves
It's normal for the lower leaves to turn yellow because they are the older ones. But if they have brown spots with yellow around it, then it's a fungus and would need to be sprayed with a fungicide.
@@petebeasttexashomesteading thank you for respon ding so quickly .i have already bought seeds and ..of course i will eat some but sounds like ill have more than ill eat . Im really so excited about growing different types of gourds .in tunnels .
Do you have to live in a warm climate. I live in Alaska and can grow zucchini but not things like pumpkins. We can grow cucumbers in a greenhouse or outside if it is El Niño or warm summer.
Catherine Fredericks You'll need at least two to three months of warm weather for these squash to grow. But you could try starting them inside a month early.
Starting inside is not a problem. I started my squash, peppers, bok choi, and beets inside under lights in worm castings that I produce from five worm bins. I will have to try and find the seeds.
I have question. I have this plant. It has a lot of flowers on it. It grows gourds about 2 inches long. It turns yellow and dies. What can I do to fix this? Or what am I doing wrong? Can anyone help. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks
If the female flower is not pollinated, then it will turn brown and die. It's best to hand pollinate them when you see a female flower by getting a male flower from another plant open it up and use that to pollinate the other female flowers.
It's probably lacking nitrogen, make sure it gets enough water and use an organic fertilizer. I've found great results with these fertilizers: www.lowes.com/pd/GRO-WELL-Proven-Organics-4-lb-Natural-All-Purpose-Food/1000732122 and this one too: www.lowes.com/pd/Miracle-Gro-Performance-Organics-2-5-lb-Natural-All-Purpose-Food/1000732064
I am growing these now but I have many male flowers but not many female flowers and the female flower fruit turns yellow and falls off before the flower at the end can open to pollinate. What am I doing wrong? HELP :-)
The flowers open in the evening and are normally pollinated by a moth. Yes you can pollinate them yourself. Find the male flower, open it up and pollinate the female flowers with it. You might not have many of those moths in your area and you'll have to pollinate them by hand.
Most likely yes. You can pollinate them by hand too. Just take the make flower and open it up to expose the inside and touch it to the female flower. You can use that one male flower to pollinate a few female flowers.
Yes you're right about the soil since we changed to the "Back to Eden Garden method" these cucuzza's woke up and look healthy...........and yes soups and stews would be great while dipping some good Italian bread in it.......Ok I'm getting hungry :)
I've started growing my cucuzza hear in Florida...The plants are full of leaves and flowers...JUST NO FEMALES...i must be doing something wrong Any suggestions appreciated
Usually the plant produces male flowers first to attract bees, then shortly after they will start to produce the female flower and once they do, I would pollinate by hand to ensure you get your cucuzza.
@@petebeasttexashomesteading One more question....when should i pollinate?...do i wait for the female flower to fully open up or is it best to hand open the young flower as you showed in the video?
I don't think you can.....but you can buy the seeds online. Just do a google search for (Cucuzza squash seeds for sale) I've had them germinate between a few days and two weeks. Very easy to grow, just make sure your soil has good organic matter in it.
You can find my email on my about page on my channel using a lap top or PC and email me your mailing address and I'll send you some of my super long cucuzza seeds I grow every year. For some reason if you go to my about page to find my email with a phone or tablet, the email won't show.
@@petebeasttexashomesteading Hi Pete , your so kind, I listen to you and it brings me back to my days when my dad used to plant the cuccuzza. Your also very good at pronouncing the word. Did you ever make the cuccuzza with potatoes? Yes I would like you to send me some seeds if you can?
It's botanical name is Lagenaria siceraria. It is the same species as bottle guard. It originates on the Asian continent. The species was brought over to the Americas by Americas aboriginal populations and elsewhere spread the world over by migrants and traders. It was used to make utensils and bowls. Many varieties and cultivars with different shaped fruit have arisen the world over. It is said that this particular cultivar with very long serpentine shaped fruit arose in Sicily.
