NEW FOR 2010!! (50-60 days) I used to be underwhelmed by scallop squash - found them too watery and stringy for my liking. Then I discovered how they're supposed to be eaten-picked small! Harvested at up to 4-5" diameter, these fruits are tender and solid-fleshed with flavour. I love slicing them up for stir-fries. Benning's Green Tint is a very rare scallop squash developed in the 1930's by Charles N. Farr. Pale green fruits (both skin and flesh) are flattened rounds with scalloped edges and were considered "one of the most beautiful strains of the whole group of Patty Pans". Heavy-yielding.
SORRY, SOLD OUT FOR 2010. C. pepo. Introduced in 1957, this is the earliest and most productive of the black/green zucchinis. Fruits are dark, dark green and straight. Best picked when 6" long or less, but stay tender even when larger. We grow these every year for ourselves and they've always grown well, no matter what the conditions have been.
(c. pepo) (43 days) This Italian heirloom zucchini has a small bush growing habit, so is perfect in small gardens. It produces large numbers of beautiful fruits that are dark green with light green stripes and that are prized for slicing, frying and steaming. This is also a great variety for freezing and canning. Fruits are best picked when they're less than 12" long. It was known in the 19th C. as "Cocozelle di Napoli" and is prized in Italy for its baby fruits that are picked when they're 1" long!
C. pepo (42-55 days) Heavy-Producing bush type, introduced in the 1930's and developed from Early Yellow Crookneck. Fruits turn golden when ripe and have a bulbous end.
C. pepo (42 – 60 days) 1700. One of the oldest documented squash, it produces light yellow fruit with (you guessed it) a crooked neck! White, sweet flesh. Pick when skin can be cut with a fingernail. Delicious!
C. pepo. Developed in 1973, at Rutgers, this is not an heirloom. However, its colour - bright golden-yellow- and its compactness make it a great addition to the home garden. Tender fruit are best harvested at 6" or less, but are still tender when larger.
(c. pepo) (52 days) This unusual French heirloom zucchini has been a traditional market favourite in France. It's completely round, like a ball, with light green speckled skin and dark green stripes. Bush-habit plants produce prolifically over the summer if picked regularly. The fruit can be harvested when it is 1-2" across or allowed to grow until large enough to stuff. Optimum picking size is 4-5" diameter, but they're very tasty at any size. The flesh has a lovely, non-watery texture. This zucchini is particularly suited to stir fries and roasting, and freezes well.
C. pepo (50 days) Introduced in 1899, this squash has the typical "patty pan" shape: a flattened circle with a scalloped edge, and is a lovely creamy-white colour. Pick when no larger than 4-5" across and pick regularly. It will reward you by continuing to produce heavily until frost. The white, solid flesh is wonderful in stir-fries or roasted.
