Cucuzza:
Falla come vuoi,
sempre cucuzza è.
In 2011 a statistical client of mine, Guy Lombardo, gave me
some cucuzza seed. His family, from Sicily, has passed the seed down over
many generations. Not knowing what it would be like, I sowed only one
seed. The vine is very vigorous and takes up much space. It is
growing on a sturdy fence on one side of my veggie garden. In June I
harvested two small fruits, and fried them with onions and garlic. They
have little flavor all by themselves. The skin is tough, so they are
peeled prior to cooking. Technically they are an edible gourd.
Here is a one I picked early in July.
Batter up |
Look at that cucuzza |
![](Cucuzza2.jpg) |
![](Cucuzza1.jpg) |
Here is one near the end of the season:
![](Cucuzza4.jpg)
When the plants have reached the top of their six foot
fence, the continue up into the adjacent trees.
![](Cucuzza-Vine_22June2013.jpg)