You can get the seeds off the internet, once you start growing them, I save one a year for seed, just let one grow and grow and grow and then cut it off set it in a dry location then after a few months all the inside of the cucuzza with go away and you'll be left with a bunch of seeds upwards of 100+ just cut it open and then every year you'll have lots and lots of seeds.
please reshoot video with less jumping around. It made it very confusing to follow. Also do you have a video showing how you made the frame of your trellis before vines started to grow. Thank you.
Sorry but that was one of my early videos. Here's a link to one of my cucuzza trellis build. If you do a search on my channel, I have other cucuzza videos. ua-cam.com/video/7_U_Y5_Xvso/v-deo.html
Seriously! Why does my cucuzza only have male flowers??? When will the lady flowers appear? Update! They show up about a week and a half after the male flowers!
My Grandmother made a simple soup.
Sauteed onion, 1/2 " chunks gagootz, water, salt & pepper, beaten egg slowly stir in at the end, favorite grated cheese.
Yum!
I'll have to try the leaves.
I did learn something. I have been eating cucuzzia my whole life and have been growing them the 3 or 4 years. My grandfather always cooked it with potatoes. I like it best over pasta. I have never heard of eating the leaves. I will have to try that. Thanks.
I'll have to try it with potatoes, here's the video I did making pasta con cucuzza: ua-cam.com/video/Ujwkja4EiZw/v-deo.html
I planted three seeds this spring. Two made plants and now I have more than I know what to do with. They are delicious! I stew them exactly like you do, but I have not tried the leaves. I will be trying that this evening. I also fry and saute them like you would with summer squash... Also delicious! I'm in Central Texas.
I just harvested my first one two days ago and gave it to a friend of mine if Italian heritage. He cooked it today and throughly enjoyed it. He cooked it with olive oil, garlic, tomatoes and shrimp. I have several more growing also. I have t self pollinated them bit will try that also to increase the production. Great helpful video.
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First year growing this plant and I’m very excited! Thanks for the info.
Awesome 👍
Thanks for the tips! Very excited. As a half Italian American, with still a relatively decent Italian population around me, was able to buy the seedlings at the local nursery to get a jump start this year. Very excited. Will let some mature to 3 feet and save the seeds and have Cucuzza for years to come!
Glad it was helpful!
I have seeds from my father's plants, he passed away years ago and I'm so afraid that they wont grow and I will lose the seeds. Thanks for the video! I am going to give it a go.
My father also passed away. But I grew my own.
I have his seeds from 4 years ago. And they all came up. They re good for about 4 to 6 years. Depends how you keep them.
Good luck don't be scared. Soak the seeds in a wet paper towel in a zip lock dark place. 1 week and you'll see. It grow then put them in the ground.
@@oddessy2g thank you for the reply, but unfortunately my pop passed away in 2005 and the seeds were older than that. I did exactly what you said but nothing happened. I still have a couple saved...so who knows, those may germinate one day. But like most things in life, it all works out & I know he is watching. I went to have my car inspected and as I was walking around waiting for them to finish, I saw a small garden center and there he had cucuz starts (I have never seen them in my area!) and was able to grow some and it was so wonderful!
@@joju24 oh wonderful. I live in nj. Where are you from. If we were closer I would give you some for sure.
@@oddessy2g thank you that is really kind. :)
Thank you i learnd a lot :) i grow them the first time this year.
Greatings from Munich Germany ;)
Thank you 👍
Great Vid... I pretty much grow them a similar way here in South Florida... I grow them on a 10ft high Trellis, planted in half whiskey barrels.. I do all hand pollinating here as well, as Bees have been scarce the past few years.. They are a lot of fun to grow.. My Grandpa was from Sicily and grew them on Long Island... Just about the whole plant is edible. Grandma used to cook the ends of the vines along with the Cucuzza---delicious.. The recipe you mentioned is also a traditional style peasant method of cooking them.. I add a little fresh basil and Romano cheese to the mix when stewing them with the tomatoes, garlic & onions.. It's Mid-October here now, and just the start of our growing season.. Planting my seeds next week.. I get the seeds from the Cordaro Cucuzza Plantation in Louisiana.. I've let a few grow big for kicks.. Had a couple over 5ft...
