VegetableZucchini
Cocozelle Zucchini
Italian Heirloom
Cocozelle zucchini represents the perfect marriage of Italian heritage and backyard practicality, a late 1800s heirloom that brings elegance to the summer squash patch. With its distinctive dark and light green stripes painting each cylindrical fruit, this bush-type variety produces abundant harvests in just 55 days while staying compact at 18-24 inches tall. Hardy from zones 3-13, Cocozelle transforms from seed to table-ready zucchini faster than most, making it ideal for successive sowings throughout the growing season.
Photo © True Leaf Market(https://www.trueleafmarket.com/products/cocozelle-zucchini-squash)
Growing Conditions
USDA Zone
3-13
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Soil
Well-drained, Fertile Loam With Organic Matter
Preferred Temp70-85°F
Growth Stats
24 in
Height
PeriodAnnual
TypeBush - Semi-vining
Spacing
24-36 inches apart
Plant Profile
Sunlight
Full Sun
Water
Moderate
Zones
3-13
Size
24in H x ?in W
Growth
Annual
Care
High
Hover over chart points for details
Highlights
This traditional Italian heirloom stands out with its striking striped pattern that makes each fruit look almost too beautiful to harvest. The bush habit keeps plants tidy and productive without sprawling, perfect for smaller gardens or raised beds. Cocozelle's tender, nutty flesh with a subtle sweetness excels in everything from simple sautés to hearty ratatouilles, while the prolific yields ensure you'll have plenty to share with neighbors who will inevitably ask about those gorgeous striped zucchini.
Common Uses
Cocozelle excels in both simple and sophisticated preparations, from quick sautés that highlight its nutty sweetness to starring roles in complex ratatouilles where its tender texture holds up beautifully. The young fruits are perfect for grilling, stir-frying, or baking into moist zucchini breads, while the edible blossoms can be stuffed or battered and fried for an elegant appetizer. Its cylindrical shape makes it ideal for spiralizing into noodles or slicing into rounds for grilling and roasting.
Growing Timeline
First Bloom
40-50 Days After Sowing
First Harvest
50-60 Days After Sowing
Last Harvest
Indeterminate
Care Instructions
Start Indoors
Start seeds indoors 2-3 weeks before the last frost for the earliest harvests, transplanting outdoors once soil has warmed and danger of frost has passed.
Transplant Outdoors
Transplant seedlings after the last frost when soil temperature reaches at least 60°F, spacing plants 24 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart.
Direct Sow
Direct sow seeds outdoors in warm soil during the third or fourth week of May, or after the last frost when soil temperature is consistently warm.
Harvesting
Harvest Cocozelle fruits when they reach 6-8 inches long for the best flavor and tender texture, cutting them from the vine rather than pulling. Pick fruits at the 'dinghy stage' for eating rather than letting them grow into 'yacht' size, which results in tougher flesh and larger seeds. Regular harvesting every few days encourages continued production throughout the season, and missing a harvest or two won't stop the plants from bouncing back with new fruits.
Growing Calendar
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Companion Planting
Pests & Diseases
Ecology & Traits
Edible
Soil pH Range
6 – 7
Scientific Classification
Cucurbita pepo L.
Family
Cucurbitaceae
Genus
Cucurbita
Duration
Annual
Growth Habit
Vine, Forb/herb
Native Status
L48 (NI)PR (I)CAN (W)
History & Origin
“Cocozelle journeyed from Italy to American gardens in the late 1800s, part of the great wave of seeds that crossed the Atlantic with immigrants seeking new lives. Like many heirloom varieties, it represents hundreds of years of careful selection by Italian gardeners who prized both its productivity and distinctive appearance. This zucchini embodies the fascinating story of how seeds became vessels of cultural exchange during European colonization, traveling farther and faster than ever before as mariners carried American crops back to Europe, only to have their evolved descendants return with new settlers generations later.”