If you’ve ever wandered into an Italian backyard garden, chances are you’ve seen some monster-sized zucchinis climbing up poles like beans. That’s Sicilian zucchini—also called cucuzza. It’s not your regular little green zucchini. This thing grows long, sometimes 3 to 4 feet, and dangles like a baseball bat off the vine.
The first time I grew it, I wasn’t ready. I figured it would be just another summer squash. Nope. The plant took over half my trellis like it was auditioning for Jack and the Beanstalk. But that’s part of the fun—watching it snake around and seeing these pale green clubs appear seemingly overnight.
Why grow Sicilian zucchini?
It’s a showstopper. Seriously, friends and neighbors will ask about it.
High yield. One plant can keep you eating zucchini all summer.
Versatile in the kitchen. Slice it up for pasta sauce, stew it with onions and tomatoes, or just grill it with olive oil. Italians often hollow it out and stuff it, too.
Growing tips (learned the hard way):
Give it space. This isn’t a patio plant. Either let it sprawl or train it up a tall trellis.
Start early indoors. The seeds are big, almost pumpkin-like, and sprout easily. Get them going before your last frost if you live somewhere with a short summer.
Full sun + lots of water. It’s Sicilian—it loves the heat. Mine perked up after I started giving it a good soaking a couple times a week.
Harvest young. Don’t let it get baseball-bat size unless you want to impress people. At about 18 inches, the flesh is tender and not seedy.
What I love most
Growing Sicilian zucchini feels like growing a piece of heritage. There’s something old-world about it—like you’re carrying on a tradition that’s been around for generations. And when you finally sit down to a bowl of pasta topped with cucuzza and tomato sauce, it’s not just food. It’s a story from the garden to the plate.
So, if you want a plant that’s part conversation piece, part cooking staple, and part jungle adventure, throw some Sicilian zucchini in your garden next season. Just… don’t forget to bring a bigger basket.