Robert Ciulla That sound awesome. My parents are from Sicily and I've lived there for a couple years in my early twenties. My dad grew them up in Michigan when I was growing up. so pasta con cucuzza was something I grew up with also. I've been trying to find seeds from a different type of cucuzza that are thin and long maybe 5 to 6 feet long. if you know where I could get some please let me know. Thank you.
Pete B. Absolutely... Here is the link... The guy's name is Chris Cordaro. He owns the largest Cucuzza Plantation in the States.. He's out of Louisiana.. He has 2 choices as far as seeds go.. One grows up to 3ft, and another super long up to 6ft.. I grew one last year 5ft 7 inches.. It was still long and thin and was as tender as the shorter one.. The key is growing them on a Trellis, so they grow straight and thin.. The seeds stay tiny and are edible... Good luck man..
www.cucuzzasquash.com/order.html
If you click on the link, where they offer the the super long seeds, they have pics of some of the monsters they've grown in a link below
Thank you I really appreciate it.
What do you mean by the End Of Vines ? that ur grandma used to cook.
Which part is that ?
thanks, very practical video for anyone growing it
Thank you! MyDaddy grew them. He got the seeds from his Italian neighbor. He cooked it with hamburger, onion, tomatoes....delicious! Now, I’m growing them in the same spot he did! Have had 2 so far. There are about 25 on the vines now, one being 25” today but yesterday it was 22”. They take off! I use a cattle panel curved over and anchored in the ground for them to grow on. They go nuts and have to be redirected or they’ll take over the world! LOL 😂
That is awesome!
Sounds delicious 😋
Thanks 👍
Hello, can you tell me how you attached the 2x2 lumber to the top of your t-posts? I ask because I know those heavy duty posts don't have pre-drilled holes to screw through. Did you just tie wire them? Thanks
Yes, I just tied the 2x2 with galvanized wire.
They taste great. Good for a soup/stew.
Yes they are, especially cooked down as I said in the video and dip some good Italian bread in to it..........Yum.
Loved your video. I had never grown a Sicilian squash/cacuzza and had no idea why it was so big - and why there were so many flowers but so little fruit. I'm off to research what a female pea flower looks like so I can pollinate a few more. They are delicious!
Thank you, I have a recipe that I love here ua-cam.com/video/Ujwkja4EiZw/v-deo.html and I have a harvest video on my super long cucuzza variety and seed giveaway ua-cam.com/video/4YVg-YOb5Oo/v-deo.html
Thank you great video. Learned a lot
you can also bread it and fry it like eggplant. It's delicious
i love this squash. basil is delicious in the stew.
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Could you explain how you built your trellis? I like it and like using the metal fence posts but I'm not sure how you connected the wire over the top and how you attached the wood at the top. Thanks!
Use at least 6 foot long T-posts from the big box stores and drive them in the ground about a foot or until they're sturdy. I used 1"x1" treated wood for the top that goes horizontally or you could even use electrical metal conduit that they sell at the big box stores. I just connected the 1'X1" with galvanized wire to the very top side of the T-posts and tightened it real tight with pliers and it should last you for many years.
Thank you! I appreciate your response!
Elaine Horsley I saw a tip once and did it. Go to tractor supply and get a cattle panel and arch it. About
$25.00 works great.
I was wondering and wondering why mine were not producing fruit it's lack of bees thank you for saying this I will hand pollinate!!!
How many plants are in your garden ! great presentation, How do you dry the seeds ?
I let one or two cucuzzas grow out till the end of the growing season, then take them and put them in your garage or inside the house till the cucuzza turns all brown. Then a month before you start planting, the cucuzza will be all dried out. Cut one open and you're ready to start planting.
@@petebeasttexashomesteading Thx Pete will do
Thanks a friend grows these I peel them an cut into French fries season with Tony's cajun seasoning an place in plastic bag with about 11/2 cup flour then deep fry till light brown .. So good ..
Is this the same as rampicante squash or tramboncini squash?
White flowers of gourge polinate nights.
I'm wondering does your's bloom in evening and close midday?
Yes the blooms open in the evening so they can be pollinated by a special moth.
Thank you for the great video & all the information! Subscribed!
Thank you 👍
I can get them to germinate in just a couple (2-3) days. I use a tent in a cup grows very fast. We call them goo-gootz back home. You make it exactly like we do. I serve t with lots of good grated cheese on top. YUM!! Very nice vines... great video thank you.
Awesome
Hi Rose, I have been trying to get my seeds to grow for 10 yrs with no success. Could you please tell me how you do this?
Thanks brother, good video and I learned something new
Thank you
Do u have a recipe for Italian gord cucuzza with pasta?
Here's the recipe ua-cam.com/video/Ujwkja4EiZw/v-deo.html
How often do you water the vine. I am struggling. The leaves turn yellow and wilt during the sun and at night the leaves and flowers are out.
Thank will depend on how much rain you get but just keep the soil moist.
Great video, we didn't know about pollination until watching your video. however, we only see male flowers on our single plant. Will the female flowers eventually grow?
Male flowers come first to attract the pollinators, then the females later. The flowers open up later in the day towards evening and gets pollinated by a moth.
Your trellis is really cool, bet that would work for cucumbers too. Just wondering if you need to use one male flower per female flower for pollination or if you can use it for several. I am just growing these this year so I'm not sure if the plants pump out equal numbers of both. I was surprised to find out they grow this way. The tag at the nursery didn't say anything about it so I figured it grew like other zucchini.
Thank you, The trellis would work great for cucumbers too and yes you can use one male flower for several female flowers as long as the male flower still has pollen on it. This type of trellis is good for most vine type vegetables like squash, gourds and small melons.
Thank you for the response and for the video.
Some time my father was talking the soft leave and used for minestrone and pasta .Did taste good and the leaves are from part did not have the flowers .
👍
I tried to grow this last season and the vine was killed off by stink bugs out here in Central Fl :( I'm going to try again and grow 1 as a bait plant and plant the other in a different part of the yard and keep my fingers crossed
Have you tried growing it in the fall after the first mild cold front? That's what I am going to try. Those cold fronts here in Florida normally get rid of most insect pests and bring much needed rain.
If you see this could you please answer one question..? My first crop was so amazing my neighbors kept coming buy to see how beautiful. Just like yours. This years I am getting a fungus that is almost totally killing them off. I live in the hot wet south I can't find what it is to treat it. Would you know.?? thanks....
It's probably powdery mildew on the leaves. You can use 1 tablespoon of baking soda.1/2 teaspoon of liquid dish soap to 1 gallon of water in a pump sprayer and spray the leaves on both sides real good. I would do that everyday for three days, then every other day for a week then twice a week after that.
@@petebeasttexashomesteading Thank you so much for taking the time. At least I got about 10 bit they are a mess it hit so fast. (Y)
@@rosewood513 The heat and humidity really get the mold and fungus growing. The baking soda should take care of it but it's best to spray when you see the first signs of powdery mildew.
@@petebeasttexashomesteadingThanks again. Next year I am going to start spraying early. I appreciate your input.. At least they do not attract bugs like zucchini...
@@rosewood513 Also since you live in the south, you could replant them if you want. Mine stopped producing because they are about four months old and it's getting to hot here in Texas. If you have three more months of good weather, you can plant a new crop.
I, used Bamboo pole and tied up the Cucuzza plant really good and easy to grow.
Mercy Puznak 👍
Do you have to peel cucizza before frying
If they're very tender then no. To check it, push your thumbnail into the skin, if it easily leaves a mark then it's tender. Usually if they are under 18 inches, they are tender.
Love it ...power pack food
My grandparents were all born in Sicily, one of my grandfather's would grow this ,i didn't know about the leaves. Is there any heath Benefit to eating the leaves
The leaves are packed with nutrients like most leafy greens are but they tastes great.
pete the leaves on my cacuzza squash plants are turning yellow toward the bottom of the plant what should i do
It's normal for the lower leaves to turn yellow because they are the older ones. But if they have brown spots with yellow around it, then it's a fungus and would need to be sprayed with a fungicide.
@@petebeasttexashomesteading what can i use as a fungicide
Will these dry for ornament by chance
Yes, the outer shell becomes hard and the inside will dry up.
@@petebeasttexashomesteading thank you for respon ding so quickly .i have already bought seeds and ..of course i will eat some but sounds like ill have more than ill eat . Im really so excited about growing different types of gourds .in tunnels .
Do you have to live in a warm climate. I live in Alaska and can grow zucchini but not things like pumpkins. We can grow cucumbers in a greenhouse or outside if it is El Niño or warm summer.
Catherine Fredericks You'll need at least two to three months of warm weather for these squash to grow. But you could try starting them inside a month early.
Starting inside is not a problem. I started my squash, peppers, bok choi, and beets inside under lights in worm castings that I produce from five worm bins. I will have to try and find the seeds.
These cuczza's love worm castings and will grow very fast with it.
That's really good to know. Thanks for the info.
We grew these one year and had them EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
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I have question. I have this plant. It has a lot of flowers on it. It grows gourds about 2 inches long. It turns yellow and dies. What can I do to fix this? Or what am I doing wrong? Can anyone help. I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks
If the female flower is not pollinated, then it will turn brown and die. It's best to hand pollinate them when you see a female flower by getting a male flower from another plant open it up and use that to pollinate the other female flowers.
@@petebeasttexashomesteading thanks for the reply. I really appreciate it. I will try doing that.
Planted Cucuzza seeds in Phoenix Arizona in June and it isn’t growing at all? It’s stuck at about 3 inches tall. Any ideas why?
It's probably lacking nitrogen, make sure it gets enough water and use an organic fertilizer. I've found great results with these fertilizers: www.lowes.com/pd/GRO-WELL-Proven-Organics-4-lb-Natural-All-Purpose-Food/1000732122 and this one too: www.lowes.com/pd/Miracle-Gro-Performance-Organics-2-5-lb-Natural-All-Purpose-Food/1000732064
Pete B. Thanks!
Do you trim back your Cucuzza at all?
No, I just turn the vines back to the trellis if it grows outwards. You can also eat the smaller tender leaves.
My favorite
I am growing these now but I have many male flowers but not many female flowers and the female flower fruit turns yellow and falls off before the flower at the end can open to pollinate. What am I doing wrong? HELP :-)
The flowers open in the evening and are normally pollinated by a moth. Yes you can pollinate them yourself. Find the male flower, open it up and pollinate the female flowers with it. You might not have many of those moths in your area and you'll have to pollinate them by hand.
Do you pollinate every individual bloom?
No, just some of them to insure you get the cucuzza's. Believe it or not, Normally the flowers open up in the evening and are pollinated by a moth.
Love the Cucuzza brother looks good
Thank you
These make a great soup.
👍
My parents made all the time.some time s didn't even peel
Where do I get these seeds? My dad use to grow this years ago. Love to get some seeds.
Pax et Bonum I got on amazon.
At 6" my fruit would get yellow and die off. Is that because they weren't pollinated?
Most likely yes. You can pollinate them by hand too. Just take the make flower and open it up to expose the inside and touch it to the female flower. You can use that one male flower to pollinate a few female flowers.
Can u freeze the squash
Yes absolutely 👍
Nice video, but your hard to hear for folks with hearing problems. :( Otherwise it was great. Where can we buy the seeds?
sue cordes Yeah my later videos I got a wireless microphone. You can buy the seeds online. I got them on eBay. Thanks for watching.
Ebay!
Obviously they love the soil and growing conditions. I can sure see how they would be great in soup and stews. Jay
Yes you're right about the soil since we changed to the "Back to Eden Garden method" these cucuzza's woke up and look healthy...........and yes soups and stews would be great while dipping some good Italian bread in it.......Ok I'm getting hungry :)
Getting my seeds tommorow. Live in California, still time to plant?
Cucuzza's take about three months or less from planting to harvest so you should be good to go. 👍
@@petebeasttexashomesteading gratzi!
I've started growing my cucuzza hear in Florida...The plants are full of leaves and flowers...JUST NO FEMALES...i must be doing something wrong
Any suggestions appreciated
Usually the plant produces male flowers first to attract bees, then shortly after they will start to produce the female flower and once they do, I would pollinate by hand to ensure you get your cucuzza.
@@petebeasttexashomesteading Thanks Pete..."patience is a virtue"
@@petebeasttexashomesteading One more question....when should i pollinate?...do i wait for the female flower to fully open up or is it best to hand open the young flower as you showed in the video?
@@markperez9683 I pollinate the female flowers when they're young and open the flower to pollinate them.
@@markperez9683 👍
Saluti dall'Italia. A Cucuzza Siciliana, provala bollita, poi ghiacciata e poi aggiungi sale e limone
Any idea how to dry them? I had a friend who would dry them out, I tried one time and it got moldy.....
JOE 73 Yeah mine get a little moldy too but the inside will be fine. I just put them in a sunny dry area whenever possible while they're drying.
Thank you
You're welcome
Where can I purchase these grown already?
I don't think you can.....but you can buy the seeds online. Just do a google search for (Cucuzza squash seeds for sale) I've had them germinate between a few days and two weeks. Very easy to grow, just make sure your soil has good organic matter in it.
Thanks for the recipe. I stir fry them.
I have yet to find seeds like yours, I wish you could send me some.
You can find my email on my about page on my channel using a lap top or PC and email me your mailing address and I'll send you some of my super long cucuzza seeds I grow every year. For some reason if you go to my about page to find my email with a phone or tablet, the email won't show.
@@petebeasttexashomesteading
Hi Pete , your so kind, I listen to you and it brings me back to my days when my dad used to plant the cuccuzza.
Your also very good at pronouncing the word. Did you ever make the cuccuzza with potatoes?
Yes I would like you to send me some seeds if you can?
I like you cucuzza so beautiful and long . I have a question where did you get the seeds?
I originally got them on ebay type( cucuzza seeds) in the search bar. You can do a google search also.
It's botanical name is Lagenaria siceraria. It is the same species as bottle guard. It originates on the Asian continent. The species was brought over to the Americas by Americas aboriginal populations and elsewhere spread the world over by migrants and traders. It was used to make utensils and bowls. Many varieties and cultivars with different shaped fruit have arisen the world over. It is said that this particular cultivar with very long serpentine shaped fruit arose in Sicily.
You can get the seeds off the internet, once you start growing them, I save one a year for seed, just let one grow and grow and grow and then cut it off set it in a dry location then after a few months all the inside of the cucuzza with go away and you'll be left with a bunch of seeds upwards of 100+ just cut it open and then every year you'll have lots and lots of seeds.
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Do Cucuzza cross pollinate with other squash varieties?
Alice Roberts I don’t think so
please reshoot video with less jumping around. It made it very confusing to follow. Also do you have a video showing how you made the frame of your trellis before vines started to grow. Thank you.
Sorry but that was one of my early videos. Here's a link to one of my cucuzza trellis build. If you do a search on my channel, I have other cucuzza videos. ua-cam.com/video/7_U_Y5_Xvso/v-deo.html
Seriously! Why does my cucuzza only have male flowers??? When will the lady flowers appear?
Update! They show up about a week and a half after the male flowers!
Or put it on a nice bread 😘
👊🙏😊
K. Durank 👍
Try put some small shrimps instead of chicken. It will surprise you.
Enjoyed the video, however, you were not close enough to your microphone most of the time and we could barely hear you.